Cristy v. Banco Territorial y Agrícola

11 P.R. 525
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico·Decided December 17, 1906·No. No. 35·Published

Opinion

Ms. Justice HbRNÁNdez

delivered the opinion of the court.

This action was initiated by a complaint filed in the District Court of Mayagfiez on February 17, 1905, by Alfredo Cristy y Vanel, against the Banco Territorial y Agrícola de Puerto Rico, wherein it was prayed that a tract of sugar-cane covering 24 cuerdas of the “Carmelita” Plantation be declared to belong to the plaintiff, and consequently that the defendant be adjudged to return to the plaintiff said cuerdas of sugar-cane, or in lieu thereof, the sum of $6,060, with interest and the costs.

The following facts are alleged in said complaint:

“First. By deed executed in San Juan, P. R., on April 2, 1901, before Notary Santiago R. Palmer, Felipe Cuebas y Arredondo mortgaged to the Banco Territoiúal y Agrícola de Puerto Rico, an estate belonging to him called the ‘Carmelita’ Plantation, used for pasture purposes, described in the first statement of facts in said deed.
“Second. By deed executed before Notary R. Ulpiano Colon, January 21, 3904, Felipe Cuebas y Arredondo sold the ‘Carmelita’ Plantation, mentioned in the first allegation of his complaint, to [527]*527Francisco Antongiorgi and Maria de los Angeles Franceschi, who planted thereon 30 cuerdas of sugar-cane.
‘1 Third. By deed executed in this city on May 17, 1904, before the Notary Alberto Salicrup, substituting Notary R. Ulpiano Colón, Francisco Antongiorgi, in his own right, and on behalf of Maria de los Angeles Franceschi, and Felipe Cuebas Arredondo, in his own right, rescinded the purchase and sale mentioned in the second allegation hereof, in the form, and under the terms and conditions set forth in said deed of rescission; and of this deed I attach a copy, under No. 2.
“Fourth. By deed executed on May 17, 1904, before Alberto Sali-crup, the notary substituting Notary B.. Ulpiano Colón, the plaintiff acquired of Felipe Cuebas y Arredondo the 30 cuerdas of sugar-cane upon the 'Carmelita' Plantation, described in the second allegation of this complaint.
“Fifth. Under these circumstances, the Banco Territorial y Agrí-cola de Puerto Rico, brought an action against Felipe Cuebas y Arre-dondo to recover on the mortgage described in the first statement of facts; the proceedings having been prosecuted, the mortgaged ‘Car-melita’ Plantation, was awarded to it; the bank asked that it be given possession; the lessee of said plantation objected to such possession; the court ordered that the possession requested be given the bank; an appeal was taken from this decision; the bank applied for the appointment of a receiver; the appointment was made; and now the ‘Carmelita’ Plantation is under the charge and custody of the receiver appointed at the petiton of the bank, and the plaintiff is deprived of the right to cut and sell the sugar-cane belonging to him growing on the ‘Carmelita’ Plantation.
“Sixth. Although according to the deed, the sugar-cane planted belonging to the petitioner, covers an area of 30 cuerdas, its actual area is only 24 cuerdas.
•“Seventh. Said sugar-cane is now ready to be cut.
“Eighth. Each cuerda of said sugar-cane produces 45 tons; and as each ton of sugar-cane gives a net profit of $4.50, each cuerda gives a net profit of $200.50; and as there are 24 cuerdas the indemnity for which is involved, they give a total net profit of $4,860, to which is to be added the value of the rattoons of said 24 cuerdas, or $1,200. Total amount of the claim, $6,060; and
“Ninth. The Banco Territorial y Agrícola in taking possession of the 24 cuerdas of sugar-cane described in this complaint, has caused damage to the plaintiff in the sum of $6,060.”

[528]*528The Banco Territorial y Agrícola demurred to the complaint on the sixth subdivision of section 105 of the Code of Civil Procedure — that is to say, that the complaint did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, basing’ its argument upon the following allegations:

“The plaintiff acknowledges that Felipe Cuebas Arredondo, the owner of the ‘Carmelita’ Plantation, mortgaged it to the Banco Territorial y Agrícola, by public deed executed before Notary S. R. Palmer, on April 2, 1901, which he attaches; and that for the recovery of the amount of this mortgage the bank prosecuted an action until the estate was awarded to it and a receiver appointed, who is the present possessor of the estate and the sugar-cane, until the opposition made by the lessee of the property is decided. He also recognizes that the right which he alleges to such sugar-cane is based upon a deed which he submits, executed before the notary substituting Notary R. TJ1-piano Colón, .on May 7, 1904, by which Felipe Cuebas, the owner of said sugar-cane planted on the ‘Carmelita’ Plantation, sold it to Alfredo Cristy in payment of $1,350, as part of the $3,000 which he owed him, which deed is not recorded in the registry, nor is it even recordable with respect to said sugar-cane. This being the case, it is evident that the title of Cristy cannot prejudice the bank, which has had its mortgage on the estate recorded for some years. The plaintiff may have a right of action against Felipe Cuebas Arredondo for the $1,350 for which he sold said sugar-cane, but he has no action against the bank, which did not agree to nor take part in said contract and which, on the other hand, has a prior recorded property right therein. Assuming, therefore, that the facts alleged in the complaint were admitted, as presented, it is very clear that no cause of action can be derived therefrom against the defendant. This exception constitutes, therefore, a question of law, which is covered, without doubt, by the provisions of the Mortgage Law and the Civil Code in force.’’

The record does not show the decision of the District Court of Mayagüez on this demurrer, but does show that answer was made to the complaint on October 22, 1908, the 21st of February of the current year being set for the trial, at which, after the allegations and evidence of the parties had been heard, judgment was rendered on the following 6th of March, [529]*529bolding that the law and the facts were in favor of the plaintiff, and consequently ordering that the latter recover from the defendant the product or value of the planted sugar-cane in question, amounting to the sum of $1,750, after deducting therefrom the amounts invested by the hank in the maintenance and care of said plantings, and that the defendant pay the costs, against whose property execution would issue to satisfy the judgment.

Counsel for the hank took an appeal from this judgment, which, after the written and oral allegations of both parties had been heard, is now pending the decision of this Supreme Court.

As we have said, the record does not show the decision rendered on the demurrer filed by the defendant banking company, hut the fact that the trial was held upon answer to the complaint shows that in this case the demurrer was overruled by the Mayagüez court, this being affirmed as it is by both parties in the written briefs submitted for our consideration.

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Cristy v. Banco Territorial y Agrícola, 11 P.R. 525 (prsupreme 1906).

11 P.R. 525 (Cristy v. Banco Territorial y Agrícola) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.