Ehrler

Plaintiffs appeal, upon a clerk’s transcript only, from a money judgment entered after trial by the court in this action in which plaintiffs sought specific performance for the sale of land or, in the alternative, value of services rendered.

Facts

Plaintiffs are the sons of the defendant, Theodore Ehrler, Sr. Defendant owned and operated several dairy ranches among which is the property in question, a dairy ranch located at 27054 Carter Road (Carter Road Ranch), Escalón, San Joaquin County. Defendant made promises and statements to the plaintiffs that they would be compensated, either in land or money, for labor performed on the defendant’s land after they reached 21 years of age. After the plaintiffs had reached the age of 21 they remained on the ranch as “milkers” and “ranch hands” and worked full time and part time. Ted reached 21 years of age in 1961 and Otto reached 21 in 1964. Subsequently, in 1971, defendant informed them that he did not intend to compensate them for the work performed. This action was then filed in August of 1972.

After the presentation of the plaintiffs’ case, the trial court granted defendant’s motion for nonsuit on plaintiffs’ first three…