Brownlee v. Masterson

247 N.W. 481, 215 Iowa 993
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedMarch 14, 1933
DocketNo. 41783.
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 247 N.W. 481 (Brownlee v. Masterson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brownlee v. Masterson, 247 N.W. 481, 215 Iowa 993 (iowa 1933).

Opinion

Kintzinger, J.

— Plaintiff by written lease rented the land in question to the defendant John Masterson for a period of five years from March 1, 1928, In his-petition filed February 5, 1932, and a later amendment plaintiff asks a landlord’s attachment against the property in question and judgment for $577. The attachment was duly issued and the property in question levied on. Thereafter on February 8, 1932, plaintiff and defendants agreed on the sale of the property attached by the sheriff; the defendants also waived all exemptions as to plaintiff and agreed that plaintiff receive the rents from the proceeds of the sale made by the sheriff.

The lease was not signed by the tenant’s wife, and was not recorded; the lessee was a resident of Iowa and the head of a family.

On February 8th the court adjudged and decreed that the sheriff sell the property attached and hold said funds until the further order of this court, and further ordered the sale of any other property levied on, and if it “sell for more than plaintiff’s claim that he, under order of court herein, pay any balance to whomsoever entitled thereto.”

On February 9, 1932, intervener, Glenn, filed a petition in intervention alleging his ownership of a $1,000 note, and chattel mortgage securing the same, executed by the defendant John Masterson and Nellie Masterson, his wife, on July 22, 1930, the mortgage being duly recorded on July 22, 1930. The intervener asked judgment for $1,000 on the note, and a prior lien under his chattel mortgage upon the property attached and the proceeds from sale thereof as against plaintiff’s claim for a landlord’s lien.

On February 15th plaintiff, in an amendment to his petition, asked that plaintiff’s landlord’s lien be established as superior to that of the intervener.

On February 26, 1932, the defendant, John Masterson entered *995 his appearance and confessed judgment for $577 for the rents of 1931 and to March 1, 1933.

On March 8th, the court entered an order finding that the plaintiff is entitled to a judgment of $577.00 with interest and costs. And also finds that said judgment is a first lien upoji the funds and property unsold in the hands of the sheriff, and the sheriff was directed to sell said unsold personal property- — -pay the costs and expenses of sale — “and hold the balance of the said sale subject to the further order of this court.” This order was signed by the court, February 26, 1932. It was later agreed that this order was not binding on intervener.

On April 12, 1932, the defendants, John and Nellie Masterson filed a general denial to Glenn’s petition of intervention, except they admit the execution of the note and chattel mortgage held by intervener. They further allege that said chattel mortgage was executed without consideration. They also “expressly waive any exemption under the law as against William Brownlee and admit that said property or the proceeds be applied upon the rent.”

On April 12, 1932, the plaintiff in his answer denies every allegation in the petition of intervention and prays judgment for the proceeds of the sale in the hands of the sheriff.

On May 20, 1932, the defendants, John and Nellie Masterson, by amendment to their answer allege that all property levied upon was not subject to any exemption, but was subject to execution and levy for debts, and especially for the rents due plaintiff.

Thereafter on May 26, 1932, this action was submitted to the court upon an agreed statement of facts. The agreed statement of facts is substantially as follows:

“It is conceded by all parties that exhibit A is the lease; that the sheriff levied upon all the property in controversy under a landlord’s attachment on February 5, 1932.

“That on February 13, 1932, 53 of the hogs attached were sold by order of court for $417.85 less costs, leaving a balance of $311.70 in the hands of the sheriff, to take the place of the property attached, claimed by plaintiff and intervener, and that the liens of the parties are to follow the proceeds.

“That on April 1, 1932, the remaining hogs, cows, horses and mules were sold, by order of the court, for $134.86, which less costs left a balance of $100.06 in the hands of the sheriff, held under the *996 same terms and conditions as the hog money, heretofore mentioned, being a total of $411.76 in the hands of the sheriff.

“On February 26, 1932, plaintiff recovered judgments amounting to $578.00 against defendant John Masterson.

“It is also stipulated that all of • the property in controversy was used by the defendant John Masterson on the premises and was his during the term of the lease; that defendant John Masterson waives any and all claims of exemption as to said property under the laws of Iowa, which waiver is effective as of April 12, 1932.

“All parties concede that the $1,000 note executed by John and Nellie Masterson on March 1, 1926, and at one time assigned to J. T. Daughman and afterwards reassigned to T. J. Glenn (intervener) is a valid note and judgment should he rendered thereon for $1,000.

“It is conceded that to secure payment of said note, the defendants, John and Nellie Masterson, husband and wife, did on July 22, .1930, execute and deliver to J. T. Daughman, the then holder of said note, a chattel mortgage covering the property in question; that said mortgage was recorded in the office of the county recorder of Mahaska CounLy, in July 1930; that the mortgagors resided in Mahaska County, and the property at said time was situated in Mahaska County. A true copy of said note and mortgage being attached to intervener’s petition, as exhibits A and B; that said note and mortgage are now the property of intervener.

“That the property in question, except for the waiver herein mentioned and the terms of said mortgage, would be exempt from, execution to said John Masterson as being a married man, resident of the State of Iowa and the head of a family; that said property at the time of the execution of said mortgage was situated on the farm of plaintiff.

“It is further stipulated and agreed that the judgment entry made by this court on the 26th day of February, 1932, as to the priority of liens is not binding on this intervener T. J. Glenn.”

Upon this record the lower court found that the defendants, John Masterson and Nellie Masterson, executed the chattel mortgage in question, covering the property in controversy in July, 1930, and was recorded a few days after its execution.

That the defendant John Masterson executed and delivered to plaintiff the lease in question and that said lease was not signed by the defendant Nellie Masterson, who was the wife of John Master-son, and that said lease was never recorded.

*997 That the personal property levied upon was sold by the sheriff and the net proceeds of $417.76 was left in his hands to await the final outcome of this suit.

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

Related

Baron v. Waldo (In Re Waldo)
70 B.R. 16 (N.D. Iowa, 1986)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
247 N.W. 481, 215 Iowa 993, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brownlee-v-masterson-iowa-1933.