Merrifield v. McClay

Opinion by Mr. Chief Justice McBride.

1. The evidence is conflicting, but we think a clear preponderance indicates that the plaintiffs represented that the horse sold was three fourths Coach and one fourth Morgan and entitled to registration as a grade stallion, and that their representations induced defendant McClay to purchase him. It also appears that *92 the horse was sired by a pure bred Coach horse by a dam whose pedigree was unknown, which rendered him ineligible to registration and detracted greatly from his value as a service stallion. This being so, the defendant had a right to rescind. It appears that he personally and by letter offered to return the animal, and that plaintiffs refused to accept it. He then left-it in a feed stable at plaintiffs’ cost, and it was sold by the proprietor to satisfy a lien for its feed. The evidence, as to the sale is meager, and there is no evidence that the animal was of any value for any purpose than as a stallion.

2. The most difficult question .in the case is whether the defendant, being confessedly unable at the time of the commencement of this suit to restore the animal and thereby place the plaintiff in statu quo, can be. permitted to rescind.

In an action at law for damages for deceit, the plaintiff was usually required to allege and prove that he had tendered back the article purchased, or that it was entirely worthless, or that he had been rendered unable to return it by reason of the fraud of the vendor: Sisson v. Hill, 18 R. I. 212 ( 26 Atl. 196 , 21 L. R. A. 206); Brown v. Norman, 65 Miss. 369 ( 4 South. 293 , 7 Am. St. Rep. 663 ). But such is not the invariable rule even in actions at law: Brown v. Norman, supra. Where such return has been rendered impossible by the act of the fraudulent party, the deceived vendee may recover, even though the thing purchased cannot be restored: Brown v. Norman, supra; Hammond v. Pennock, 61 N. Y. 153 . Such was substantially the holding of this court in Jones v. McGinn, 70 Or. 236 ( 140 Pac. 994 ). And, in a suit in equity to rescind for. fraud, it is unnecessary to plead, or show present ability to restore the statu quo, as the court, being *93 able to administer relief, can in a proper case require the defrauded party to do equity as a condition precedent to obtaining the relief sought: Warner v. Daniels, 29 Fed. Cas. 246 ; Brown v. Norman, 65 Miss. 369 ( 4 South. 293 , 7 Am. St. Rep. 663 ); Scott v. Perrin, 7 Ky. (4 Bibb) 360 .

In the case at bar the defendants seasonably offered to return the animal, and, the offer being refused, left it in a livery barn at plaintiffs’ expense, where it was sold for a feed bill, and, so far as appears from the testimony, was lost to plaintiffs. The court has found that the plaintiffs were in the wrong, and that finding is conclusive upon them; that it was their duty to have accepted defendants’ offer to return the animal. The earliest note to mature had yet 8 months to run, and the other about 20 .months, when the offer to return the property was made. Under the circumstances, it was not incumbent upon defendants to keep an animal of this character, worthless to them, at their own expense until plaintiffs should see fit to attempt to foreclose their mortgage. In principle this case does not differ from Jones v. McGinn , above cited, and plaintiffs’ probable loss of the animal results from their inequitable refusal to accede to defendants’ offer to rescind.

The decree is affirmed..

Affirmed. Rehearing Denied.

Mr. Justice Moore, Mr. Justice Burnett and Mr. Justice Ramsey concur.