Nick v. Holtz

297 N.W. 387, 237 Wis. 407, 1941 Wisc. LEXIS 212

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: February 5, 1941
• Status: Published

Opinions

Fairchild, J.

Appellant, acting under the authority of his chattel mortgage of August 22, 1938, recorded March 21, 1939, took possession of the airplanes March 21, 1939. Respondent receiver was appointed and qualified March 6, 1939. It is understood to be a fact, as the circuit court found, that the mortgage of appellant is a valid claim giving the appellant a lien upon this particular property.

The question presented upon this appeal is one of practice rather than of substantive law. As stated by the respondent in his motion made in the replevin action after the validity of the mortgage had been determined, the issue is whether respondent is entitled tO' the judgment “not on the strength of his own case, but, rather, on the failure of the defendant Holtz to petition the court which appointed the receiver to give effect to the lien which he claims by virtue of such chattel mortgage.”

In supplementary proceedings title may not be adjudicated where there is a substantial dispute, the remedy being a suit by the receiver to determine the title. Had appellant been aware of the receivership and in recognition of what may be styled an equitable levy resulting from the appointment of the receiver, sought relief in replevin or some appropriate proceeding in a court of general jurisdiction other than the court of appointment, and had the receiver challenged the jurisdiction of that court, we might have before us the proposition now advanced by the respondent. But such is not the case. It is the receiver’s duty to raise the objection in limine. Jersey City Welding & Machine Works v. Hudson County White Co. 116 N. J. Eq. 548, 174 Atl. 516. In the case at bar the receiver chose his own forum, a court having jurisdiction of the subject matter of the proceeding. The real and substantial question was advanced by the issues there made upon the pleadings interposed by the receiver himself. No one has lost any advantage to which he was lawfully entitled.

Authority of the court appointing the receiver was not defied nor was appellant made a party to the proceedings. Appellant insists he had no notice of the supplementary proceedings nor of the appointment of a receiver until after the exercise by him of his right to take possession under the chattel mortgage. That mortgage contained the clause that “in case of any default ... or if the mortgagee shall deem itself insecure . . . then said note shall at the option of the mortgagee without notice become at once due and payable, . . . and the mortgagee shall thereupon have the right to take possession of said property.”

When, in supplementary proceedings, property claimed to belong to a debtor is in the possession of another and such other claims an adverse interest in the property, such interest shall be recoverable only in an action against such person by the receiver, and a transfer or other disposition of such property may be restrained until a sufficient opportunity is given to the receiver to commence the action and prosecute the same to judgment. Sec. 273.08, Stats. Paradise v. Ridenour, 211 Wis. 42, 247 N. W. 472; 2 Wait’s Actions and Defenses, p. 217, § 32; 4 Pomeroy, Eq. Jur. p. 3597, § 1531. The receiver has some freedom of action in his effort to accomplish the object sought to be reached by his appointment, and if he does not offend against the law he may proceed without securing a rule in court at every step. Approval of the creditor at whose behest he was appointed may be sufficient ratification, should his act be called in question. 23 R. C. L. p. 79. The court in these proceedings does not undertake to wind up the debtor’s affairs. It is clear that in no sense is the procedure a fair liquidation. True, it portions out the debtor’s assets among those creditors who are parties to the action, but it does not do so on any basis of equality. Glenn, Creditor’s Rights and Remedies, p. 14, § 16.

In a supplementary-proceedings case the court commissioner who appointed respondent receiver, having no jurisdiction to try appellant’s claim of adverse interest in the property, the receiver by his election to proceed in replevin in the circuit court of Manitowoc county submitted the whole controversy in regard to title to that court. The issue was not receiver’s right to possession under his appointment, but the validity of appellant’s adverse claim to the property. Sec. 273.08, Stats., specifically so provides.

Upon his appointment the receiver stands in the shoes of the debtor. He is obliged only to act to protect and secure the debtor’s interest in the mortgaged property. Whatever rights of title and possession the debtor may have had at the time of the receiver’s appointment went to the receiver, but upon the happening of the conditions there set out appellant could no more be deprived of his right of possession by the receiver than by the debtor himself. 53 C. J. p. 100, § 125; Saxton v. Williams, 15 Wis. *292; Maxcy v. Washburn, 196 Wis. 566, 218 N. W. 825; 5 Bryant, Wis. Pl. & Pr, (2d ed.) p. 6, § 801 et seq.; 21 Am. Jur. p. 324, § 682; p. 325, § 686; p. 329, § 696.

The whole case, so far as the rights of the acting creditor, the mortgagee, the debtor, and the receiver are concerned, was properly before a court of competent jurisdiction. There was no timely objection to- the jurisdiction of the court, if any objection really existed; and when it was found that there was an honest debt, that appellant had a valid lien upon the property senior to any claim represented by the receiver, and that the appellant acted in good faith in his attempt to realize upon his claim, judgment should have gone in his favor, and the complaint of the respondent dismissed.

By the Court. — Judgment reversed, and cause remanded with directions to- enter judgment in accordance with this opinion.