Phillips v. Mitchell

1922 OK 135, 207 P. 559, 86 Okla. 243, 1922 Okla. LEXIS 165
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedApril 18, 1922
DocketNos. 11273, 12703, Consolidated
StatusPublished

This text of 1922 OK 135 (Phillips v. Mitchell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Phillips v. Mitchell, 1922 OK 135, 207 P. 559, 86 Okla. 243, 1922 Okla. LEXIS 165 (Okla. 1922).

Opinion

KANE, J.

The questions presented for review arise ou.t of the efforts of the defendants in error, who will hereafter be referred to as the Mitchells, to collect two separate judgments in their favor. The first of these judgments was procured by the Mitchells against D. M. Phillips and R. I. Phillips in the district court of Logan county. This judgment, which was appealed from by D. M. and R. I. Phillips, was affirmed in Phillips et al. v. Mitchell et al., 68 Oklahoma, 172 Pac. 85. The second judgment was procured by the Mitchells against R. I. Phillips alone in the district court of Oklahoma county, and became final upon no appeal being taken therefrom. E. O. Phillips, the plaintiff in error in these consolidated proceedings, was not a party to either of the foregoing actions, and his sole interest in the present controversy is that of a third person who claims to be the owner of the property levied upon by the Mitch-ells in an effort to collect their judgments against D. M. Phillips and R. I. Phillips. I). M. Phillips and R. I. Phillips are father and son and E. M. Phillips and F. O. Phillips are brothers, and (he Mitchells claim generally that the Phillips have fraudulently conspired together for the purpose of covering up the property of the judgment debtors in order to prevent them from collecting their judgments.

Counsel for plaintiff in error in. their brief truly say: “The case-made is voluminous and contains a very large amount of immaterial matter which "'should not be contained thereinbut if we keep in mind that ■ F. O. Phillips is the only person appealing and that his interest in the controversy is that of a third person claiming to he the owner of, or to have a superior lien on, property taken under execution by, the Mitchells in an effort to enforce the foregoing final judgments, we may disregard a large part of the record made below without in any way affecting any substantial right of F. O. Phillips in the premises.

The question presented in cause No. 11273 -arose substantially as follows: After procuring their judgment against R- I. Phillips ,in the district court of Oklahoma county, the Mitchells caused an execution to issue and be levied upon certain crops growing on the quarter section of school land involved in both eases, as the property of the judgment debtor, R. I. Phillips. Thereupon F. O. Phillips filed a motion to discharge this property from levy and execution upon the ground that he was the sole owner of the school land lease and the growing crops Seized under the execution. Upon the trial of this motion which followed, the court heard testimony at great length, and after due consideration overruled the motion of F. O. Phillips. The issue of fact joined by the parties upon the hearing of this motion was as follows: F. 0. Phillips claimed to be the absolute owner of the property taken. The Mitchells contended that the property belonged to R. I. Phillips, and that the claim of F. O. Phillips was in pursuance of a fraudulent conspiracy between all the Phillips to cover up property owned by D.M. Phillips and R. I. Phillips for the purpose of circumventing the Mitchells in the collection of their judgments. The trial court, as we have seen, decided this issue of fact in favor of the Mitchells, finding specifically that F. O. Phillips had no interest in the property claimed by him. From this brief summary of the record it becomes fairly obvious that the only question necessary for us to consider in passing upon the first assignment of error is: Are the findings and judgment of the trial court against F. O. Phillips and in favor of the Mitchells contrary to the clear weight of the evidence? Upon this point it is sufficient to say that we have examined the evidence carefully, and are convinced that the judgment of the trial court is amply sustained by the evidence.

The second assignment of error presents a similar question somewhat differently raised. This question arose substantially as follows. One Stayman commenced an action against D. M. Phillips in the district court of Oklahoma county. upon a promissory note and to foreclose a mortgage upon certain lots belonging to D. M. Phillips situated in Oklahoma Oity, commonly known as the Cálifornia street property, given to secure payment of the note, alleging also that he was entitled to a first lien upon the school land lease involved herein as collateral security. Stayman made the Mitchells parties defendant under the general allegation that they had or claimed to have some interest in the real estate involved. The Mitchells came in and answered, petting up their judgments against D. M. Phillips and R. I. Phillips, alleging fraudulent collusion against the Phillips as hereinbefore stated, -and claiming a superior lien against the lots and the school land lease as judgment debtors of U. M. Phillips. In this action F. O. Phillips voluntarily intervened and again set up his claim to the school land involved, this time *245 alleging not only that he was the absolute owner therof, but also claiming that he held a lien thereon which was prior and superior to the lien claimed by the Mitchells. The Mitchells again alleged fraud and collusion as previously.

After the issues were thus joined in this action, there was a full hearing before J. B. Dudley, Esquire, sitting as special judge, which again resulted in findings of fact and conclusions of law against P O.-Phillips and in favor of the Mitchells. In the trial before Judge Dudley, E. O. Phillips abandoned his claim of absolute ownership of the school land lease and directed his efforts toward establishing a lien upon the same superior to the judgment lien claimed by the Mitchells.

As we view the record, considering only the rights of F. O. Phillips, our duty in passing on this assignment of error is precisely Ithe same as it was in considering the previous assignment of error, that is, to examine the record for the purpose of ascertaining whether the findings and judgment are against the clear weight of the evidence. We have done this, and are entirely satisfied that there is ample evidence to sustain the judgment rendered.

'Counsel for P. O. Phillips in their brief point out what they say is an inconsistency in the claims of the Mitchells in regard to the title of the school land lease in the first proceeding and in the second, and they also seek to raise several questions touching improper introduction of testimony and relating to practice and procedure, which, in view of P. O. Phillips’ limited interest in the case, we do not deem it necessary to notice in detail. P. O. Phillips’ right to relief rests wholly upon his ability to show that he is either the sole owner or a superior lienholder as against the Mitchells of the property sought to be taken under execution. In the first proceeding the question thus presented was raised upon his own motion, and in the second case he voluntarily intervened and was permitted to try the same question again. Having had two opportunities to establish his claim in forums and under procedure selected by himself, we are unable to perceive how he can be prejudicially affected by the errors of this ' sort complained of. His whole case hinges on the claim that he is the sole owner of or has a superior lien on the property seized. Both of these claims having been definitely decided against him upon ample testimony, he will not be permitted to raise questions which affect only other parties or other angles to this long drawn out litigation in which he can have no possible interest. P. O.

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Related

Phillips v. Mitchell
1917 OK 553 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1917)

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Bluebook (online)
1922 OK 135, 207 P. 559, 86 Okla. 243, 1922 Okla. LEXIS 165, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/phillips-v-mitchell-okla-1922.