Lammey v. Producers Livestock Credit Corporation

463 P.2d 491, 1970 Wyo. LEXIS 147
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 16, 1970
Docket3791
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 463 P.2d 491 (Lammey v. Producers Livestock Credit Corporation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lammey v. Producers Livestock Credit Corporation, 463 P.2d 491, 1970 Wyo. LEXIS 147 (Wyo. 1970).

Opinion

Mr. Justice McINTYRE

delivered the opinion of the court.

Appellants, Cecil A. Lammey and Mildred Lammey, have appealed from a judgment of the district court which found $34,709.72 owing from appellants to appellee, Producers Livestock Credit Corporation, on a mortgage indebtedness; and found that there was a valid mortgage lien for such indebtedness upon real property of appellants. The judgment ordered that the mortgage be foreclosed and the mortgaged property sold.

Five points are raised by appellants in support of their appeal. These points are:

1. Whether the district court erred in not granting a continuance at the time of trial.
2. Whether a valid mortgage existed as a lien on the real property of the Lammeys which could be foreclosed.
3. Whether a valid “Collateral Agreement” existed which could be the subject of a foreclosure action.
4. Whether the original notes which the mortgage and Collateral Agreement were incident to were paid and discharged, making the original mortgage and Collateral • Agreement of no further legal effect.
5. Whether, if the mortgage and Collateral Agreement were still effective, the mortgagee had waived its right to foreclose its mortgage.

We have found no error in connection with any of the questions raised by appellants, and we do not consider exhaustive discussions of such questions necessary. We will, however, comment on each of the points.

Point 1. Subsequent to the filing of its complaint, plaintiff-Producers paid $5,254.80 to a prior (first) mortgagee in order to protect the rights of itself and of the defendants, Mr. and Mrs. Lammey. In addition, it paid $3,292.87 for delinquent taxes and water assessments which were liens against the mortgaged lands.

At the time of trial, and before trial got under way, plaintiff moved to amend its complaint to show these additional sums due from the mortgagors. Thereupon the defendants requested a continuance of the trial. The court denied the request for continuance and permitted the amendment.

Rule 15, W.R.C.P., allows for the amendment of pleadings by leave of court and specifies that leave shall be freely given when justice so requires. Appellants do not claim or show they were surprised or prejudiced in their defense by the amendment which was allowed. Even now they do not dispute that the alleged advances were made by Producers. Moreover, the mortgage held by Producers authorized the advancement of taxes, assessments, and payment on the first mortgage. This is not disputed by the mortgagors.

Appellants have shown us no reason to believe they were surprised or prejudiced in any way by the allowance of the requested amendment; or that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing such amendment. It is axiomatic that procedures, in order to warrant a reversal, must be both erroneous and also prejudicial; and the burden is on the appealing litigant to show prejudicial error. Robertson v. State Highway Commission, Wyo., 450 P.2d 1003, 1004-1005.

Mention has been made of the fact that plaintiff also, at the time trial was ready to commence, moved to join a third mortgagee as a party to the suit. Counsel for defendants objected. The court indi *493 cated it would allow plaintiff’s motion to bring in and join the third mortgagee. However, plaintiff immediately moved, “upon further consideration,” that the motion to make the third mortgagee a party be withdrawn. Whereupon, the court granted the motion to withdraw plaintiff’s motion to bring in the other mortgagee. We fail to see how appellants can complain of this action. They have shown us no reason to believe there was either error or prejudice in connection with such action.

Points 2, 3 and 4. Appellants have chosen to consider together points designated by them as 2, 3 and 4. We shall therefore do the same.

On September 9, 1965, Mr. and Mrs. Lammey executed for Producers an instrument designated “Collateral Agreement.” In this instrument Lammeys acknowledged a total indebtedness in the principal sum of $167,415.36. As collateral security for the total indebtedness, a “Collateral Note” for $50,000 and a “Mortgage Deed” for $50,000 were given by the Lammeys. The mortgage covered 575 acres of land.

The evidence indicates parties were in agreement on March 14, 1967 that the balance owing on the $50,000 note and mortgage was $21,895.25. The mortgagors were allowed an extension of time for approximately one year and in consequence thereof executed a new note for $21,895.25. This note was payable December 1, 1967 instead of December 20, 1966 (the due date of the original $50,000 note).

Subsequent to this, the mortgagee advanced payment of the 1966 real property taxes and water assessments of the Wheat-land Irrigation District. In consequence, another note for $3,247.24 was executed by mortgagors. It was dated May 3, 1967 and was payable December 1, 1967.

In points 2, 3 and 4, appellants are now claiming the notes for $21,895.25 and for $3,247.24 paid the balance due on the $50,-000 note; that this discharged the $50,000 note and mortgage; and that the only remedy left to the mortgagee (Producers) is to sue for a personal judgment against the debtors. In other words, appellants are saying Producers is not entitled to foreclose the $50,000 mortgage, which is what the district court ordered in its judgment.

Not only would we decree an inequitable result if we followed appellants’ theory and argument, but we would be overlooking some very important considerations in the case.

The collateral agreement which was executed at the time the $50,000 mortgage was given expressly provided that the $50,000 note and mortgage were pledged for the payment of the total indebtedness of $167,415.36 “and all other indebtedness of the undersigned to the said Corporation or the holder of said indebtedness, contracted or to be contracted, and due or to become due.”

Moreover, the collateral agreement further provided:

“IT IS THE INTENTION That this collateral agreement shall be in full force and effect for the purpose of securing the indebtedness evidenced by the promissory notes first herein mentioned, and all extensions and renewal thereof, and any other indebtedness which may arise or be created between the undersigned and the said Corporation * * (Emphasis supplied.)

It is entirely clear that the March 14, 1967 note for $21,895.25 and the May 3, 1967 note for $3,247.24 were extensions and renewals. Even if they were considered as something other than extensions or renewals, they surely would constitute some “other indebtedness” between the Lammeys and Producers. Hence, they would be secured by the collateral agreement, the collateral note, and the $50,000 mortgage.

On March 9, 1968, Producers’ attorney executed an instrument for Mr. and Mrs. *494 Lammey acknowledging a payment from the Lammeys to Producers in the amount of $13,500.

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463 P.2d 491, 1970 Wyo. LEXIS 147, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lammey-v-producers-livestock-credit-corporation-wyo-1970.