McLane v. Piaggio Bros.

24 Fla. 71
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedJanuary 15, 1888
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 24 Fla. 71 (McLane v. Piaggio Bros.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McLane v. Piaggio Bros., 24 Fla. 71 (Fla. 1888).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Raney

delivered the opinion of the court:

I. The service of the subpoena on Mrs. McLane by delivering the copy for her to her husband in the manner stated in the return of the sheriff, was legal service. To hold that' it was not so would be to construe the statute as not authorizing service on her by delivering the copy to any one of the requisite age residing in her family, unless she was the head of the family. We do not think such a construction right; and there is nothing in the relation of husband and wife to exclude the former as one to whom such delivery can be made for the latter.

II. The particular defect in the bill as to which the demurrer was sustained was cured by the amendment made under the order on the demurrer.

The only other ground of demurrer meriting consideration, is that as to the note falling due in- September, 1384, and which had not matured at the filing of the bill.

[81]*81When a mortgage secures several notes and one has become due and remains unpaid, and there has been a breach of the condition of the mortgage before the institution of the foreclosure suit, the bill may ask as to the other note or notes, that such of them as shall mature before the final decree be included in it. Where no foundation is laid in the bill for including in the decree the note or notes that may become due, it is irregular to include them in it,, unless a supplemental bill is filed. Jones on Mortgages,. Sec. 1478; Adams vs. Essex, 1 Bibb, 149; Manning vs. McClung, 14 Wis., 350; Smalley vs. Martin, Clark’s Chan. R., 293; Williams vs. Cresswell, 51 Miss., 817; Malcolm vs. Allen, 49 N. Y, 488; Chandler vs. Pettit, 1 Paige, 168.

The statements and prayer of the bill are sufficient to-sustain the decree as to the note falling due after the institution of the suit. Though there is not an exprese statement as to the probable maturity of the note before-final decree, yet the note is declared upon as not due and properly described, and foreclosure and relief are asked as-to it, and it did mature before final decree. The Chancellor did hot err in his action on the demurrer.

III. The mere fact that Mrs. McLane was not moved by a pecuniary consideration to relinquish her dower in the property does not invalidate the relinquishment. A relinquishment of dower executed by a wife in accordance with the requirements of the statute is, if the deed of conveyance or mortgage be valid as to her husband, binding on her. The statute prescribe3'the essentials of a relinquishment and a pecuniary consideration to the wife is not one of them. The plea is no defence to the bill as against her or her husband and the plea was properly over ruled. Scribner on [82]*82Dower, Vol. 2, page 318 and note; Bailey vs. Litten, 52 Ala., 282.

IY. There is in the answer no allegation of concealment, misrepresentation, or fraud or unfair dealing upon the part of the Piaggio Brothers in the settlement which resulted in the execution of the notes and mortgages, nor of any improper conduct on the part of Mr. Campbell. The fact that the latter was a creditor of the Piaggio Brothers or that before the reference was made to him he had been the attorney of McLane is not sufficient to annul the adjustment made of the business controversy between them. Considering the statements of the answer as to the settlement resulting in the execution of the notes and mortgage^ we are unable to perceive that they present anything more than a voluntary adjustment, through the aid of a third person having the confidence of both parties, of the differences or misunderstanding and claims, and a subsequent dissatisfaction upon the part of the defendant, Dr. McLane, with the same, without the averment by him of any fact showing that he has any legal or equitable ground of complaint against any one concerned in the settlement.

Mr. Campbell states in his testimony that the Piaggio Brothers claimed that McLane was largely indebted to them for money advanced, and that the latter claimed that by deliveries of lumber and in consequence of the damage be had sustained by the non-fulfillment of their contract for the delivery of timber and lumber the debt had been fully or more than discharged ; and that they agreed to submit these differences to himfor decision,and that after examining both claims'to the best of his ability, and allowing McLane all the credits, that, in his judgment, the'latter was entitled to, he found a balance of about $4,200 to be due Piaggio Brothers. Both parties, he says, were dissatisfied with his [83]*83finding, and observing the result, he told them that no harm had been done and that they could go to law if they chose without being prejudiced by the reference. That a few days after this the Piaggio Brothers and McLane told him they had made a final settlement on the terms of $4,-200 as due the former, and that $300 was added to the debt as a consideration for indulgence as to the time of settlement, and he was requested by both parties to draw up the notes and mortgage, which he did, and that these instruments were the result of all business transactions between said parties up to their date.

As to the indebtedness of the Piaggio Brothers to himself and Mrs. Smith, his daughter, at this time, Mr. Campbell says that they had ample security for the debt, which amounted to about$5,000. That this was known to McLane, who. he says was anxious that the mortgage and note should be added to the collaterals because he thought it would be the means of securing his indulgence. All this indebtedness, he says, has been paid except about $835. He speaks of having surrendered about a year previous another mortgage, and held on to McLane’s as long as he could, as to surrender it to Piaggio Brothers would have resulted in an immediate suit.

David Piaggio confirms Campbell’s statement as to the reference and finding and both parties being dissatisfied with the decision, and says they left Mr. C.’s office without accepting the decision, but that afterward the Piaggio Brothers agreed to abide by it and give the credit provided for on the notes, if McLane would increase the amount so as to bring it up to $4,500, ánd that both parties then informed Campbell of their settlement and requested him to prepare the notes and mortgages. He says that some of McLane’s claims for breaches of contract were allowed un[84]*84der the final settlement made after the decision of Campbell; This settlement, he says, was made without consulting Mr. Campbell further, he being simply requested to draw up the notes and mortgage, and that neither party was influenced by any one to make the settlement.

The defendant, McLane, testifies that as the Piaggio Brothers refused to allow him any damage for their failure to comply with their contract it was agreed to submit the matter to Campbell, who had been his attorney and legal adviser, and was also theirs ; and that Campbell advised that witness should pay them $4,000. That to this he at first demurred, as he did not think he was due them anything. That Campbell represented that he would control the mortgage, and that it should not be foreclosed, and that it would be to the interest of the Piaggio Brothers to keep witness’ mill running if he gave the mortgage, but he still refused to sign or give the mortgage, but the next morning he received a note from Mr. Campbell advising him, to avoid litigation, to execute the notes and mortgage. That then he returned to his home at Point Washington without signing the papers. The addition of $500 he says was given for an extension of time.

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Bluebook (online)
24 Fla. 71, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mclane-v-piaggio-bros-fla-1888.