Brief Fact Summary. Defendant placed a clause in a contract to prohibit assignments. The Plaintiff, who did not breach the contract with the Defendant, entered into an agreement with a third party for the purchase of the land from Plaintiff, who was to receive a deed upon payment of one-half the purchase price.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. Covenants against assignments are strictly construed in order to prevent forfeitures.
Covenants should be strictly construed so that they do not extend beyond that which is expressly stipulated; all doubts must be resolved in favor of the free use of property and against restrictions.
View Full Point of LawIssue. Is the Plaintiff entitled to a temporary injunction?
Held. Yes. Affirmed.
The Defendant claimed that the prohibition against assignments was a condition, which the breach thereof, gave Defendant the right to re-enter and take possession. The Defendant cited a case, which held that the prohibition against assignments was not merely a covenant but was a condition. However, the court stated that restraints on alienation have long been disfavored and that such covenants will be construed with the utmost strictness. If there is any doubt as to the meaning, they are to be construed against alienation.
Covenants against assignments are strictly construed in order to prevent forfeitures.
The court found that the agreement of Plaintiff with the third party was not an assignment but was in fact an independent contract. The court noted that the agreement between the Plaintiff and the third party did not release Plaintiff in any way from performing under the original contract.
The court noted that if they were to treat the agreement as an assignment the result would be particularly harsh. The temporary injunction must be kept in place.
Discussion. Note that the court was not called upon to render any final relief or review a final order, but was reviewing an interlocutory appeal. The court did, however, indicate guidelines, which would help the lower court on remand to determine the final outcome of the litigation.