Dement

This is an action brought to quiet title to real property and for other relief. Judgment went for plaintiff, Edward B. Dement, and the appeal is from said judgment.

The facts of the transaction which lead to this action are numerous and involved. We will, therefore, confine ourselves only to those circumstances which are essential to a proper disposition of the case. We are using a singular “plaintiff” throughout the opinion as the judgment and findings bear the name of Edward B. Dement as the sole plaintiff.

On the nineteenth day of April, 1923, defendant Arcade Building Company was the owner of certain land -in Ventura County. Upon that date said defendant executed and delivered to one Orr a contract for the purchase of said property upon time payments. Thereafter Orr assigned said contract to respondent Dement, who moved upon the property and resided thereon at all times mentioned in the action. Following this, Dement entered into an oral contract with defendant Pierce to the effect that the latter was to build a house upon the northeast quarter of said land worth $3,200. He was also to pay $1600 in cash; build three similar houses upon the remaining three-quarters of the…