Dunlap v. Voter

72 S.W.2d 1109, 1934 Tex. App. LEXIS 658
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 7, 1934
DocketNo. 3030.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 72 S.W.2d 1109 (Dunlap v. Voter) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dunlap v. Voter, 72 S.W.2d 1109, 1934 Tex. App. LEXIS 658 (Tex. Ct. App. 1934).

Opinion

*1110 HIGGINS, Justice.

This suit was filed on October 2, 1933, by the appellees, Voter and wife, against Frank B. Dunlap, A. J. Klein, A. O. Moser, and H. A. Loughborough, seeking to enjoin the sale by Dunlap of a lot in the city of Dallas under the power conferred by a deed of trust.

A temporary restraining order was issued with notice to the defendants to appear and show cause why a temporary injunction should not issue. Upon hearing a temporary injunction was granted from which order this appeal is prosecuted.

The petition, among other grounds, sought such injunction under the Moratorium Act of the 43d Legislature, chapter 102, p. 225, Reg. Sess. (Vernon’s Ann. Civ. St. art. 2218b). It is apparent from the record that the injunction order was not based upon that act. It is so conceded in the briefs. Furthermore, any question arising upon that phase of the case is now moot under recent rulings of the Supreme Court in dismissing, as moot, various cases pending before it involving the validity of the Moratorium Act.

The question now before this court is whether the relief granted was proper upon che facts pleaded and proven with reference <o the alleged usurious nature of the transaction involved.

The allegations of the petition upon this phase of the case are vague, uncertain, and in large measure legal conclusions of the pleader. It might properly be held that for this reason the injunctive relief sought should not have been granted. 24 Tex. Jur. title Injunctions, § 169, and cases there cited.

But in view of trial later upon the merits it is proper that we rule upon the issue of usury as it is presented.

From the verified pleadings and evidence the facts seem to be as follows:

On January 28, 1929, Klein, Moser, and Loughborough conveyed to Voter and wife the lot mentioned in consideration of $7,850 paid and secured to be paid as follows: $850 cash and the execution of two notes by the grantees numbered 1 and 2, of even date with the deed. No. 1 is in the principal sum of $5,000 payable to order of Susan Sehoech, bearing interest at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum payable semiannually as it accrues. The maturity date of this note and its other terms are not shown. Note No. 2 reads as follows:

“Dallas, Texas, Jan. 28,1929.
“For value received, we promise to pay to the order of A. J. Klein, A. G. Moser and H. A. Loughborough, of the County of Dallas, State of Texas, the principal sum of Two Thousand and No/lOO ($2,000.00) Dollars, with interest thereon from date until paid at the rate of 8% per annum, payable monthly with each installment of this note, as it accrues on the entire unpaid balance hereof, all past due interest bearing interest from maturity until paid at the rate of 10% per annum.
“Failure to pay any portion of the principal or interest hereon, when due, or failure-to comply with or to perform any of the provisions or covenants contained in the hereinafter mentioned instruments of writing or failure to make the monthly deposits as hereinafter provided for, shall, at the option of the legal owners and holders hereof, mature the entire indebtedness represented hereby and secured by the hereinafter mentioned liens.
“This note is secured by Vendor’s Lien retained in deed of even date herewith from A. J. Klein, et ux, A. G. Moser, et ux, and H. A. Loughborough, et ux, to Edwin G. Voter and wife, Lillian L. Voter, and by Deed of Trust of even date herewith, from Edwin G. Voter, et ux, to Frank B. Dunlap, Trustee, upon Lot No. Three (3) in Block No. Three (3) of Greenville Orest Annex, an addition to the City of Dallas,-Dallas County, Texas,, according to map or plat of record in Volume 4, Rage 65, Flat Records of Dallas County, Texas, and, we hereby agree to pay all expenses incurred, including attorney’s fees of 10% of principal and interest due hereon, if placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or if collected through the probate court or by other judicial proceedings.
“This note shall be payable as follows:
“The makers hereof shall deposit with the holders hereof, monthly, the sum of $66.66-% on or before the 28th day of February, 1929, and the 28th day of each succeeding calendar month thereafter until fully paid, out of which monthly installments the holders hereof shall pay, first, the interest accrued on the first lien note of even date herewith, executed by the makers hereof, payable to Susanna Schoech, in the principal sum of $5000.00; second, the interest accrued hereon at the rate herein provided, and the residue of each installment to be applied as a credit on the principal of this note.”

To secure the payment of these notes a vendor’s lien was reserved in the conveyance. Such lien securing the payment of the $5,000 note is paramount to the lien securing the payment of the $2,000 note. To further secure the notes the Voters executed two deeds *1111 •of trust upon the lot to Dunlap as trustee. The record is silent as to the terms of the deed of trust securing the $5,000 note. The deed of trust securing the $2,000 note discloses that it is subordinate to the other deed of trust.

The deed of trust securing the payment of the $2,000 note provides:

“This conveyance is made in trust, however, to secure and enforce the payment of one certain promissory note of even date herewith (hereinafter referred to as note), executed by the undersigned, payable to the order of A. J. Klein, A. G. Moser and H. A. Loughbor-ough at 111 Martin Street, Dallas, Texas, described as follows: In the principal sum of $2000.00, due on or before in equal, consecutive monthly installments as provided in the face of said note, being the identical promissory vendor’s lien note given by the grantors herein in part payment for the property hereinbefore described, as recited in Deed thereto of even date herewith, executed by A. J. Klein, et ux, A. O. Moser, et ux, and H. A. Loughborough, et ux, to the said Edwin G. Voter and wife, Lillian L. Voter, * ⅜ *
“Failure of the grantors herein, their heirs on assigns, to promptly pay, at maturity, any principal or interest due on any prior lien indebtedness, shall, at the option of the legal owners and holders of the note secured hereby, immediately mature the entire indebtedness represented by said note for $2000.00 and recourse hereunder may be had as herein provided.
“It is agreed that if default be made in the payment of any principal or interest on said note, or in the performance of the covenants or agreements herein contained, or any of them, then at the option of the legal holder of said note, the whole of the debt herein secured shall become due and payable, and may be collected by suit or by proceeding hereunder ; and it is further agreed that if said indebtedness is not paid when due, and is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection, or if collected through the Probate Court, ten per cent additional on full amount shall be added as attorney’s fees.”

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Bluebook (online)
72 S.W.2d 1109, 1934 Tex. App. LEXIS 658, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dunlap-v-voter-texapp-1934.