Nessralla v. Peck

Nessralla (plaintiff) asked his son-in-law Peck (defendant) to act as a straw buyer to purchase a neighboring farm on Nessralla's behalf, since Nessralla was on bad terms with the seller. Peck assured Nessralla he was working on it, but ultimately bought the farm in his own name and conveyed it to himself and his cousin as tenants in common, without Nessralla ever contributing any of the purchase price or otherwise acting on the arrangement. Nessralla sued for specific performance of Peck's oral promise to convey the farm to him; the trial court ruled for Peck under the statute of frauds, and Nessralla appealed.