It was ingrained in my head from a small child to always read something over before you signed it. It seemed like pretty good advice.
Apparently Thomas and John Sledd, Sr. of Louisa County, Virginia, in the 1820s did not follow that same advice. John Sledd, Sr. was the grantor on the deed and his bill of complaint and the deposition of his son Thomas indicated that Sr. did not read the deed until after it was recorded.
Oops.
The deed included property that was not supposed to be a part of the transaction. Because the deed had been recorded, the Sledd’s apparent recourse was to have a “friendly suit” to petition for the court to correct the deed. There is no indication in the bill of complaint or the response of the defendant that there was any disagreement about what the deed was supposed to contain and what the Sledds believed it contained.
The suit is a reminder that not all lawsuits are situations where both parties are at loggerheads with each other. It’s also a reminder to read it before you sign it.
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