Gross v. Yeskel

Decision Date18 October 1926
Docket NumberNo. 24.,24.
Citation134 A. 737
PartiesGROSS et al. v. YESKEL et al.
CourtNew Jersey Supreme Court

Appeal from Court of Chancery.

Bill by Samuel Gross and another against William Yeskel and another, partners, etc. From a decree of dismissal (98 N. J. Eq. 64, 130 A. 546), complainants appeal. Affirmed.

Silberman & Grosman, of Newark, for appellants.

Philip J. Schotland, of Newark, for appellees.

MINTURN, J. The learned Vice Chancellor dismissed the bill, and this appeal results therefrom. The bill was filed originally upon the theory of reformation of an agreement and specific performance of the agreement When thus reformed. It appearing upon the hearing that equity will not in one proceeding concede such dual relief (Wirtz v. Guthrie, 81 N. J. Eq. 271, 87 A. 134), the bill was amended to include only a prayer for reformation, and the hearing proceeded upon that theory.

The complainants contracted for the purchase of certain property from the Kreuger Brewing Company, consisting of lands and premises known as "the Old Trefz Brewing Company," covenanting not to use the property for brewery purposes, and permitting the Kreuger Company to remove certain personalty from the premises. Before accepting title, complainants entered into a preliminary contract with defendants, who agreed to take the property subject to the same conditions as the complainants had contracted to receive it from the Kreuger Company. The defendants? attorney drew the final contract, but failed to include the covenant regarding the brewery and it's use. The contract, after examination by complainants' attorney, was approved without the restrictive clause. The defendants refused to accept title, claiming that they were not informed of the restrictions, and because complainants were without title when the deed was offered to defendants for acceptance, and this bill was then filed.

It is manifest that the parties to this agreement have not agreed to the same thing in the same sense, so that there was lacking in the situation the meeting of the minds of the contracting parties, which forms the essential element to the valid consummation of a contract.

Reformation, as an equitable doctrine, proceeds upon the theory that a valid contract was created by the negotiations of the parties, but by mutual mistake is wanting in formal expression or execution, so as to evince the actual intent of the parties. Birch v. Baker, 81 N. J. Eq. 264, 86 A. 932; Cochran v. Burns, 91 N. J....

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10 cases
  • Ill. Nat'l Ins. Co. v. Wyndham Worldwide Operations Inc.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Third Circuit
    • 3 Agosto 2011
    ...by mutual mistake is wanting in formal expression or execution, so as to evince the actual intent of the parties.” Gross v. Yeskel, 100 N.J. Eq. 293, 134 A. 737, 737 (1926) (internal citations omitted). “Generally, when interpreting an insurance policy, courts should give the policy's words......
  • Sharp v. Jones
    • United States
    • Indiana Appellate Court
    • 17 Septiembre 1986
    ...and construed as if it fully and technically expressed that intention. Churchill v. Meade, 92 Or. 626, 182 P. 368, 371; Gross v. Yeskel, 100 N.J.Eq. 293, 134 A. 737. Black's Law Dictionary 1446, Rev. 4th Ed. (1968). Thus, the trial court incorrectly labeled its action a The Sharps request o......
  • By-Fi Bldg. & Loan Ass'n v. N.Y. Cas. Co.
    • United States
    • New Jersey Court of Chancery
    • 21 Junio 1934
    ...577; Ordway v. Chace, 57 N. J. Eq. 478, 42 A. 149; Giammares v. Allemannia Fire Ins. Co., 91 N. J. Eq. 114, 108 A. 237; Gross v. Yeskel, 100 N. J. Eq. 293, 134 A. 737; Sardo v. Fidelity, etc., Co. of Md., 100 N. J. Eq. 332, 134 A. 774; Klaas v. Boston Insurance Co., 103 N. J. Eq. 521, 143 A......
  • Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. v. Tower Ins. Co. of New York
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of New Jersey
    • 22 Diciembre 2011
    ...Operations, Inc., - F.3d 225 - , No.10-3833, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 15894, at *13-14 (3d Cir. Aug.3, 2011)(citing Gross v. Yeskel, 100 N.J. Eq. 293, 134 A. 737, 737 (N.J. Eq. 1926) (internal citations omitted)). In other words, in New Jersey, an unambiguous contract may be reformed when there......
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