Duckett v. Home Building and Loan Ass'n

10 Pa. D. & C.2d 181, 1957 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 363
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
DecidedApril 15, 1957
Docketno. 8720
StatusPublished

This text of 10 Pa. D. & C.2d 181 (Duckett v. Home Building and Loan Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Duckett v. Home Building and Loan Ass'n, 10 Pa. D. & C.2d 181, 1957 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 363 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1957).

Opinion

Weinrott, J.,

This complaint in assumpsit was filed by plaintiff veteran and his wife, seeking the recovery of $500 down payment on the purchase of premises 5504 Race Street, Philadelphia, and the value of certain improvements. The agreed purchase price was $5,000, and a first mortgage in the amount of $4,500 was given by the veteran and his wife to defendant Home Building and Loan Associa[182]*182tion. This mortgage was guaranteed by the United States Government under the provisions of Title III of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of June 22, 1944, C. 268, sec. 500, 58 Stat. at L. 291, as amended, 38 U. S. C. §694, et seq. Shortly after they moved into the premises, plaintiff installed and paid for storm windows, screens and Venetian blinds.

About one year after the purchase of the premises, plaintiffs defaulted in their mortgage. Defendant Home Building and Loan Association entered judgment on the bond accompanying its mortgage and exposed plaintiffs’ property to sheriff sale. At the sheriff sale the property was sold to the attorney on the writ for defendant Home Building and Loan Association for a bid of $275. Defendant Home Building and Loan Association then notified the Veterans Administration, pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated under the authority of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, as amended, of its election to convey the property and all its rights thereto derived from the sale to the administrator of the Veterans Administration upon payment to it of the amount claimed under the loan guaranty. The Veterans Administration then requested Home to notify the owner to vacate the premises as soon as possible. The owners were cautioned that when the property was vacated it should be left in good order with all refuse and debris removed; that the plumbing and heating systems of the property should be completely drained, and should be secured and locked and protected against vandalism, and that the key should be forwarded to the Veterans Administration Office to the attention of the property management section.

On or about January 20, 1954, plaintiffs removed, leaving on the premises the storm windows, screens and Venetian blinds which they had installed.

[183]*183The Veterans Administration, by means of a real estate agent, procured another purchaser for the premises who paid the sum of $5,750 for the purchase of the property. Plaintiffs instituted suit against defendant Home Building and Loan Association and H. B. Higley, Administrator of Veterans Affairs, seeking the return of the $500 deposit money paid at the time of the purchase of the premises, and the sum of $380 for the cost of improvements in the nature of storm windows, screens and Venetian blinds. Both defendants filed preliminary objections. Defendant Home Building and Loan Association filed their objections in the nature of a demurrer, while the preliminary objections of defendant H. B. Higley raised a question of jurisdiction as well as a demurrer. The preliminary objections of both defendants were overruled and they then filed answers.

The matter was tried before this court sitting without a jury, and a finding was entered for defendant Home Building and Loan Association and against plaintiffs. Decision was. reserved as to H. B. Higley, Administrator of Veterans Affairs.

The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of World War II, as amended, provides for the guarantee by the Government of certain real estate loans granted in compliance with the act. One of the conditions of the guaranty is that any real estate loan other than for-repairs, alterations or improvements shall be secured by a first lien on the realty, and a nonreal estate loan, except as to working or other capital, merchandise, good will or other intangible assets shall be secured by personalty to the extent legal and practicable: Section 694 (b), 38 U. S. C. p. 624-25. The act provides certain procedures on default in the payment of any loan guaranteed under the act.

“§694g. Procedure on default.
“In the event of default in the payment of any loan guaranteed under this subchapter, the holder of the [184]*184obligation shall notify the Administrator who shall thereupon pay to such holder the guaranty not in excess of the pro rata portion of the amount originally guaranteed,' and shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of the obligation to the extent of the amount paid on the guaranty: Provided, That prior to suit or foreclosure the holder of the obligation shall notify the Administrator of the default, and within thirty days thereafter the Administrator may, at his option, pay the holder of the obligation the unpaid balance of the obligation plus accrued interest and receive an assignment of the loan and security: Provided further, That (1) nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude any forbearance for the benefit of the veteran as may be agreed upon by the parties to the loan.and approved by the Administrator; and (2) the Administrator may establish the date, not later than the date of judgment and decree of foreclosure or sale, upon which accrual of interest or charges shall cease.” June 22, 1944, c. 268, Title III, §506, as added Dec. 28, 1945, c. 588, §8, 59 Stat. 630.

Section 694 (j) provides certain powers of the administrator :

“(a) With respect to matters arising by reason of this subchapter as now or hereafter amended and, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the Administrator may—
“(1) Sue and be sued in his official capacity in any court of competent jurisdiction, State or Federal; . . .
“(5) Purchase at any sale, public or private, upon such terms and for such prices as he determines to be reasonable, and take title to, property, real, personal or mixed; and similarly sell, at public or private sale, exchange, assign, convey, or otherwise dispose of any such property; and. ...”

Plaintiffs argue that the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, as amended, by the use of the-words, [185]*185“shall he subrogated to the rights of the holder of the obligation to the extent of the amount paid on the guaranty”, creates the Administrator of Veterans Affairs as one merely holding title to security for the benefit of the veteran, and that upon default and foreclosure sale the veteran is the recipient of any net profit derived from the sale. The contention of defendants is that the rights of plaintiffs are extinguished by the sheriff sale, and that the contract of guaranty being a gratuity on the part of the Government inures in no way to the additional benefit of plaintiffs. The ádministrator, in this case, elected to pay' the holder of the obligation the amount of the existing debt of the veteran up to the extent of the guaranty, and thereby received an assignment of the loan and the security. Upon receipt of the loan and security, we believe that the administrator then stood in the shoes of any bona fide assignee of the mortgagee. We cannot find any intention within the act to place the Veterans Administrator in any different position from that of any other assignee of the mortgagee or other purchaser at sheriff sale.

We agree with defendants that the construction argued by plaintiffs would make the administrator a trustee for the defaulting veteran mortgagor and subject the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to the duties of a trustee.

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Bluebook (online)
10 Pa. D. & C.2d 181, 1957 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 363, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/duckett-v-home-building-and-loan-assn-pactcomplphilad-1957.