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BAILEY et al. v. WILLIAMS, Administrator, et al.

Supreme Court of Georgia1959-10-09No. 20635
215 Ga. 395

Summary

Holding. The judgment was affirmed. The trial court properly sustained the general demurrer against the plaintiffs' petition for cancellation of the deed.

The plaintiffs sought to cancel a deed on grounds of inadequate consideration combined with mental incapacity, citing a state statute requiring both elements to be present. The court found the petition deficient because it failed to allege sufficient ultimate facts establishing either great inadequacy of consideration or great disparity of mental ability. The court noted that minor differences in mental capacity between parties are common and insufficient to justify cancellation, and that the plaintiffs could have discovered the disputed facts before signing through ordinary diligence rather than afterward.

The plaintiffs also challenged the deed based on allegations that one grantor was a minor and another did not sign, arguing this would void the entire deed. The court rejected this argument, holding that a grantor acting without disability who validly signed remains bound by the deed as to their interest. Additionally, the plaintiffs questioned the validity of a deed to Thomas Irwin witnessed by W. Morgan Williams, who later received property from Irwin. The court found this timing immaterial, as the witness's subsequent interest in the property did not disqualify him from witnessing, and the deed would be valid between the parties regardless of whether witnessed at all.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether inadequacy of consideration and mental incapacity were sufficiently pleaded to justify deed cancellation
  • Whether failure by one grantor to sign voids a deed as to all grantors
  • Whether a witness's subsequent receipt of property from the grantor disqualifies the witness or invalidates the deed

Procedural posture

The trial court sustained a general demurrer to the plaintiffs' petition for cancellation of a deed, and the plaintiffs appealed.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

Wyatt, Presiding Justice.

1. It is insisted by the plaintiffs in error that the deed should be canceled by virtue of Code § 37-710, which reads as follows: "Great inadequacy of consideration joined with great disparity of mental ability in contracting a bargain, may justify equity in setting aside a sale or other contract.” It will be noted that, before it is applicable the Code section requires great inadequacy of consideration joined with great disparity of mental ability. It follows, therefore, that both must exist. The law is well settled in this State to the effect that, in construing a pleading as against a general demurrer, it will be construed most strongly against the pleader, and that the petition must allege the ultimate facts necessary to constitute a cause of action. See Guardian Life Ins. Co. of America v. McMichael, 74 Ga. App. 53 (38 S. E. 2d 689).

The law recognizes that there is “some disparity of mental ability between all persons who- deal with each other,” and. “weakness of mind not amounting to imbecility is not sufficient mental incapacity to justify setting aside a deed.” Sheppard v. Broome, 214 Ga. 659 (107 S. E. 2d 219), and cases there cited. It is likewise settled law that he who- can read must read. In the instant case, there is no allegation of a confidential relationship, extreme age, mental weakness, or similar fact that would relieve the plaintiffs in error from ascertaining the facts alleged before the deed was signed. It is alleged that the facts upon which it is sought to have the deed canceled were not known until after the execution of the deed. It is difficult to understand why these facts could not have been discovered just as well before the execution of the deed as after. It is well-settled law that equity will grant no relief to one who by the exercise of ordinary diligence could have prevented the injury complained of. Equity requires diligence in the protection of one’s own rights and equity favors the diligent and not those who sleep on their rights. See Phillips v. Hayes, 212 Ga. 148 (91 S. E. 2d 19), and cases there cited. Applying the above principles of law to the allegations of the petition in this case, the general demurrer was properly sustained as to the plaintiffs in error.

2. It is insisted that, because of the allegation to the effect that one of the grantors was a minor and that another did not sign the deed, the general demurrer should not have been sustained as to the other plaintiffs in error for the reason that, if these allegations should be sustained, the deed would be void as to all grantors. There is no merit in this contention. We know of no reason why the deed as to those who were acting under no disability, and who admittedly signed the deed, should not be binding and valid as to their interest in the land, and none has been called to our attention.

3. It is insisted that the deed to Thomas Irwin is not valid for the reason same was witnessed by W. Morgan Williams, who five days thereafter received from Thomas Irwin a deed to a one-half undivided interest in the property. There is no merit in this contention. In the first place, the fact that Wil liams at a later date was deeded an interest in the property would in no way disqualify him as a witness to the deed. In the next place, the deed, as between the parties, if otherwise valid, would not be invalid if it was not witnessed by anyone.

4. It follows, the judgment under review was not error for any reason assigned.

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur.