Blough v. Steffens

This case concerns title to a corn crop ripening in a farmer’s field. In law school terms the legal problem would be stated thus:

“A,” the owner of Whiteacre, contracted with “X” to plant 22 acres in corn to be divided 1/3 to “A” and 2/3 to “X”. While the corn was ripening in the fields, “A” sold Whiteacre to “B” by written conveyance, orally reserving the corn. On “B’s” refusal to let “X” harvest the corn, “X” sues “A” and “B” for the value of his 2/3 share of the corn crop. “A” likewise claims his 1/3. Can each recover ?

This statement of our principal question omits reference to a fact…