Gresham v. Ware

79 Ala. 192

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: December 15, 1885
• Status: Published

Opinion

CLOPTON, J.

Robert Y. Ware and the complainant executed, January 24,1872, a mortgage to the defendant Gresham, on lands situate in 'Elmore county, known as the “ Molton place,” which were the- individual property of Robert Ware, and on a house and. lot in the city of Montgomery, which was the individual property of complainant, to secure the payment of a bill of exchange, drawn by Robert Ware on, and accepted by complainant, for the sum of $11,200, and payable twelve months after date. The bill is brought by complainant, to redeem the house and lot. It alleges that the mortgagee entered into possession of the Molton place in 1873, and, as mortgagee in possession, has received the rents from 1873 to 1881, inclusive, which, if applied to the mortgage debt, will, on proper accounting, leave but a small amount, if anything, due; that complainant is an accommodation acceptor, the surety of Robert Ware; and, if anything is unpaid on the mortgage debt, his individual property should be first applied to its payment.

The claim of complainant, to have her property exonerated by the antecedent appropriation of the property of Robert Ware, is founded on the equitable principle, that a debt shall be charged on the person or estate primarily bound, — an ecpiity, not dependent on contract, but growing out of the relation of principal and surety, and resting on natural justice. It is of frequent and liberal application in the administration of equity jurisprudence, and extends to all cases, — no rights of third persons intervening, — where one has paid a debt, for which he was not primarily liable, but which he was under a legal obligation to pay, or was compelled to pay for the protection of his interests, the creditor having, at the same time, collateral securities which he is entitled to apply to its payment. On this principle is based the right of subrogation ; and on analogous principle, if a creditor has a paramount lien on two funds, he will be compelled, in favor of a creditor having a subsequent lien on only one of them, to first resort to the fund singly charged, no undue delay or prejudice being caused thereby ; or, if he has already exhausted the fund doubly charged, without taking the other, the subsequent creditor is entitled to satisfaction out of the other fund, to the extent his own has been thus appropriated.—Watts v. Eufaula National Bank, 76 Ala. 474; Ellsworth v. Lockwood, 42 N. Y. 89; Dec. & Hud. Cass. Co.s' Appeal, 2 Wright, 512; 20 Vt. 530.

A like equity arises in the case of a mortgage, executed by the principal debtor and the surety, on the separate and individual property of each. Should the mortgagee bring a bill for a foreclosure, and the property of the principal debtor, having been first sold, proves sufficient to discharge the mortgage, the property of the surety will be released ; "or, if insufficient, and the property of both is sold, when the proceeds are brought into court for appropriation, the portion accruing from the property of the principal will be first applied, and the deficiency paid from the proceeds of the property of the surety, to whom any surplus will be awarded.—Vartie v. Underwood, 18 Barb. 561. On a bill for redemption by the surety, the amount to be paid will be ascertained in like manner, and the equities adjusted on like principles. The rights of the mortgagee will not thereby be delayed, or obstructed, or impaired, and the surety is not put to circuity of action. The rights of the parties are ascertained and determined in one snit; the mortgagee and surety are both protected, and equity administered". In the case of such mortgage, the surety need not wait the,pleasure of the mortgagee as to the time of foreclosure, and suffer his property continued under the incumbrance. As, after the debt has become due, a surety may file a bill to compel the principal to pay it; so, after forfeiture, he may bring a bill for the redemption of his property from a mortgage covering the property of both the principal and himself, without first paying the entire mortgage debt; and in the same suit, as ancillary to redemption, compel the application of the principal’s property to its payment. It is sufficient if he pays, or offers to pay, the balance that may be due.

It is insisted by the defendants, without controverting the general rule, that if the complainant is an accommodation acceptor, which they deny, the mortgage has been extinguished as to the Molton place, by the coalescence of the legal estate and the equity of redemption in the mortgagee, and that she has waived her equity. This contention is based on the following facts: In'December, 1872, Robert Ware was adjudicated a bankrupt. In December, 1878, the mortgagee purchased from the assignee in bankruptcy the equity of redemption, for one hundred and fifty dollars, by the consent in writing of the complainant, given in June preceding; and in 1877, Robert Ware, in consideration of the sums expended in paying taxes and making repairs, and of a credit of $6,900 on the mortgage debt, conveyed to the mortgagee the Molton place in absolute right, and relinquished his equity of redemption ; to which arrangement, it is claimed, the complainant consented.

