Brittain v. Commercial Nat. Bank of Anniston

195 So. 739, 239 Ala. 506, 1940 Ala. LEXIS 348
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedMarch 28, 1940
Docket7 Div. 569.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 195 So. 739 (Brittain v. Commercial Nat. Bank of Anniston) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brittain v. Commercial Nat. Bank of Anniston, 195 So. 739, 239 Ala. 506, 1940 Ala. LEXIS 348 (Ala. 1940).

Opinions

FOSTER, Justice.

This is a second appeal in this case. On the first appeal an opinion was written by Justice Bouldin, and, concurred in by the Court. Later a motion for a rehearing was made. Appellee consented that the motion be granted,, and that the opinion and judgment affirming the decree be set aside, and that a judgment be here rendered reversing and remanding the cause. The opinion on that account was withdrawn. See 236 Ala. 692, 181 So. 914.

Upon remand, appellee, who had filed 'a cross-bill seeking a foreclosure of the mortgage, amended it so as to seek also a reformation in the description of one lot in it. The mortgage described the property as lots 1, 2 and 23. The cross-bill alleged that in including lot No. 2, there was a mistake, and it should have been lot No. 24: that the mistake was either mutual of both parties to the mortgage, or, in the alternative, that it was by his mistake of which the other knew or suspected and remained silent, and did not inform him of such mistake, and thus proceeded to a consummation of the transaction.

On the former appeal the issue had been whether the mortgage had been paid. The *508 trial court held that it had not been paid, and complainants who had sought a cancellation and redemption brought it here by appeal. On that hearing the opinion of fhe Court, which was adopted and pronounced, is as follows:

“Without dispute the mortgagors, pursuant to stipulation in the mortgage, carried fire insurance on the residence located on the mortgaged premises, with loss payable clause to the mortgagee. The residence was burned. The insurance, which somewhat exceeded the principal of the mortgage debt, was paid to the mortgagee, who deposited same in bank to his credit.

“The cross-bill, however, alleges that by agreement at. the time the money was received it was not applied to the payment of the mortgage debt, but held for the use of the mortgagors in rebuilding the residence, and was applied to such purpose, some small portions being furnished to procure living quarters' and other necessities growing out of the loss of the home, household effects, wearing apparel, etc.

“The evidence quite fully and clearly supports the decree of the trial court sustaining the cross-bill.

“The note and mortgage were not can-celled nor surrendered, but remained among the papers of the mortgagee evidencing investments coming to the hands of his executor. This is evidence the debt was unpaid tending to overcome the evidence afforded by receipt of the insurance money. Arnold v. Arnold, 124 Ala. 550, 27 So. 465, 82 Am.St.Rep. 199; Tisdale v. Maxwell, 58 Ala. 40; 48 C.J. 687. An account was opened by the mortgagee upon his ledger bearing a date contemporaneous with the receipt of the insurance money charging himself with, and crediting to the mortgagor, the full amount. This ledger account discloses dates and amounts charged against this fund aggregating the full amount thereof, all corroborated by original checks in evidence drawn to the mortgagor, or on his order to materialmen as disclosed by other evidence, for the purposes alleged in the cross-bill. The last check was for the exact balance of the fund. The ledger account kept by deceased in regular course of business was admissible evidence. Sharp v. Blanton, 194 Ala. 460, 69 So. 889; Tucker v. Tucker, 222 Ala. 595, 133 So. 714; Jones on Evidence, sections 319, 320.

“The theory of appellants that the mortgage debt was in fact paid, and the documents later held by the mortgagee as security for a new debt, for monies advanced on the personal credit of the mortgagor, is not sustained by the weight of the evidence.

“Aside from the contemporaneous account above noted, within a week after the insurance money was collected the mortgagors took out another insurance policy with like mortgagee clause covering the house in course of construction. Like insurance policies were taken out in later years. The mortgagee established credit with materialmen to procure materials for the new house, and interested himself while it was going up.

“While there is evidence that Mrs. Brittain, a joint mortgagor, and it seems á joint owner, preferred at first not to rebuild, so that they could have the lots clear, it sufficiently appears she left the business in the hands of her husband, knew the house was going up, and occupied it without questioning the continuance of the mortgage security so far as the mortgagee was advised.

“The evidence was taken orally before the trial judge. The usual presumption must be indulged in favor of his finding of fact.

“Affirmed.

“ANDERSON, C. J„ and GARDNER and FOSTER, JJ., concur.”

The issue was again presented and tried after remand, along with additional prayer for a reformation. The trial court again held that the mortgage had not been paid and should be reformed as sought in the cross-bill. Relief was therefore denied complainants and granted to* cross-complainants reforming the mortgage, and ordering its foreclosure. Complainants appeal.

On the. question of whether the mortgage had been paid, there was but little additional evidence, and it did not lessen the value of the facts on which that issue had been previously tried. We have again reviewed it all, and adopt the opinion of Justice Bouldin on that issue on this appeal.

We now reach the question of reformation. Lot No. 24 was that on which the dwelling was situated, and there was no dwelling on lots 1, 2 or 23. Complainant did not own lot 2, but did own lots 1, 24 and 23. The insurance policy bn the dwell *509 ing contained a mortgagee clause as to it, with Dr. Anderson mortgagee, and payable to him as such. It was also shown on this trial that $400 of the insurance was on furniture with no mortgage clause. But all the insurance money of $1400.00 was paid by one check to complainants and Dr. Anderson. They all indorsed it and the money paid to Dr. Anderson, who used it in rebuilding the house on lot 24. New insurance was then taken by complainants" on the new house with mortgagee clause payable to Dr. Anderson. When the mortgage was taken by Dr. Anderson he advanced $670 to W. D. Staples to pay off a mortgage he held on lot 24.

Appellants claim that the balance or a part of it was to be used in a purchase of lot No. 2, of which Dr. Anderson seemed to have no notice. But no such purchase was made and appellants never acquired ownership of it. Dr. Anderson wrote the mortgage himself, and inserted lot 2 instead of lot 24. That was in 1927. There is no evidence that at that time he had information of the error. But shortly afterwards he came in possession of the Staples mortgage and deeds showing that they did own lot 24. But there is not shown to have been any circumstance to direct his attention to the fact that it was different from the description in his mortgage. Dr. Anderson had died prior to the institution of this suit, and his evidence had not been given.

Lots 23 and 24 were adjoining. Lot No. 1 was immediately to the rear of No. 24, and the three were used together. No. 2 was to the rear of No. 23, and owned by another. When Dr.

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Bluebook (online)
195 So. 739, 239 Ala. 506, 1940 Ala. LEXIS 348, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brittain-v-commercial-nat-bank-of-anniston-ala-1940.