Esmieu v. Hsieh

This is the second of three cases involving the same parties and the same property. This case, Esmieu II, comes to us on a petition to review a decision of the Court of Appeals. Esmieu v. Hsieh, 20 Wn. App. 455, 580 P.2d 1105 (1978). See also Esmieu v. Schrag (Esmieu I), 88 Wn.2d 490, 563 P.2d 203 (1977).

Esmieus, both as individuals and through a family trust, own over 15,700 acres of agricultural land. They desired to generate more family income by diversifying their holdings and executed two agreements with Jack Hsieh. The first, executed in December 1973, was to exchange about 9,000 acres…