As a genera] rule, when the legal becomes united with the equitable title in the mortgagee, the mortgage is merged by the unity of possession ; but, if it is to the interest of the mortgagee to keep the titles distinct, there is no merger, and an intervening right between the mortgage and the equity will prevent a merger.—Evans v. Kimball, 1 Allen, 240; Lowd v. Lane, 8 Met. 517. If, therefore, the mortgagee had purchased Ware’s equity of redemption without the consent of complainant, it would not have operated an extinguishment of the mortgage as against her equity ; or, if it did, she would have been released from the debt, and her estate discharged from the mortgage, to the extent of the value of the Molton place. Ent, having purchased the equity of redemption from the assignee, by and in pursuance of her consent in writing, the mortgagee must be held to the terms of the consent. Her agreement to the purchase is on this condition : 11 That he take possession of said Elmore land, and of the rent note for 1878, and account for the same under a sale thereof under the power contained in said mortgage, and for the rent this year • and that said sum of $150.00 be tacked to said mortgage debt as a part thereof - said Elmore county tract of land not to be sold under the said mortgage, before the first day of October, 1873, and, when sold, to be partly for cash, and partly on credit,— say not exceeding one half cash, and the balance on one and two years time, with interest on the credit payments from the day of said sede.” The effect and meaning of the agreement are apparent. The mortgagee was to take possession, sell under the power contained in the mortgage, with a modification of the terms of sale, and account for the proceeds of sale, and for tlie rents and profits, as mortgagee in possession. It was expressly stipulated, that the purchase of the equity of redemption from the assignee should not operate an extinguishment of the mortgage ; but that it should remain open and operative for the benefit and relief of complainant. Such agreement will prevent a merger as against the rights of a surety; and the equity of complainant is unaffected by the purchase of the equity of redemption from the assignee. Cullum v. Emanuel, 1 Ala. 23.

If complainant did not consent to the arrangement, by which the conveyance was made by Robert Ware in 1877, such conveyance or arrangement can not impair or defeat her equities. A creditor, having securities' which he is entitled to apply in discharge of the debt, must so apply them, or hold them ready to be so applied, for the benefit of the surety. No agreement between the creditor and the principal, to which the surety is not a party, will defeat the surety’s right of subrogation. If the creditor renders such securities unavailing, the surety will be released pro taiito. So, likewise, the mortgagee can not, by an arrangement with Robert Ware, to which complainant did not consent, defeat her equity to have the Molton place sold, and the proceeds of sale, with the rents, applied in satisfaction of the mortgage; or cancel or modify the agreement of June, 1872. What would have been its effect, had complainant consented thereto, in view of the fact that Robert Ware had no right or interest in the property which was the subject of conveyance, it is unnecessary for ns to decide. The chancellor found the controverted questions of fact — her suretyship and consent to the conveyance — in favor of complainant. The mortgagee testifies, that the paper evidencing her consent was delivered to him in 1877, and that he has not seen it since, though he has made search for it; yet his attorney testifies, that he saw and read it in 1879, when Bingham and the mortgagee were both present, and that Bingham took it away with him ; and Bingham states, that all the other papers were delivered to him in May, 1880 ; but Bingham is not examined as to the possession, loss, or contents of the paper. Considering that the burden is on the defendants to establish the genuineness and contents of the lost paper; that proof must be clear and satisfactory; the somewhat vague and discrepant recollection of the witnesses as to its terms, and the positive denial of complainant .and T. J. Molton, who is siaid to be a subscribing witness, whatever may be our opinion as to the preponderance of the evidence, it does not clearly appear that the findings of the chancellor are erroneous. We must, therefore, on appeal, take and consider the facts as found by him.

It is further insisted, that the equity of complainant ought not to be enforced against the defendant, Bingham,' who purchased the Molton place from the mortgagee in 1880. Generally, such equity will not be enforced, if its effect is to destroy or impair the rights of an innocent purchaser for value, such purchaser having an equal claim to the consideration of a court of equity. But Bingham does not, either in his answer or otherwise, bring himself within the rule of protection. To make out the defense of innocent purchaser for value, the purchaser must not only state the purchase and the bona fide payment of the consideration, with circumstantiality of details, but also must deny notice of the outstanding equity, and knowledge as to any fact sufficient to put him on inquiry, previous to and down to the time of paying the money; and the denial must be positive and not evasive, whether notice be or be not charged by the bill.—Ledbetter v. Walker, 31 Ala. 175; Wells v. Morrow, 38 Ala. 625; Hooper v. Strahan, 71 Ala. 75; May v. Wilkinson, 76 Ala. 513. Bingham does not state the purchase, the contents of the deed, or the payment of the money, other than by adopting the general statements in the answer of the mortgagee; and there is no pretense of a denial of notice. In no appropriate manner does he bring before the court the claim of a bona fide purchaser without notice, and his rights as such must be considered as eliminated from the case.

The remaining questions arise on the rulings of the chancellor on exceptions to the report of the register, mainly involving the principles on which a mortgagee in possession shall be held to account for rents, and be allowed compensation for repairs and permanent improvements. So far as the assignments of error relate to the conclusions of fact drawn by the register from the evidence before him, all reasonable presumptions are indulged in support of his rulings, and they will not be disturbed, unless it appeal’s they are based on wrong legal principies, or are clearly shown to be erroneous on the evidence.—Winter v. Banks, 72 Ala. 409.

By the agreement of June, 1873, the mortgagee was to account for the rent of that year. It appears from his own evidence, that when he sent his son, in November, to look after and collect the rent, there were crops on the place liable to its satisfaction; and Jackson, the tenant, testifies, that it could have been collected. When the mortgagee went in December, the crops had been removed. No effort was made in the meantime to collect the rent, though the statute armed him with summary process. The rent was lost by the want of reasonable diligence, and he is chargeable therewith.

