PER CURIAM.
Plaintiff sued defendants Austin for breach of contract regarding a land sales agreement and also sued defendant Gallatin for intentional interference with plaintiff's contractual relationship with defendants Austin. Plaintiff sought specific performance of his contract with defendants Austin and punitive damages from defendant Gallatin. Following a bench trial, plaintiff was awarded $1 in damages as a result of the court's finding that defendants Austin had committed an anticipatory breach of the contract with plaintiff. Both parties appeal by right.
Defendants Austin were land contract purchasers of property which consisted of two buildings with a common wall. In one of the buildings, plaintiff operated his business. Plaintiff's lease gave him the right of first refusal to purchase both the premises in which his business was located as
The case was assigned to visting Judge Roy J. Daniel in the Washtenaw Circuit Court. The court ruled that there was a contract between plaintiff and defendants Austin, that the date of closing was not a material element of the contract, and that the parties through their counsel had agreed
Plaintiff moved for a new trial and the case was assigned to Judge Edward D. Deake. Judge Deake issued a ruling that the trial court was correct in dismissing plaintiff's tortious interference claim against defendant Gallatin. However, Judge Deake ruled that plaintiff was entitled to specific performance of his contract with defendants Austin. Plaintiff moved to enter an order in conformity with this ruling, but defendants objected on the ground that Judge Deake did not have jurisdiction to decide the motion for a new trial. Judge Deake concurred, finding that under GCR 1963, 529.2 the motion for a new trial should have been decided
Plaintiff's first issue on appeal is whether the trial court erred in holding that plaintiff is not entitled to specific performance of the contract. Plaintiff argues that he had secured a mortgage commitment and was prepared to close the deal on February 27, 1979, and that these actions constituted a tender of performance.
The granting of specific performance lies within the discretion of the court and whether or not it should be granted depends upon the particular circumstances of each case. MacGlashan v Harper, 299 Mich. 662, 667; 1 N.W.2d 30 (1941), Mowat v Walsh, 236 Mich. 391, 392-393; 210 NW 233 (1926). We agree with the trial court's decision not to grant specific performance in favor of plaintiff. Plaintiff never tendered performance under the contract. The general rule is that a court of chancery will not grant specific performance unless the party seeking the decree has tendered full performance. McWilliams v Urban American Land Development Co, 37 Mich.App. 587, 592; 194 N.W.2d 920 (1972), Sterling v Fisher, 356 Mich. 634, 640; 97 N.W.2d 64 (1959). Plaintiff's argument that he tendered performance by securing a mortgage commitment and informing defendants that he was prepared to close on February 27, 1979, is unpersuasive. An offer to close, unaccompanied by the necessary payment, does not constitute legal tender. McWilliams v Urban American Land Development Co, supra, Nedelman v Meininger, 24 Mich.App. 64, 75; 180 N.W.2d 37 (1970). Since plaintiff's offer of tender was insufficient, he was not entitled to specific performance.
Generally, when a plaintiff is unable to perform he suffers no loss through the defendant's default. Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co v Foster Boat Co, 141 F.2d 882, 884 (CA 6, 1944), Hill v Mathews, 78 Mich. 377, 385; 44 NW 286 (1889). We find that since plaintiff was unable to perform on the final date set for closing he is precluded from being awarded the benefit of his bargain. Since plaintiff failed to offer evidence of any incidental damages, the trial court's judgment awarding nominal damages, along with costs, is affirmed.
Plaintiff next argues that the trial court erred in finding that defendant Gallatin did not tortiously interfere with plaintiff's contractual rights. Plaintiff alleges that defendant Gallatin knew that plaintiff had a contract with defendants Austin, defendant Gallatin unjustifiably induced defendants Austin to breach their contract with plaintiff, and that plaintiff was damaged by the resulting breach.
The elements of a prima facie case of tortious interference with contractual relations were established by this Court in the case of Northern Plumbing & Heating, Inc v Henderson Brothers, Inc, 83 Mich.App. 84; 268 N.W.2d 296 (1978). Plaintiff must show that: a contract existed, it was breached, defendant instigated the breach, and
Plaintiff's final issue on appeal is whether Judge Deake erred in concluding that he did not have jurisdiction to hear plaintiff's motion for a new trial. Plaintiff argues that Judge Daniel was absent within the meaning of GCR 1963, 529.2, and therefore Judge Deake had jurisdiction to hear the motion and render an opinion.
GCR 1963, 529.2 provides that:
".2 Correction of Error by Other Judges. No judgment or order shall be set aside or vacated, and no proceeding under a judgment or order shall be stayed by any circuit judge except the one who made the judgment or order, unless he is absent or unable to act. If the circuit judge who made the judgment or order is absent or unable to act, an order vacating or setting aside the judgment or order or staying proceedings under the judgment or order may be made by any of the other judges of the circuit or any judge assigned to the circuit."
Judge Daniel was serving in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court as an acting judge under an assignment by the Michigan Supreme Court. The record does not disclose whether Judge Daniel was still hearing cases in that circuit court at the time that plaintiff moved for a new trial. Judge Daniel's appointment to the court was still valid and the fact that he heard the case after Judge Deake withdrew his opinion for lack of jurisdiction indicates
Defendants Austin also raise an issue on appeal. They claim that the trial court erred in holding that their actions constituted an anticipatory breach of their contract with plaintiff. Defendants argue that the contract provided that plaintiff was to close within 30 days, plaintiff was obligated to complete the transaction within such time, and defendants' attorney did not agree to extend the closing date past February 15, 1979.
The trial court found as a matter of fact that the attorneys representing both parties agreed to extend the closing date from February 15 to February 22, 1979. Although the parties dispute whether or not an agreement to such extension was made, the trial court was in a better position to judge the credibility of the witnesses, so we uphold its factual finding that the closing date was indeed extended. Since defendants Austin conveyed the property to defendant Gallatin Realty Company on February 21, 1979, the trial court did not err in finding that defendants committed an anticipatory breach of the contract with plaintiff.
For the foregoing reasons, the decision of the lower court is affirmed.
Comment
User Comments