Cook v. Lemoine

149 So. 263, 1933 La. App. LEXIS 1917
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 30, 1933
DocketNo. 4573.
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 149 So. 263 (Cook v. Lemoine) 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
Cook v. Lemoine, 149 So. 263, 1933 La. App. LEXIS 1917 (La. Ct. App. 1933).

Opinion

DREW, Judge.

Plaintiffs allege they are the owners of the southwesterly 90 feet of lot 9, block 22, of the John N. Howell subdivision in the city of Shreveport; that on October 22, 1929, they loaned to John E. Murray, the then owner of the above-described property, the sum of $8,000, which was secured by mortgage on said property, which mortgage was duly recorded on that date after they had examined the mortgage records and had a mortgage certificate issued upon the property which disclosed that the mortgage granted to them by John E. Murray was a first mortgage and the only incumbrance against the property at that time.

That subsequent to that date the city of Shreveport caused a paving ordinance to be recorded accepting paving upon Creswell street, upon which this property abuts, which ordinance is for the sum of $1,018.39, and which was recorded on November 12, 1929. That subsequently John E. Murray issued paving certificates for the work above described aggregating the sum of $814.70, which were recorded on December 4, 1929. They further allege that John E. Murray was unable to pay the mortgage note, interest thereon, or the taxes, and that plaintiffs paid the taxes and took subrogation therefor.

That John E. Murray has since deeded to plaintiffs the above-described property, with other property, in payment and satisfaction of the obligation secured by the mortgage and the obligation arising from the payment of taxes, and that although the deed recites a cash consideration, the only consideration was as herein set forth.

They further allege that Dr. A. Lemoine now holds the paving certificates above mentioned, and claims to have a lien and privilege upon the above-described property; they allege that Dr. Lemoine has no lien and privilege for the reason that the ordinance accepting the paving for which the certificates *265 were later issued, was passed by the commission council of the city of Shreveport on October 22, 1929, and was not recorded until November 12, 1929, more than ten days after its passage. That the paving was done under Act No. 187 of 1920, as amended by Act No. 115 of 1922, and that under the law, the ordinance of acceptance is required to be filed in the mortgage records within ten days after its passage. That the claim of Dr. Lemoine under said paving certificates operates as a cloud upon their title and that same should be canceled and erased from the records, and they so pray.

Dr. Lemoine filed an exception of no cause of action and no right of action. In answer he admits the ownership of plaintiffs in the property described. He admits the filing and recordation of the ordinance accepting the paving by the city of Shreveport was subsequent to the recordation of plaintiffs’ mortgage. He admits that John E. Murray subsequently issued paving certificates and that-Murray deeded the property to plaintiffs, but for lack of information denies the consideration as set out by plaintiffs. He admits that he is the holder of the paving certificates and denies that he has no lien and privilege. He admits that his lien incumbers plaintiffs’ title and avers it to be a legal incumbrance and that plaintiffs are not entitled to have it erased from the records. He denies all other allegations of plaintiffs’ petition, and further answering, avers that, although the ordinance accepting the paving was recorded more than ten days after its enactment, it was binding and effective as against John E. Murray and that plaintiffs acquired from Murray nothing more than his interest in said property, and the said ordinance and paving certificates, which were binding upon Murray, are likewise binding and effective against plaintiffs and they are estopped to deny the validity of said ordinance and paving certificates, as was Murray; that the acceptance by plaintiffs of a deed to said property from Murray, in payment of their mortgage, extinguished said mortgage by payment and confusion, and thereby made defendant’s claim, lien and privilege, first in rank against said property.

That plaintiffs knew said paving had been laid and constructed in accordance with the law at the time their mortgage was secured that they knew the ordinance in question had been passed or would be passed; that they knew the law required the enactment of said ordinance and that same would be1 recorded in the mortgage records of Caddo parish; and they knew, or should have known, that the said ordinance and paving certificates would be effective as against John E.. Murray and would affect said property or a transfer of it to them. That plaintiffs made no objection to the paving or ordinance and paving certificates, although they had full knowledge of all the facts concerning same; that they thereby purchased the interest of Murray, such as it was, and are now estopped to deny the validity of said claim and lien of defendant; and that-plaintiffs paid other assessments against lots 1, 2, and 3 of block 22 of the John N. Howell subdivision of the city of Shreveport for paving accepted under like circumstances without objection.

That the paving enhanced the value of the property to the amount of the paving certificates held by defendant, and that plaintiffs are liable for the payment of the certificates, or for the difference between the value of the property, before the paving was, constructed, and afterwards, which , difference exceeds the amount of said certificates. Assuming the, position of plaintiff in reconvention, defendant avers that he is the owner of the certificates and notes, the manner' in which he acquired them, and the tehor of same. He alleged the validity of said certificates and notes and that by virtue of being the holder and owner of-same, 'he' is entitled to have the property described herein' seized and sold to pay and satisfy the certificates and notes for cash to pay that part already due and on terms of credit to pay the part not due.

He further avers that the city of Shreveport, by the sale of said certificates and notes, warranted the certificates to be good and valid, and were in all respects what they purported to be and would be paid accord-' ing to their tenor, and that should the court hold that the certificates and notes are not a valid lien and privilege against said property and should be canceled and erased from the mortgage records, then the city of Shreveport is liable to defendant for the full amount of his claim, interest, attorney’s fees, and costs, and is liable under its warranty to pay same to defendant, and that if not liable on this ground, it is liable to him in damages for the full amount of his claim, through its failure to comply with Act No. 187 of 1920, and any other laws of this state; that the city of Shreveport is a necessary party to this suit and is called in warranty to the end that it be made a party to this suit to defend defendant in his claim to a lien and privilege affecting the property herein described.

He prayed for the demands of plaintiffs to be rejected and for judgment in reconvention recognizing his lien and privilege as a first incumbrance against said property; that the property be seized and sold,.to,satisfy his claim, lien, and privilege. That life’ city of Shreveport be called in warranty, and if defendant is cast in any amount, that he have judgment against the city for the full amount of his claim, certificates, and notes, with interest, attorney’s fees, and costs.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
149 So. 263, 1933 La. App. LEXIS 1917, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cook-v-lemoine-lactapp-1933.