From the undisputed evidence, the mortgagee received five hundred dollars for the rent of 1874, and five hundred and fifty dollars for each year from 1875 to 1878, inclusive. It is true, the witnesses vary in their estimate of the annual rental value, from $500 to $1,000; but there is an absence of evidence tending to show that greater rent was not obtained by reason of the neglect of the mortgagee. On a bill to redeem, a mortgagee in possession will not be held accountable for anything more than the rents actually received, unless there has been willful default, or gross neglgence, which, in such case, is the measure of reasonable diligence.—Barron, Meade & Co. v. Paulling, 18 Ala. 292; Dozier v. Mitchell, 65 Ala. 511; Daniel v. Coker, 70 Ala. 260. Under the circumstances, the mortgagee should not have been charged with more rent than he actually received for the years mentioned. The rents, with which the mortgagee is chargeable, must be estimated on the value of the property when he took possession, and not on the increased value by reason of permanent improvements subsequently made.—Dozier v. Mitchell, 65 Ala. 562.

A hona fide occupant under claim of title, who makes valuable and permanent improvements, is entitled to compensation, certainly by way of set-off against the mesne profits. A hona fide occupant has been defined to be “one who not only honestly supposes himself to be vested with the true title, but is ignorant that the title is contested by any other person claiming a superior right to it.” If a mortgagee after foreclosure, or a purchaser at or after the foreclosure sale, makes permanent improvements, in the honest belief that he has acquired the absolute title, compensation should be allowed on a bill for redemption. Knowledge, or actual notice of the' adversary right, is fatal to the claim for compensation. The allowance is made on equitable grounds, and it is not equity to allow it to one who has not acted in good faith; otherwise, a mortgagor might he improved out of his property, by increasing the burden of redemption.—Gordon, Rankin & Co. v. Tweedy, 74 Ala. 232; Learned v. Corley, 43 Miss. 687; Woodhull v. Rosenthal, 61 N. Y. 382.

t And when a mortgagee in possession repudiates his relation as such, and claims'the property as his own, denying the right of redemption, he will bo treated in equity as a wrong-doer, and is not entitled to compensation for permanent improvements ; and a purchaser from him with notice has no greater right.—Booth v. Baltimore So. Packet Co., 63 Md. 39. On like principles, a mortgagee, who, disclaiming his character as such, claims absolute right to the property of the principal debtor, primarily bound, will not be allowed for permanent improvements thereon, against the equity of a surety seeking to redeem his own property.

The refusal of the register to allow compensation for permanent improvements was evidently based on his conclusion from the evidence, that Bingham had actual notice of complainant’s equity, and of the infirmity in his own title. The chancellor approved his conclusion, and the evidence tends strongly to sustain it. Bingham had knowledge of the mortgage, and all the other written instruments, which he states were delivered to him in May, 1880. Some of the improvements were erected after the filing of the bill; and the reasonable inference is, that with knowledge of complainant’s adverse right, he made the improvements, relying on his being able to successfully defend against her claim. Having notice of the infirmity of his title, his opinion and belief of its superiority is not the good faith which equity requires. In such case, an occupant makes improvements at his peril.

The mortgagee was entitled to be allowed only the principal, with legal interest from the date of the loan. He admits the usury in his answer; that is, that the bill of exchange was given in consideration of a loan of ten thousand dollars, at twelve per cent, interest yoer annum. This admission in the answer is an estoppel on the defendant from introducing evidence to show it is untrue.—McGehee v. Lehman, Durr & Co., 65 Ala. 316.

6. The statutory damages accruing on the protest of a bill of exchange, constitute part of the debt, and are recoverable in an action on the bill. It is true the acceptor is not personally liable for them. They are, however, secured by the mortgage so far as respects the property of Robert Ware, equally with the principal and interest; and in ascertaining the amount to be paid by complainant on redemption, and the extent to which his property shall be applied in exoneration of hers, all claims and demands having, by the mortgage, a valid lien on his property, must be taken into the estimate. Relief, founded on equitable grounds, will not be granted, to the prejudice of an equity of the mortgagee. The damages and protest fees should have been allowed.

The appeal is taken from the decree rendered at the October term, 1884, which is partly final and partly interlocutory. In connection with the decree of August, 1883, it settles all the equities between the parties, except such questions as arise on the reference ordered, and decrees a sale of the property. In this respect, it is final, and the subject of appeal; but, so far as the chancellor rules on tlie report of the register, and the exceptions, it is interlocutory, a reference as to subsequent interest and rents being undisposed of. To the extent the decree is final, as above stated, we discover no error, and it is affirmed. Without affirming or reversing the decree so far as interlocutory, we have deemed it proper to consider the assignments of error relating to the rulings on the exceptions to the report of the register as directions in stating the account.

Our conclusion makes unnecessary a decision of the motion to strike out several assignments of error.

The costs of appeal will be divided between the parties.