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42 S.D. 124

Nelson v. Sutton

South Dakota Supreme Court

Decided June 24, 1919

South Dakota Supreme Court · decided 1919-06-24

Hon. William N. Skinner, Judge. Action hy Bernice Nelson, against R. E. Sutton, for damages for breach of promise of marriage. From an order overruling a demurrer to the complaint, defendant appeals. (1) To point one of the opinion, Appellant cited: 3 Ency. Plea. & Prac., page 686; Felger v. Etzell, 75 Ind. 417. Respondent cited: . . 9 C. J. Sec. 44, p. 344. (2) To point two, Respondent cited: 9 C. J. 'Sec. 48, p. 345.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently February 1924

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Affirmed · Decided 1919-06-24

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McCOY, J.

¶1This action was instituted to recover damages for alleged breach of promise of marriage. In substance plaintiff alleged that on December 24, 1917, in consideration that she would marry the 'defendant on request, he promised and agreed *125to marry liter within a reasonable time; that plaintiff, relying upon said promise, remained ready, able, and willing to marrv defendant upon request; that on about the 12th day of August, *918, defendant, contrary to the said promise to plaintiff, married a person other than plaintiff, and that by reason of the failure of defendant to perform his said promise to plaintiff she has-been damaged in the sum of $15,000. To the said complaint the defendant interposed the demurrer that the same does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against defendant. From an order overruling said demurrer defendant appeals.

¶2[1] Appellant attacks this complaint on two grounds: (il That the complaint does not show- a mutual promise; (2) that no demand of performance is alleged. The language of the complaint, “In consideration that plaintiff would marry defendant on request, the defendant promised and agreed to marry plaintiff,” dearly signifies that plaintiff affirmatively assented to and accepted the said- promise of defendant. The consideration for defendant’s promise being that plaintiff “would marry” him inherently implies mutual consent, mutual agreement. It is not necessary in a pleading that such mutual agreement be alleged in any particular form or words. The complaint in question is in the exact language of the form found on -page 450, vol. 1, Winslow’s Forms, Form No. 1191.

¶3[2] The allegation that defendant has married another person relieved the plaintiff from alleging in her complaint a request or demand on her part that defendant perform said promise. The defendant having made it impossible for him to perform said promise, such a demand or request on the part of plaintiff would have been futile and of no avail. 9 C. J. 345.

¶4Findng no error in the record, the order appealed from is affirmed.

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