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75 Mass. 233

Phillips v. Soule

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided October 15, 1857

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1857-10-15

Bill in equity, filed in July 1855, against the administrators and heirs of Thomas W. Herrick, for the specific performance of an indenture by which Joseph S. Blois (who had since assigned all his rights to the plaintiff) covenanted and agreed with Herrick to build before the 1st day of July 1851, on Herrick’s land, a dwelling-house, and furnish all labor and materials therefor; and, upon the completion of the house and the tender of a deed from Herrick of the house and lot…

Decided 1857-10-15

Bigelow, J.

¶1On the facts proved in this case we think a waiver of the strict- performance of the original terms of the contract may fairly be inferred, and that the plaintiff is entitled to a conveyance of the land on fulfilling the stipulations on his part to be performed. The conveyance to be made by the intestate to the plaintiff was not of the nature of a condition precedent. The stipulations of the parties respectively were mutual and dependent, and the deed from Herrick to the plaintiff and the mortgage back to Herrick were to be simultaneous acts, Kane v. Hood, 13 Pick. 281.

¶2After the long delay of the plaintiff in bringing his suit for the specific performance of the contract, we think he cannot equitably claim that the administrator shall now receive the *235note and mortgage for the sum due the estate under the contract, but that under the circumstances of the case he is bound to pay it to the administrator in money, on receiving a proper conveyance of the premises. Decree accordingly.

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