James v. Jackson Production Credit Ass'n

389 So. 2d 494, 1980 Miss. LEXIS 2095
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 17, 1980
DocketNo. 52084
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 389 So. 2d 494 (James v. Jackson Production Credit Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
James v. Jackson Production Credit Ass'n, 389 So. 2d 494, 1980 Miss. LEXIS 2095 (Mich. 1980).

Opinion

LEE, Justice,

for the Court:

Thomas L. James and Louise M. James filed a bill of complaint in the Chancery Court of Madison County, Honorable Mike Carr, Special Chancellor, presiding, against Jackson Production Credit Association [JPCA] and Jim B. Tohill, Substituted Trustee, praying for an injunction to enjoin the foreclosure of a deed of trust on certain lands in Madison County,1 and for other relief. JPCA filed an answer and cross-bill, the chancellor rendered an opinion and decree, dismissed the bill of complaint and dissolved the temporary injunction; stated the indebtedness against the James to be the sum of two hundred eighty--four thousand four hundred forty-six dollars sixty five cents ($284,446.65), together with fifteen percent (15%) attorney’s fees; and authorized and directed the substituted trustee, Jim Tohill, to proceed with the foreclosure of the trust deed. The chancellor declined to allow five percent (5%) damages upon dissolution of the injunction. The James’ have appealed and JPCA has cross appealed.

I.

Does the statute of limitations bar the claim of JPCA and Jim Tohill, Substituted Trustee, on the notes and deed of trust involved here, and has the indebtedness on same been extinguished?

A number of sub-points were argued and briefed on this question, but we will address only the broad general assignment.

On December 11, 1968, appellant(s) executed a promissory note to JPCA in the sum of one hundred ninety-four thousand one hundred sixty-three dollars ($194,163.00) due on demand after October 1, 1969. The note was secured by appellants’ deed of trust bearing the same date. That deed of trust gives rise to the litigation here.

The deed of trust is in standard form and provides security for payment of the said indebtedness and any future or additional advances made to the James, and any other indebtedness of debtors to the beneficiary, incurred or acknowledged within thirty-six (36) months from the date of the instrument. On January 19, 1970, appellant(s) executed a note to JPCA for one hundred ninety nine thousand five hundred eighty-three dollars ($199,583.00) due on demand after October 1, 1970, which note recited that it was a renewal and an extension of the December 11, 1968 note, and, that it was not a cancellation.

On January 20, 1971, appellants executed a promissory note due on demand after October 1, 1971, in favor of JPCA, reciting that it was a renewal and extension of the note of January 19, 1970. It was secured by the future advance provision of the December 11, 1968 deed of trust. Marginal entries were made on the deed of trust record indicating the renewals, in accordance with the statute.

Thereafter, the matters became involved in litigation and have been since 1974. The trustee advertised foreclosure of the deed of trust for the first time on October 6, 1975, which foreclosure was enjoined. On May 8, 1979, a preliminary writ of injunction was issued, enjoining foreclosure of the deed of trust by JPCA and Jim Tohill, substituted trustee, and, after a trial on the merits, the preliminary injunction was dissolved, from which action this appeal is prosecuted.

In Temples v. First National Bank of Laurel, 239 Miss. 446, 123 So.2d 852, 854 (1960), the Court said:

“In other words, it is their contention that in any event the indebtedness was extended to December 15, 1936, and that this date marked the expiration of the period of limitation. Therefore, they say that the foreclosure sale was void because action on both the note and deed of trust was then barred by the statutes of limitation. They would be correct in their contention that the foreclosure sale was void because the bar of the statutes of limitation had already run on the debt and on the deed of trust but for the fact that the indebtedness from its original maturity [496]*496date was renewed from time to time by new notes. Of course, if the statutes of limitation had run at the time of the sale both the right and the remedy on the note and deed of trust would have been extinguished and the sale would therefore have been void. The proof, however, does not support this contention. All of the renewal notes were executed prior to the running of the statutes of limitation. The acknowledgement of the indebtedness, executed and entered on the margin of the record of the deed of trust under date of October 15, 1936, was effective to start the running of the statutes of limitation anew from this day forward.
In 54 C.J.S. Limitations of Actions § 320a, it is said: ‘An acknowledgment or new promise fixes a point of time from which limitations begin to run anew, and an action commenced within the statutory time thereafter is not barred by limitations. If such acknowledgment or promise is made before the bar of the statute has become complete, it starts the statute anew from the date of the promise or acknowledgment and against the original claim, unless the new promise is intended by the parties to take the place of the original liability, in which case the period of limitation is determined by the character of the new promise.’ ” (Emphasis added). 239 Miss, at 453, 123 So.2d at 854 ■ 855.

In the present case, the January 20, 1971 note recited that “This is a renewal and an extension and not a cancellation . . .

The appellants cite the Missouri case of Ottenad v. Mount Hope Cemetery & Mausoleum Co., 176 S.W.2d 62 (Mo.App.1943) which states the principle that, where a mortgagee induced, provoked and promoted litigation, the statute of limitations was not tolled. In our view, the appellees have not conducted themselves in such manner as to invoke that principle of law against them.

We have studied the chronology of events surrounding the foreclosures and litigation involving the appellants and appel-lees and conclude that the indebtedness incurred by appellants and the claim founded on the deed of trust are not barred by the statute of limitations and that the indebtedness has not been extinguished.

II.

Did the court err in its determination that JPCA has been a mortgagee in possession of the property since July 25, 1977?

Mississippi Code Annotated Section 89-1-43 (1972) provides, in part, as follows:

“[Bjefore a sale under a mortgage or deed of trust, the mortgagor or grantor shall be deemed the owner of the legal title of the property conveyed in such mortgage or deed of trust, except as against the mortgagee and his assigns, or the trustee after breach of the condition of such mortgage or deed of trust.”

Appellees proceeded to foreclose the deed of trust and a trustee’s deed was executed and delivered on July 25, 1977, conveying the property to JPCA.2

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389 So. 2d 494, 1980 Miss. LEXIS 2095, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/james-v-jackson-production-credit-assn-miss-1980.