Collins v. Smith

• Decision Date: 08 April 1907
• Citation: 151 Ala. 133,43 So. 838
• Parties: COLLINS v. SMITH.
• Court: Alabama Supreme Court

43 So. 838

151 Ala. 133

COLLINS v. SMITH.

Supreme Court of Alabama

April 8, 1907

Appeal from Chancery Court, Jefferson County; A. H. Benners Chancellor.

Bill by W. S. Smith against James A. Collins. From a decree overruling a motion to dismiss the bill, defendant appeals. Affirmed.

Charles D. Brown, Vaughan & Davidson, and Smith & Smith, for appellant.

Robert N. Bell and Caldwell & Carmichael, for appellee.

TYSON C.J.

The amended bill, seeking the cancellation of the lease, is framed upon two theories: First, that the lease is unilateral; and, second, that its execution was obtained by fraudulent representations, which were relied on by the complainant. The appeal is from a decree overruling a motion to dismiss the bill for want of equity.

It is not insisted in brief of appellant's counsel that it is without equity upon the alleged ground of fraud, and, indeed if such an insistence was urged, it would be clearly without merit. So, then, it might be conceded that the lease is not unilateral, and therefore that phase of the bill presents no ground for equitable relief, still the motion to dismiss was properly overruled. But we entertain the opinion that the lease is unilateral--wanting in mutuality, and therefore a nudum pactum. It is undoubtedly true that some consideration express or implied, is necessary to give validity to the lease as a contract; and it is also true that the promise of the lessee to mine the coal and other minerals and pay royalty upon them to the lessor, if expressed in the lease would constitute a sufficient consideration. But an examination of the instrument discloses that the lessee assumed no obligation to mine any coal or other minerals at all. By the express terms of the lease the operation of mining was to be begun and continued at his discretion; and it was further provided that "no cessation of operation in mining" or the failure of the lessee to avail himself in any other manner of the privileges conferred by the lease should operate a forfeiture of it. The lease is to run 99 years from its making. It is shown by the averments of the bill that the lessee had not exercised any of the privileges conferred. The lessee not having assumed any obligations to mine, it is clear that the complainant could neither enforce a specific performance by him of the contract nor maintain an action to recover damages for its breach. As said by the Supreme Court of Tennessee,...