Griggsby v. Osborn

Citations

• 82 Va. 371
• 1886 Va. LEXIS 45

Syllabus

<p>1. Parol Gifts—Specific performance—Rule—Qualification.—A court of equity will compel the conveyance of the legal title to land claimed under a parol gift accompanied by possession, where the donee, induced by the promise to give it, has made valuable improvements on it. But the gift must be definite in its terms and clearly proved. Halsey v. Peters, 79 Va. 60.</p> <p>2. Idem—Case at bar.—Here, tested by this rule, the plaintiff is not entitled to the conveyance of the legal title.</p> <p>3. Idem—Improvements—Statute of limitations.—If, under the circumstances, plaintiff is not entitled to a conveyance of the legal title, and the sums expended by him for the improvement were expended at a time before the decease of the owner of the land sufficient to bar his claim under the statute of limitations, he cannot recover said sums.</p>