Bedford v. Hickman

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First page of the opinion Bedford v. Hickman, in Reports of Cases Argued and Decided in the Court of Appeals of Virginia, by Daniel Call. Richmond: R. I. Smith, 1833.

Bedford v. Hickman, 9 Va. (Call 5) 236 (1804) ‎[1] involved whether a purchaser could be relieved from a contract granting a certain amount of land, but subsequently giving significantly less acreage.

Background

Hickman bought a tract of land from Bedford for “900 acres, more or less.” The purchase price was £1300, £650 of which was paid in cash and the other half in bond. Since purchasing the property, Hickman discovered that the deed for the tract contained only 709 acres; a follow-up survey showed 765 acres. Hickman sued Bedford for fraud claiming that Bedford knew the amount of land and did not inform Hickman. He requested the court allow the £650 to suffice as full payment for the property and dismiss the injunction on the bond.

The Court's Decision

The County Court granted a perpetual injunction in favor of Hickman. Chancellor Wythe affirmed the decree, which the Court of Appeals affirmed.

See also

References

  1. Daniel Call, Reports of Cases Argued and Decided in the Court of Appeals of Virginia,(Richmond: R. I. Smith, 1833), 5:236.