Powell v. City of Newton

After Powell (plaintiff) sued the City of Newton (defendant) for trespass and tree removal, the parties reached a settlement in open court -- Powell would receive $40,000 for a quitclaim deed to the disputed land -- which the court confirmed directly with Powell; attorneys later exchanged emails memorializing the deal and the city sent the $40,000, but when a final written agreement was sent for Powell's physical signature, he refused to sign, arguing the land-sale settlement was void under the statute of frauds for lacking a proper signed writing. The trial court ordered Powell to execute the agreement, and the court of appeals found the writing requirement satisfied.