Helfrich v. Baxter

258 N.W. 532, 128 Neb. 281, 1935 Neb. LEXIS 23
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 25, 1935
DocketNo. 29137
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 258 N.W. 532 (Helfrich v. Baxter) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Helfrich v. Baxter, 258 N.W. 532, 128 Neb. 281, 1935 Neb. LEXIS 23 (Neb. 1935).

Opinion

Carter, J.

This was an action brought by the appellant to foreclose a real estate mortgage and secure a deficiency judgment from the appellees herein. On July 22, 1919, one Blanche J. Elwood executed a note for $14,000 and secured the same by a mortgage on the real estate involved in this [283]*283action. On September 25, 1919, one Irving F. Baxter purchased the mortgaged property, taking the title to himself as trustee for himself and others, including the appellees herein. The appellant, Helfrich, purchased the note and mortgage on December 6, 1923, and on July 22, 1924, Helfrich and Baxter entered into an agreement extending the loan for five years. On January 5, 1928, Helfrich and the appellees and others entered into a contract regarding the mortgaged property which will be described more fully later on in this opinion. On August 3, 1932, Helfrich filed his petition to foreclose the mortgage with a prayer for a deficiency judgment against all of the defendants. A decree of foreclosure was entered July 3, 1933, finding the amount due on the note and mortgage to be $14,142.98, and a further amount of $838 due for redeeming. the property from tax sale. The property was sold to Helfrich on August 29, 1933, for $2,000, subject to accumulated taxes amounting to $6,288.53, leaving a balance due the appellant, Helfrich, after exhausting his security, of approximately $13,000. From an order dismissing appellant’s application for a personal judgment against Samuel W. Reynolds, Abe Herzberg, Jr., and Clifford W. Calkins, appellees herein, the appellant, Helfrich, appeals.

Appellant’s first contention is that he is entitled to a deficiency judgment for all the balance due. The record discloses that Baxter and his associates, the appellees herein, purchased the property involved here for the sum of $51,150. It was encumbered at that time by mortgages totaling $30,000, which were deducted from the purchase price. Appellant contends that these facts constitute an assumption of the mortgage indebtedness.

Appellant relies on the case of Rockwell v. Blair Savings Bank, 31 Neb. 128, from which we quote as follows: “The property was conveyed by a deed of .general warranty which makes no mention of any encumbrance. Austin Rockwell and Isaac Tebury were the only persons who gave testimony as to the terms of the agreement for the [284]*284sale of the lot. The testimony of these witnesses agrees that the purchase price was $2,500; that Tebury only paid the Rockwells $300; that he never agreed to pay the balance of the considerations to them, and gave no obligation for the remainder of the contract price. Tebury knew of the existence of the mortgage for $2,200 held by the bank when the sale was made, and after obtaining the deed he paid three instalments of interest on the lien. Austin Rockwell also testified that Tebury agreed to pay the amount due the bank on the mortgage. This testimony is not overcome by the evidence of Tebury. While he swears on his direct examination that nothing was said about his paying the mortgage, yet on cross-examination he says he has no recollection of anything being said about his taking care of the mortgage debt. He was also asked on cross-examination ‘How did you pay the other $2,200?’ His answer was: ‘A mortgage holds it.’ He makes no claim in his testimony that he only bought the Rockwells’ equity of redemption, but admits that he was to pay $2,500 for the property; that he only paid $300 of the same, and that the mortgage holds the balance. The testimony establishes beyond any question that Tebury retained part of the purchase price to pay the $2,200 encumbrance. He thereby made the mortgage debt his own and is therefore personally liable with the Rockwells for the amount of the deficiency remaining after the foreclosure of the mortgaged premises.”

A part of the case above quoted indicates that the liability for a deficiency was based on an agreement to pay the mortgage. This is in line with the subsequent holdings of this court. That part of the opinion that indicates a liability for deficiency where a mortgage is deducted from the purchase price is not in harmony with the decisions of this court. By deducting the amount of the mortgage and paying the balance in cash, the purchaser does not assume and agree to pay the debt. Recitations in a deed of conveyance that said deed is subject to a mortgage or that said mortgage is a part of the considera[285]*285tion or purchase price do not create an assumption agreement. It is our opinion, and we so hold, that to entitle the holder of a mortgage to a deficiency judgment against a purchaser of the premises mortgaged, the proofs must be such as would enable such mortgagee to maintain an action against such purchaser for the amount secured by said mortgagee. Green v. Hall, 45 Neb. 89. We therefore hold that appellant is not entitled to a deficiency judgment for the full amount remaining unpaid, for the reason that he does not come within the rule above announced. That part of the opinion in Rockwell v. Blair Savings Bank, hereinbefore cited, which infers that the deduction of liens from the purchase price of real estate, or the purchase of realty subject to mortgage, amounts to an assumption of the debt, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, is hereby disapproved.

Appellant contends that the extension agreement of July 22, 1924, entered into by Baxter as trustee for appellees, amounts to an assumption of the debt by the appellees. To this we cannot concur as there is no agreement to assume the debt contained' in the extension contract.

The appellant contends that appellees are liable for a personal judgment because of the written agreement entered into on January 5, 1928, which was signed by Helfrich and each of the appellees herein, the material part of which is as follows: “That said parties of the second part jointly and severally further agree to pay or cause to be paid, to the extent of the value of said premises, including the proceeds from the sale thereof and the income derived therefrom, to said H. L. Helfrich the interest as it falls due according to the terms of the said fourteen thousand dollar mortgage note, also the principal of said mortgage note at its maturity, as fixed by said extension agreement, and we further agree to pay to said H. L. Helfrich all other expenses and costs incurred or to be incurred by him in connection with this contract and in connection with the purchase and holding of said certifi[286]*286cate of purchase, including said sale, until said sale is finally confirmed and the deed of the county treasurer executed and delivered to said party of the first part, or his assigns.”

The appellees contend, however, that there is no. consideration for the agreement and that it is therefore void. We are of the opinion that there is a sufficient consideration to sustain it. The contract provides:

“That P. J. Tebbens may purchase said real estate at said sheriff’s sale, and receive the certificate of purchase therefor, which certificate of purchase said H. L. Helfrich agrees to have assigned to him by said P. J. Tebbens within five (5) days after said sale, on condition, however, that the parties of the second part provide and furnish to said P. J. Tebbens a sufficient amount of money to cover his bid for said property at said sale, which amount of money the parties of the second part agree to so furnish at said time.

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Related

Vlazny v. Dittrich
285 N.W. 698 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1939)
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281 N.W. 850 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1938)
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274 N.W. 383 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1937)
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268 N.W. 310 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1936)
Helfrich v. Baxter
267 N.W. 922 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1936)

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Bluebook (online)
258 N.W. 532, 128 Neb. 281, 1935 Neb. LEXIS 23, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/helfrich-v-baxter-neb-1935.