Purvis v. Frink

57 Fla. 519

• Court: Supreme Court of Florida
• Decided: January 15, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinions

Whitfield, C. J.

The appellee brought foreclosure proceeding and the defense of usury was interposed. The court overruled that defense and from a final decree for the payment of the principal with interest and attorneys’ fees'the defendant appealed. The mortgage was given to secure the payment of a note for $700.00, payable in one year with interest, payable quarterly in advance at 10 per cent, per annum. The lender reserved $17.50 as the first quarter’s interest, and the actual principal sum received by the borrower was $682.50. Two other payments of $17.50 each as interest for separate quarters were made.

The statute declares it to be unlawful “to reserve, charge or take for any loan or forbearance of money” as interest or otherwise “whereby the debtor is required or obligated to pay a greater sum than the actual principal sum received, together with interest at the rate of ten per centum per annum.” It is further provided “that only the actual principal sum of such usurious contracts can be enforced either at law or in equity.” Sections 3105, 3106 General Statutes of 1906.

“The actual principal sum received,” by the debtor in this case was $682.50. As “to reserve, charge or take” $17.50 as quarterly interest payments exceed the lawful rate of interest on $682.50 “the actual principal sum received,” and as an excessive total amount is demanded, the action of the parties under the contract violates the statute. Because of the violation of the statute the plaintiff was entitled to recover “only the actual principal sum” received by the defendant’s intestate. See Maxwell v. Jacksonville Loan & Improvement Co. 45 Fla. 425, 34 South. Rep. 255; Lyle v. Winn, 45 Fla. 419, 34 South. Rep. 158.

Usury in a loan will not prevent the recovery of reasonable attorneys’ fees provided for, where foreclosure is necessary to enforce the payment of the principal sum of the loan. Skinner v. Southern Home Building & Loan Ass’n, 46 Fla. 547, 35 South. Rep. 67. See also Section 3107 General Statutes of 1906.

The courts should exercise care and caution in decreeing attorneys’ fees to the end that only reasonable fees for service rendered be allowed.

To properly maintain the dignity, independence and impartiality of the courts, persons who are related to any of the litigants in a cause should not be appointed examiners or masters therein.

The decree is reversed and the cause remanded.

Shackleford and Cockrell, JJ., concur; Taylor, Hocker and Parkhill, JJ., concur in the opinion.