Baumann v. Harrison

115 P.2d 523, 46 Cal. App. 2d 73
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJuly 16, 1941
DocketCiv. No. 2747
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 115 P.2d 523 (Baumann v. Harrison) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Baumann v. Harrison, 115 P.2d 523, 46 Cal. App. 2d 73 (Cal. Ct. App. 1941).

Opinion

KELLY, J.,

pro tem. — In the month of May, 1930, H. O. Harrison and Daisy Harrison, husband and wife, made, executed and delivered to the Bank of America National Trust & Savings Association of California, trustee, in favor of Lane Mortgage Company, a corporation, as beneficiary, a deed of trust upon certain real estate therein specifically described and commonly known as the Commercial Club Building at Eleventh and Broadway, in the city of Los Angeles, California. The deed of trust was duly recorded. It secured a series of 225 promissory notes in various amounts aggregating $500,000, and ranging from a principal sum of $500 to one of $100,000, and each identified by a serial number. These notes are frequently referred to in the briefs and the reporter’s transcript, as “bonds,” and on their face are designated “First Lien Gold Bonds.” They were signed by the Harrisons as makers, payable to the Lane Mortgage Company, and bear interest at the rate of 7% per annum evidenced by [76]*76coupons. The Lane Mortgage Company issued certificates of assignment to various individuals, approximately seventy-five in number, by the terms of which they sold and assigned to the purchasers, referred to throughout the proceedings as “bondholders,” certain of the promissory notes described by serial numbers. The certificates of assignment provided that the original notes or bonds were to be held by the Lane Mortgage Company for collection. Four of these notes were assigned to the plaintiff, Anna Baumann, described by serial numbers and in the principal sums of $5000 and $1000, aggregating $8000. Lane Mortgage Company, throughout the various transactions was the alter ego of W. G. Lane who owned substantially all of the stock in the company. The certificates of assignment provided that the Lane Mortgage Company retain possession of the notes for collection on behalf of the several assignees, which was done. The Lane Mortgage Company constituted itself trustee for the benefit of its assignees in the collections of any and all moneys and things of value which came into its hands as income, rental or otherwise, as proceeds of the real property described in the deed of trust. The record is silent as to any acceptance or rejection of the trust by the bank prior to the filing of this action. The real estate described in the deed of trust, and the buildings thereon, were utilized as a club, known as the Cabrillo Club, to facilitate the operation whereof furniture, furnishings, ranges, dishes and equipment were placed upon the premises. None of these articles of personal property, nor the good will of the club were embraced as security for the series of promissory notes.

In August, 1931, the Harrisons conveyed the real estate to B. L. Vaughn who assumed and agreed to pay the indebtedness evidenced by the 225 promissory notes. Vaughn conveyed to the Cabrillo Holding Corporation which in turn assumed and agreed to pay the indebtedness. Cabrillo Holding Corporation, on January 6th, 1933, conveyed to the defendant Perry who accepted the deed as the nominee of the appellants W. G. Lane and Lane Mortgage Company. Perry paid no part of the consideration out of his own funds and accepted the deed as nominee of appellants with full knowledge of the trust existing between the appellants and plaintiff and the other bondholders and agreed with Lane that he would pay into Lane’s office all income from the property for the benefit of the bondholders. This deed was delivered, not [77]*77to Perry, but to the Lane Mortgage Company and remained in the files of the corporation until received as an exhibit in this action. The deed of January, 1933, was not intended to and did not merge the deed of trust with the title but on the contrary the deed of trust securing the $500,000, evidenced by the several promissory notes remained in full force and effect. In the negotiations culminating in this deed of January, 1933, the appellants W. G-. Lane and the Lane Mortgage Company, Vaughn and the Cabrillo Holding Corporation, only, participated and the appellants promised and agreed to hold harmless in consideration of the delivery of the deed, Vaughn, the Cabrillo Holding Corporation and Cabrillo Club of California from any' deficiency judgment arising out of such portion of the notes and beneficial interest in said deed of trust on said date held by the appellants, to-wit, promissory notes in the principal sum of $27,000. All these interests in the promissory notes held by the appellants, as aforesaid, were transferred and assigned by the appellants subsequent to January 6, 1933, and prior to the filing of this action on March 18, 1937. But some interests had been reacquired by the appellants and at the time of the filing of this action they owned interests in notes in the aggregate sum of $3684.

On January 6, 1933, Perry went into possession of the premises as the nominee of the appellants and proceeded to conduct the affairs of the club thereon located, making collections on certain portions of the building and distributing these collections in part to the appellants and in part to himself. Those portions of the rental not collected by Perry were paid directly by the tenants to the appellants. No part of tlie rentals collected either by Perry or the appellants was paid to the holders of the promissory notes either on account of principal or interest. At the request of Lane the property was taken in the name of Perry and with his consent on behalf of the bondholders. Although certain sums thus collected were in the hands of the appellants, the taxes on the property were not paid and on August 25, 1937, the unpaid taxes for the years 1931-32 to 1936-37, inclusive, amounted to $65,-122.41. Principal and interest being in default on the promissory notes held by the plaintiff, she demanded of appellants that they reveal to her the names of her fellow bondholders and that appellants join with her in an action to foreclose. [78]*78Appellants declined to comply with this request, but on the contrary, upon the filing of this action to foreclose the trust, they answered, resisting the foreclosures and praying that plaintiff take nothing by her complaint. The bank answered refusing to act as trustee. Thereafter one R. E. Allen was appointed trustee by order of court.

The furniture, furnishings and equipment standing on the real estate were claimed by various parties, including Perry, the appellants and the plaintiff. At the time of judgment, from which this appeal is taken, litigation was pending to determine the ownership of the personal property. The trial court found that the reasonable value of the use of the furniture, furnishings and equipment from January 5, 1933, to and including April 28, 1937, was the sum of $4000. On the last date indicated possession was taken by receivers. In its judgment the trial court stayed execution to the extent of $4000 until ownership and right to compensation for the use of the furniture, furnishings and equipment could be determined. The issues with reference to the personal property were, of course, not determined in this action., In the pending action, however, it developed that the personal property was the subject of a trust indenture securing bonds of which the appellant W. G. Lane owned approximately six-sevenths and that on April 19, 1936, the personal property was sold by a commissioner appointed in proceedings to foreclose this last mentioned trust indenture. The personal property was purchased by W. G. Lane in the name of B. W. Goes, his secretary, who served also as secretary of Lane Mortgage Company.

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72 Cal. App. 3d 804 (California Court of Appeal, 1977)
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Bluebook (online)
115 P.2d 523, 46 Cal. App. 2d 73, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/baumann-v-harrison-calctapp-1941.