Brandt v. Scribner

108 P. 491, 13 Ariz. 169, 1910 Ariz. LEXIS 81
Arizona Supreme Court·Decided April 2, 1910·No. Civil No. 1126·Published·Cited by 8 cases

Opinion

DOE, J.

The only question presented by this appeal is whether appellant was bound by the decree in the partition suit. Counsel for appellant advance the theory that the court, by sustaining the generál demurrer to the complaint in the partition suit, held that no cause of action was stated by the complaint, and that in consequence no constructive notice was imparted to him until after the amendment, at the date of which his rights under the mortgage had become fixed and determined. In most of the numerous cases holding that, where a cause of action is for the first time stated by the amendment, the doctrine of lis pendens only becomes applicable from the date of the amendment, it will be found that either new parties were brought in or new and independent causes of action were set up by the amendment, and the theory is adopted that the doctrine of lis pendens is based upon the [172] principle that constructive notice is imparted by the pleadings, and that, in view of the hardship sometimes worked by it upon purchasers pendente lite without actual notice, therefore the rule should not be enforced until a valid cause of action is disclosed by the pleadings. “The doctrine of lis pendens, as generally understood and applied by the courts of this country, is not based upon presumption of notice, but upon a public policy, imperatively demanded by a necessity which can be met and overcome in no other manner.” It is careless “use of language which has led judges to speak of it as notice because it happens to have in some instances similar effect with notice. ’ ’ Freeman on Judgments, see. 191, and authorities cited. Judge Story defines the rule as follows: “A purchase made of property actually in litigation, pendente Ute, for a valuable consideration, and without any express or implied notice in point of fact, affects the purchaser in the same manner as if he had such notice, and he will accordingly be bound by the judgment or decree in the suit.” Story’s Equity Jurisprudence, see. 405. The rule, says Chancellor Kent, “would not have existed, and have been supported for centuries, if it had not been found in great public utility.” The necessity for its existence is apparent, for without it, after courts have acquired jurisdiction over and are proceeding to determine conflicting interests in the property, litigants may readily render the final decree entirely ineffectual for any purpose by aliening or encumbering their interests.

The supreme court of the United States in Tilton v. Cofield, 93 U. S. 163, 23 L. Ed. 858, held directly contrary to the view herein taken by counsel for appellant. In that case the appellants attached real property and recovered judgment which was reversed by the supreme court of the territory of Colorado. Thereafter, by leave of court, the appellants amended their declaration and affidavit in attachment, and again recovered judgment in pursuance of which the property was sold to appellees. During the pendency of the action and prior to the amendments, the appellees purchased the property and brought an action to set aside the sale, and from a decree in their favor the appellants appealed to the United States supreme court. The court says: “There is another objection to the case of the appellees which must not be over[173] looked. They are not subsequent attaching creditors, nor creditors at all. They are purchasers pendente lite. The law is that he who intermeddles with property in litigation does it at his peril, and is as conclusively bound by the results of the litigation, whatever they may be, as if he had been a party to it from the outset. Inloe’s Lessee v. Harvey, 11 Md. 524; Salisbury v. Morss, 7 Lans. (N. Y.) 362; Harrington v. Slade, 22 Barb. (N. Y). 162; 1 Story’s Equity, sec. 406. The appellees voluntarily took the position they occupy. They chose to buy a large amount of property, including that in controversy, from the fugitive debtor. This was done after the latter had been seized under the writ of attachment, and while the suit in which it was issued was still pending. They took the title subject to the contingencies of the amendments that were made, and of everything else, not coram non judice, the court might see fit to do in the case. The attachment might be discharged, or the judgment might be larger than was then anticipated. They took the chances, and must abide the result. Having obtruded themselves upon the property attached, they insist that their purchase narrowed the rights of the plaintiffs and circumscribed the jurisdiction of the court. Such is not the law. After their purchase, the court, the parties, and the res stood in all respects as they stood before; and the judgment, sale, and conveyance have exactly the same effect as if the appellees and the facts upon which they rely had no existence.”

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Brandt v. Scribner, 108 P. 491, 13 Ariz. 169, 1910 Ariz. LEXIS 81 (Ark. 1910).

108 P. 491 (Brandt v. Scribner) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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