Brown v. Everding

357 So. 2d 1243
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 27, 1978
Docket13510
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 357 So. 2d 1243 (Brown v. Everding) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brown v. Everding, 357 So. 2d 1243 (La. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

357 So.2d 1243 (1978)

Charles M. BROWN et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
James A. EVERDING, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 13510.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Second Circuit.

March 27, 1978.
Rehearing Denied May 10, 1978.

*1245 Johnson & Johnson by Don H. Johnson, Monroe, for defendant-appellant.

C. Calvin Adams, Jr., Tallulah, for plaintiffs-appellees.

Before PRICE, MARVIN and JONES, JJ.

En Banc. Rehearing Denied May 10, 1978.

JONES, Judge.

James A. Everding appeals from a judgment dismissing his suit to annul a sheriff's sale under executory process on an exception of no cause of action filed by mortgagees and from a judgment evicting him from the property seized and sold.

The trial court found the defects alleged were not substantive but were procedural defects cured by the June 1, 1977 recordation of the sheriff's deed in the conveyance books of Madison Parish. LSA-R.S. 13:4112. A certified copy of this deed was made a part of the record by stipulation at the time of hearing on the exception of no cause of action. We affirm.

On December 23, 1974, Charles M. Brown, Marylynn D. Brown, husband and wife, and Eva C. Holt sold to Everding for $100,000 a piece of property located in Madison Parish together with all buildings and improvements. Everding paid $25,000 cash and executed on the same date a $75,000 promissory note payable to his order and endorsed by him secured by a mortgage on the property purchased. The note was payable in five annual installments of $15,000 plus interest beginning January 15, 1976. The mortgage contained a confession of judgment.

The waivers of notice of demand and putting in default contained in the printed mortgage form were deleted by the parties and there was attached to the mortgage an amendment requiring 30 days notice of mortgagor's failure to pay any installment as a condition precedent to his being in default. This notice was required to be sent by registered mail addressed in the manner set forth in the attachment.

The promissory note was paraphed "Ne Varietur" for identification with the act of sale and mortgage and required 30 days notice prior to the debtor's default. However, the note contains language that the maker waives presentment, demand, protest and notice of nonpayment. The latter language conflicts with the provisions of the mortgage and the note requiring 30 days notice of demand.

*1246 The sale with mortgage was signed by the vendors-mortgagees, Charles Brown and Eva C. Holt and by the vendee-mortgagor, James A. Everding. Mr. Brown's signature appears on the bottom of the next to the last page along with the signatures of two witnesses. Ms. Holt and Mr. Everding signed at the top of the last page above the notary's signature.

Everding failed to pay the installment due January 15, 1977 and on March 2nd the mortgagees' attorney sent by registered mail a letter containing the 30 days notice of demand for payment addressed in the manner required by the mortgage. The return receipt for the registered letter indicated it was received by "Susan Lolley" on 3-5-77. The act of mortgage did not require the document of registration to restrict the party who might receive it and the mortgagees made no such requirement at the time the registered letter was sent.

On April 7 the mortgagees filed an executory proceeding to enforce the mortgage, praying for notice of demand to be served on Everding. The mortgagees attached to the petition the act of sale and mortgage, original note, copy of 30 days demand letter, the documents of registration and return receipt, and an affidavit showing balance due. An order for executory process was signed and notice of demand for payment within 3 days pursuant to LSA-C.C.P. Art. 2639 was issued on the same day the proceedings were filed. This notice was served April 11th on James A. Everding by domiciliary service on Mrs. James A. Everding. No payment was made by Everding and on April 14th the writ of seizure and sale was issued by the clerk. The sheriff did not receive the writ in his possession until the 15th after which the notice was personally served on James A. Everding on April 21st.

Everding failed to suspensively appeal the order of executory process and did not seek to enjoin the sale which occurred on June 1. The property was purchased by Brown. The sheriff's deed was recorded in the conveyance books of Madison Parish June 1.

On June 13, Everding filed a petition to annul the judicial sale in the same numbered and styled proceedings as the original executory proceedings, alleging the following defects:

(1) Erroneous description of property in the executory process proceedings.

(2) Lack of authentic evidence to prove the creditor's right to use executory process.

(3) Lack of notice of demand and default.

(4) Premature issuance of the writ of seizure and sale.

(5) Variance between the mortgage and note regarding the provisions for waiver of demand and default.

The issues on appeal are: (1) from pleadings and documents before the trial court on exception of no cause of action were there alleged substantive defects constituting a cause of action to annul; (2) were the alleged defects contained within the documents considered by the trial court procedural, and for this reason did they fail to establish a cause of action to annul?

The appellant's constitutional arguments directed at LSA-R.S. 13:4112 and at the general failure of the proceedings to be conducted in accordance with due process requirements were first raised by him on appeal and for this reason we decline to consider the issue. Gathright v. Smith, 352 So.2d 282 (La.App., 2d Cir. 1977); Johnson v. Welsh, 334 So.2d 395 (La.1976).

"Defenses and procedural objections to an executory proceeding may be asserted either through an injunction proceeding to arrest the seizure and sale as provided in Articles 2751 through 2754, or a suspensive appeal from the order directing the issuance of the writ of seizure and sale, or both." C.C.P. Art. 2642.

If there are substantive defects in the executory proceedings the sale may be attacked as a nullity even though the debtor failed to exercise his right to take a suspensive appeal or enjoin the sale provided the creditor is the adjudicatee at the sale. Reed v. Meaux, 292 So.2d 557 (La. 1974).

*1247 LSA-R.S. 13:4112[1] provides there can be no action to set aside the judicial sale of immovable property by executory process after recordation of the sheriff's sale or proces verbal by reason of any objection to form or procedure in executory proceedings, or by reason of lack of authentic evidence to support the order and seizure.

The suit to annul, which was filed under the same number as the executory proceedings and bore the same style of executory proceedings, contains allegations which establish that the manner in which it was filed contemplated an adoption of the entire executory proceedings in the pleadings of the nullity action.[2] For this reason the trial court had before it on exception of no cause of action the following documents: (2) the original petition for executory process; (b) notice of demand to Everding with the sheriff's return; (c) writ of seizure and sale; (d) notice of seizure to Everding with the sheriff's return; (e) advertisements; (5) proces verbal; (g) all pleadings in the suit to annul the judicial sale, and (h) the certified copy of sheriff's deed which was stipulated into the record at the hearing of exception of no cause of action.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Nationstar Mortgage LLC v. Parham
216 So. 3d 231 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2017)
Walter Mortgage Co. v. Turner
210 So. 3d 425 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2016)
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co. v. Warren
125 So. 3d 1211 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2013)
First Guar. Bk. v. Baton Rouge Petroleum Center, Inc.
529 So. 2d 834 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1988)
Bankers Life Co. v. Shost
518 So. 2d 563 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1987)
Money Shack, Inc. v. Martin
512 So. 2d 576 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1987)
France v. American Bank
505 So. 2d 1175 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1987)
Taurus Leasing Corp. v. Nelke
400 So. 2d 303 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1981)
Fidelity Nat. Bank of Baton Rouge v. Pitchford
374 So. 2d 149 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1979)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
357 So. 2d 1243, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brown-v-everding-lactapp-1978.