Laval v. Rowley

17 Ind. 36, 1861 Ind. LEXIS 289
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 26, 1861
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 17 Ind. 36 (Laval v. Rowley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Laval v. Rowley, 17 Ind. 36, 1861 Ind. LEXIS 289 (Ind. 1861).

Opinion

DAVISON; J.

Rowley brought this action against Laved’ and Mann, alleging, in his complaint, these facts: On September 0, 1855, John F. Staeer recovered a judgment, in the Yanderburg Common Pleas, against one Peter Kuhlman, and the plaintiff, Nathan Rowley, for $181, in an action founded upon a note given by Kuhlman, as principal, and Rowley, as surety, and dated July 27, 1854. On August 8, 1857, Rowley paid the judgment, interest thereon, and costs. While Rowley was such surety, on said note, viz., on March % 1855, Kuhlman and his wife, with intent to hinder, delay and defraud Ms creditors, conveyed, by deed in fee simple, a part of lot 109, in tbe original plat of Evansville, (describing it,) to Sarah Mann, wbo received and accepted tbe conveyance for the same fraudulent purpose. And she, Sarah, on August 24, in the last named year, conveyed the same real estate to John Laval, who, at the time he accepted the convéyance, had full notice of the fraudulent purpose with which the premises had been conveyed to Sarah Mann. On July 9, 1857, an execution, for the use of Nathan Rowley, was issued on said judgment, by virtue of which tbe sheriff levied upon the above described real estate, and duly exposed tbe same to sale as the property of Peter Kuhlman. At this sale, Nathan Rowley became the purchaser, and, in pursuance of Ms purchase, received a sheriff’s deed for the premises, dated August 8, 1857. 'The relief prayed is, that [37]*37the several conveyances to Sarah Mann, and John Laval, be decreed null and void, and that the title of Nathan Rowley, to the premises, be quieted, and for general relief, &c.

The defendant, Laval, answered: 1. By a general traverse. 2. That he purchased the premises described, &c., in good faith, and for a valuable consideration; that at the time of the purchase, he paid Sarah Mann $945, as part of the purchase money, and for the residue gave two notes, each for $472, the first payable at one year from the date of the sale, and the second at two years; that when said money was paid, and notes given, she executed to him a deed, in fee simple, for the property, which was on that day duly recorded, &c. And the defendant avers that, at the time of the execution of the deed, he had no notice or knowledge of any of the matters, with the notiee of which he is charged in the complaint; that in pursuance of the purchase, the defendant immediately thereafter took possession of the premises, and made lasting and valuable improvements thereon, worth $4,000; that while these improvements were being made, Rowley stood by, and saw them in progress, without intimating to defendant that he had a elaim against LLulilman, or against the property. That Rowley, after the making of the improvements, caused the premises to be sold by the sheriff, as the property of Kuhlman, for $200, upon an execution issued on said judgment, which sum, at the time of the sale was less than the thirtieth part of the cash value of the premises; and that the rents and profits thereof, for one year, were worth more than the amount of the judgment, interest thereon, and costs. Wherefore, defendant says that he is a bona fide purchaser without notice, and, as such, ought to be protected, &c.

A demurrer to this defense was sustained, and the defendant excepted. Sarah Mann, the other defendant, answered by a general denial. The issues were submitted to a jury, who, in answer to certain questions propounded to them, at the instance of the defendant, found specially as follows: 1. Rowley paid the judgment before the execution issued. 2. Prior to the time the execution was issued, no judicial proceedings [38]*38were had to determine whether Rowley was, or was not, _ surety for Kuhlman. 3. No order of the Court was made awarding execution for Rowley's benefit, or declaring Mm to be defendant’s surety in the judgment. 4. The deed from Peter Kuhlman to Sarah Mann, was made by him, and accepted by her, with intent to hinder and delay the creditors of Kuhlman. 5. Laval, before h’e purchased, had notice of the fraudulent character of the deed from Kuhlman to Mann. The jury also found a general verdict for the plaintiff. At the proper time, the defendants moved that judgment be given in their favor, upon the si>ecial finding of the jury; but the Court denied their motion, and they excepted. They then moved for a new trial, and in arrest, which motions were overruled. And thereupon, they moved for a new trial, under § 601 of the Practice Act; but this motion was also overruled, and they excepted. Einal judgment was given for the plaintiff.

For a reversal, the defendants rely upon three grounds: 1. The execution, upon which the plaintiff bases his title, was void. 2. The action of the Court in sustaining the demurrer to the second defense. 3. The refusal to grant a new trial, under § 601 of the Practice Act.

As has been seen, the judgment under which the plaintiff claims title, was a joint recovery against himself and KuTilman. There is nothing in the record of the proceedings in which it was rendered, tending to show that he was surety for KuMman; but the evidence in this case proves the fact, that he really was a mere surety in the judgment, and that, having paid it, he caused the execution thereon to be issued for his own use.

The general rule is, if a judgment be satisfied, the power to sell under it ceases; and should a sale take place in virtue of an execution upon such satisfied judgment, even a Iona fide purchaser, without notice, would acquire no title 2 Hill, 566; 5 Barbour’s S. C. Rep. 565; 18 Johns. 441. In this case, however, the plaintiff when he purchased, having himself paid the judgment, had, of course, notice that it was satisfied, and is not entitled to the relief sought, unless such payment gave Mm the right, as surety, to order the execution. [39]*39Evidently, the rules of the common law allowed no such right. Does it exist by statute?

Both parties rely upon an act which relates to “Kemedies of sureties against their principals,” and which contains these provisions:

“Sec. 674. When any action is brought against two or more defendants upon a contract, any one or more of the defendants being surety for the others, the surety may, upon a written complaint to the Court, cause the question of suretyship to be tried and determined, upon the issue made by the parties, at the trial of the cause, or at any time before or after the trial, or at a subsequent term; but such proceedings shall not 'affect the proceedings of the plaintiff.
“Sec. 675. If the finding upon such issue be in favor of the surety, the Court shall make an order directing the sheriff to levy the execution first upon, and exhaust, the property of the principal, before a levy shall be made upon the property of the surety, &c.
“Sec. 676.

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Bluebook (online)
17 Ind. 36, 1861 Ind. LEXIS 289, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/laval-v-rowley-ind-1861.