Perkins v. National Bond & Investment Co.

5 S.W.2d 475, 224 Ky. 65, 1928 Ky. LEXIS 528
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976)
DecidedMarch 20, 1928
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 5 S.W.2d 475 (Perkins v. National Bond & Investment Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976) primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Perkins v. National Bond & Investment Co., 5 S.W.2d 475, 224 Ky. 65, 1928 Ky. LEXIS 528 (Ky. 1928).

Opinion

Opinion of the Court by

Judge MoCandless

Affirming.

'These two suits are (1) an appeal from the judgment of the Jefferson circuit court, chancery division, subjecting an automobile to a mortgage lien, and (2) a petition for a writ of prohibition against the judge of that court prohibiting him from entering an order after the execution of supersedeas and the perfection of the appeal in the former judgment, in which the automobile in question *66 was placed in the hands of a receiver pending the appeal. For convenience, the actions are heard together and considered in the same opinion.

1. Considering the appeal, it appears that Charles Girard, on September 8, 1926, purchased an automobile in Cincinnati from one Hood and on that date executed to him a purchase-money note for $963.24 payable in monthly installments secured by a mortgage on the machine. The mortgage was duly executed, acknowledged, and recorded on the following day, and it and the note were assigned to the National Bond & Investment Company before maturity. At that time both Girard and Hood were residents of Cincinnati. Girard made two payments on the note and'in October, 1926, drove the machine to Louisville, remaining in that city about a month. 'On November 4, 1926, Girard sold the machine to the appellant, Miss Perkins, for a cash consideration of $950, representing to her that it was unincumbered, and it is admitted that she had no notice to the contrary. In January following the assignee of the noted filed a petition in the Jefferson circuit court seeking to enforce its lien on the machine and procured the issuance, of an order of attachment which was levied thereon. Miss Perkins was summoned in the action, and Girard was proceeded against by warning order. Miss Perkins was in possession of the machine at the time and executed a forthcoming bond in accordance with section 214 of the Civil Code and retained it. Proper pleadings followed, Miss Perkins’ defense being: (1) That she was a bona fide purchaser for a valuable consideration without notice. (2) That plaintiff had consented to or acquiesced in the removal of the machine to Kentucky, and with such knowledge had failed to have the mortgage recorded in the Jefferson county clerk’s office, and is therefore estopped from asserting its lien as against her; the proof offered on this question being embodied in five letters passing between plaintiff and Girard. It appears that Girard paid the first two installment notes and defaulted on the third, and that plaintiff addressed a statement to him at his Cincinnati address. He responded in a letter from Louisville dated October 16th, and postmarked at Louisville, saying that Hood, the seller, had advised him to make payment at the Hamilton National Bank in Cincinnati, and that that bank had returned his check with *67 notice to make payments at the First National Bank at Hamilton, and concluded by saying that he would send a check for the previous month and a month ahead, giving his address at 1022 S. Second Street, Louisville. Plaintiff answered on October 18th, insisting on immediate payment, and informing him that he was not permitted to take the car out of Ohio without its permission; that the account was being carried under his Cincinnati address, and that if he was living in Louisville it would be necessary to arrange the account in this way and asking immediate information on this point. At the same time plaintiff notified its main office in Chicago of Girard’s action, and on October 27th, the latter office wrote Girard inclosing a chattel mortgage which it requested him to execute if he was going to remain permanently in Louisville, telling him it was against the law of Ohio to remove a mortgaged car from the state, and saying:

“If you do not execute the mortgage, kindly return same to us, advising us of the length of stay at your present address.”

This letter was addressed to 1002 S. Second street, instead of 1022 S. Second street, and not being delivered was returned to the writer on November 4th, the day Girard sold the machine to Miss Perkins. On November 8th the Chicago office addressed a letter to Girard at his Cincinnati address advising that the letter to his Louisville address had been returned unclaimed, and asking him to give them by return mail his correct address “so that we can take steps in granting you permission to remove your car from Ohio to Louisville.” This letter was forwarded to Girard at Louisville, and he answered it on November 10th giving two Louisville addresses, one for his place of residence, and one for his office, adding “please communicate with me at once upon receipt of correct address.” Neither of the parties ever heard from him afterward.

It is conceded that a valid chattel mortgage, duly executed, acknowledged, and recorded in the proper office at the residence of the parties and the situs of the property, is constructive notice of the lien not only in the state of its recordation, but also in any state to which the property may be carried. Cable Piano Co. v. Lewis, 195 Ky. 666, 243 S. W. 924; Fry Bros. v. Theobold, 205 *68 Ky. 146, 265 S. W. 498; Herold Motor Co. v. Com., 216 Ky. 335, 287 S. W. 939. But it is insisted that, notwithstanding such recordation, if the property is removed and permanently located in another state with the consent of the mortgagee or with its knowledge and acquiescence and there sold to an innocent purchaser, the mortgagee will be estopped to assert his lien against a bona fide purchaser unless it is also recorded in the latter state. There is some support for this position in the Lewis and Herold cases, supra, and others that might be cited, but we need not now decide it; for if we assume such to be the law, nevertheless it cannot be said under this record that the plaintiff either consented to the removal of the car to Kentucky or acquiesced therein. The correspondence clearly indicates that the plaintiff was alert and diligent to ascertain whether such removal had been made and was seeking to acquire a second mortgage upon it with the evident intent of having it recorded in Kentucky, and there is nothing in the correspondence to indicate that it intended to otherwise acquiesce in the machine being retained here and the chancellor properly held that no estoppel existed; and the judgment enforcing the mortgage lien on the machine is affirmed.

2. In the second case, it appears that before submission in the circuit court the plaintiff filed proper affidavit and moved the court to appoint a receiver to take possession of the car on the ground that its constant use by defendant was decreasing its value and materially impairing plaintiff’s lien. At the time the judgment for the sale of the machine was rendered the court did not pass on this question, but specifically reserved it for future adjudication, and the case was retained on the docket for that purpose. Some months subsequent to the execution of the supersedeas and the perfection of the appeal in this court plaintiff filed an additional affidavit to the effect that- nothing had been paid on the mortgage debt; that the machine was being used by Miss Perkins; that its value was being materially impaired and probably would be insufficient to pay its debt if its use should be continued until final judgment in the appellate court, and renewed its motion for appointment of a receiver to take charge of the car. This motion was sustained by the court.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
5 S.W.2d 475, 224 Ky. 65, 1928 Ky. LEXIS 528, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/perkins-v-national-bond-investment-co-kyctapphigh-1928.