Kritzer v. Collier

183 P.2d 195, 28 Wash. 2d 356, 1947 Wash. LEXIS 427
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 10, 1947
DocketNo. 30138.
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 183 P.2d 195 (Kritzer v. Collier) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kritzer v. Collier, 183 P.2d 195, 28 Wash. 2d 356, 1947 Wash. LEXIS 427 (Wash. 1947).

Opinion

Jeffers, J.

This action was instituted on or about April 12, 1946, by W. L. Kritzer against C. E. Collier and wife, Emma E. Barton, a widow, S. S. Bassett and wife, and Geo. F. Gaub, as administrator of the estate of Mary E. Lens, deceased. The purpose of the action, as shown by the complaint, was to quiet title in plaintiff to the SE % of section 13, township 26 north, range 41 E. W. M., Spokane county, Washington. Plaintiff’s right to the relief demanded was based upon a quitclaim deed from Henry Wattlin, dated April 26, 1943, and recorded in the office of the auditor of Spokane county on April 26, 1943, in volume 506 of Deeds, at page 71.

*357 It is alleged relative to the above-named defendants that Emma Barton claimed some interest in the property and subsequently brought an action against plaintiff’s grantor, and attempted to “subject the aforedescribed property to this action”; that Emma Barton, in bringing such action, based the same on alleged claims assigned to her by the defendants Collier and wife, and Bassett and wife. As to the defendant Gaub, it is alleged that, subsequent to the time of the conveyance to plaintiff, he brought an action against plaintiff’s assignor “and attempted to subject the aforedescribed property to this judgment.”

Defendants, by their answer, denied the material allegations of the complaint and, by their affirmative defense, alleged facts tending to show that any right, title, or interest plaintiff might have had in the property had been barred and foreclosed by the judgments entered in the case of Emma E. Barton v. Leonard Kritzer et al., being cause No. 105697 of the superior court records of Spokane county, and in the case of Mary E. Lens v. Annie Kritzer et al., being cause No. 109979 of the superior court records for Spokane county.

The cause came on for hearing before the court on May 13, 1946, at which trial plaintiff and his mother, Annie Kritzer, testified. The files in cause No. 105697 were introduced in evidence as plaintiff’s exhibit No. 5, and those in cause No. 109979 as plaintiff’s exhibit No. 6. The files in cause No. 73618, to which we shall later refer, were introduced as plaintiff’s exhibit No. 3. Thereafter, on August 31, 1946, the court made and entered findings of fact, conclusions of law, and judgment. We quote from the judgment:

“It is therefore, Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed that the defendant herein, Emma E. Barton, a widow, be, and she is hereby adjudged and decreed to be the sole and absolute owner of the following described real property situated in Spokane county, state of Washington, to-wit:

The Southeast Quarter (SE%) of Section Thirteen (13), Township Twenty-six (26) North, Range Forty-one (41) E.W.M. in Spokane county, Washington, *358 including the whole thereof, together with any and all appurtenances thereunto belonging, and

“It is Further Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed that the plaintiff herein, W. L. Kritzer, also known as Walter L. Kritzer, does not have any right, title, estate, lien or interest in or to the hereinbefore described real property situated in Spokane county, state of Washington, or in any part thereof, or in any of the appurtenances thereunto belonging and

“It is Further Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed that the above entitled cause be, and the same is hereby dismissed with prejudice.”

Plaintiff has appealed from the above judgment.

While, as stated, both appellant and his mother, Annie Kritzer, testified in this case, there is nothing in such testimony which needs to be discussed, in view of the fact that we are of the opinion the questions raised must be determined by the records in cause No. 105697 and cause No. 109979, particularly the latter.

We shall first set out so much of the record in cause No. 105697 as we deem material. On September 25, 1934, Annie Kritzer and L. C. Kritzer (who is the same person as Leonard Kritzer), the parents of appellant in the instant action, made, executed, and delivered to C. E. Collier and S. S. Bassett, respectively, two promissory notes, and on the same day, and for the purpose of securing such notes, made, executed, and delivered to Collier and Bassett a real-estate mortgage covering the property described in the quitclaim deed from Henry Wattlin to appellant herein.

Emma E. Barton, a widow, as assignee and holder of the two notes above mentioned, commenced an action in the superior court for Spokane county (cause No. 105697) to recover judgment on the notes and to foreclose the mortgage given to secure them. She made as parties defendant Leonard E. Kritzer and Annie Kritzer, his wife, and Henry Wottlin (who will be hereinafter referred to as Henry Wattlin, as the name is spelled in the instant action). Personal service of the summons and complaint was made upon the Kritzers, in Spokane county, on December 6, *359 1935, but it does not appear from any return that Henry Wattlin was ever served with summons and complaint.

On September 6, 1940, an order of default was entered against Leonard and Annie Kritzer, and on the same day the court made and entered findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a decree. By the decree, plaintiff, Emma Barton, was given judgment against Annie and Leonard Kritzer, as prayed for in her complaint, and the mortgage was ordered foreclosed. The judgment provides in part:

“It is Further Ordered, Adjudged, and Decreed that any and all persons acquiring any right, title, lien, interest, or equity in or to the mortgaged real estate hereinabove described or any part thereof, subsequent to the 25th day of September, 1934, the date of plaintiff’s mortgage which was foreclosed herein, be and they are hereby foreclosed of such right, title, lien, interest, or equity as against the plaintiff herein.”

It was further ordered that whatever right, title, or interest the Kritzers and all persons claiming by, through, or under them might have in such real property was inferior and subordinate to plaintiff’s mortgage lien, and was foreclosed, save and except the right of redemption. No mention of Henry Wattlin was made in the findings or decree, and the judgment does not purport to run against him.

On April 25, 1942, the sheriff of Spokane county sold the property described in the mortgage, and Emma Barton being the highest and best bidder, the property was struck off to her for $609.78. On June 10, 1942, the court signed an order confirming such sale, which order was filed June 13, 1942.

At this point, it may be stated that the record shows that whatever interest Henry Wattlin had in this property was acquired by virtue of the proceeding in cause No. 73618 of the superior court records of Spokane county. This record shows that in 1924, L. C. Kritzer instituted a civil action against Henry Wattlin to recover damages for an alleged assault. As the final outcome of this action, after it had been to this court and after two jury trials, Henry Wattlin was awarded a judgment against L. C. Kritzer for *360 $185.55, as costs.

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Bluebook (online)
183 P.2d 195, 28 Wash. 2d 356, 1947 Wash. LEXIS 427, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kritzer-v-collier-wash-1947.