Reed v. Loucks

61 How. Pr. 434

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: June 15, 1879
• Status: Published

Opinion

Westbrook, J.

One Abraham Loucks, then in possession of the property, ©n March 31, 1866, executed a mortgage to one Robert Kerr to secure the payment of $920 and interest. This mortgage was given to secure that sum advanced by Kerr to Loucks to purchase the same. Kerr brought a suit in March, 1875, to foreclose the mortgage. Gilbert & Maynard, who held a subsequent mortgage on the same property, defended on the ground that Abraham Loucks held no title. On a trial Kerr succeeded, and the premises were sold under a decree of foreclosure on November 3, 1876, and Kerr bought Dennis Loucks occupied one year under him and paid rent Then Marcy Hallenbeck entered under Kerr and is still in possession. Kerr has since paid a prior mortgage of $700, so that Kerr has put in the property over $1,600.

Pending the foreclosure, and in August, 1875, the present action was brought against Dennis Loucks, who was then in possession, to recover the property for non-payment of rent. Dennis did not defend, and on June 27, 1876, the plaintiffs obtained judgment, Isaac H. Maynard, of Gilbert & Maynard, being his counsel. Of all this Kerr was ignorant, and in 1877, paid the prior mortgage of $700. Gilbert & Maynard having obtained the title of the present plaintiffs, bring ejectment against Hallenbeck, Kerr’s tenant, claiming that the judgment in this suit cuts off Kerr’s rights. Very plainly, if the new suit can thus be sustained, great injustice will be done to Kerr. .

Justice requires that the judgment in this action should be opened. That places all parties where they should be. If this action can be maintained, the plaintiffs will succeed and get their rights. The motion can be granted under section 724 of the Code, as evidently there was a mistake, and no written notice of the judgment was given (Bissell agt. N. Y. Cent. R. R. Co., 66 Barb., 386; see pages 390, 391). There need, however, be no difficulty on this point, for independent thereof, by the Eevised Statutes (vol. 3, page 576, section 34, 6 edition), the court has power in “ every judgment in ejectment rendered by default on payment of costs, &c., to vacate such judgment, and grant a new trial if such court shall be satisfied that justice will be promoted,” &c., &c. I am so satisfied, and for that reason grant a new trial on payment of the costs and damages. Kerr should also be made a party and allowed to defend.

Christie agt. Bloomingdale (18 How., 12), was not a judgment “ on default,” and with the remarks of judge Gould (on pages 13 and 14), I do not agree. “ Every judgment in ejectment rendered by default,” certainly includes one brought to recover premises for non-payment of rent, and I never hold to a construction of a statute nullifying plain words, expressive of a clear intent, and certainly this case well illustrates the need of interpreting the statute as it reads. As the statute provides for a new trial in “ every judgment in ejectment rendered by default,” it was necessary, if it was intended to apply only to a case in which damages had been recovered, so to declare in plain words; but, as it reads, its application is not limited to a case, in which damages can be given. And if the reasoning of the opinion, in the decision referred to, upon the statute giving the right of redemption (3 B. S. [6th edition], page 819, section 5) is sound, .then an irregular judgment and execution would, after the 'lapse of six months, create a bar, a purpose and intent which mould not have been entertained. The bar created by the statute is based upon a judgment and execution which are Upheld, and not vacated and set aside. Thus reading the statutes, there is no confusion.

The relief granted is based upon both section 724 of the Code and the provisions of the Eevised Statutes in regard to new trials in ejectment cases. The defendant in the action seems to have been, ignorant of the nature of the proceedings against him, whilst Kerr, the party who is to suffer, was-entirely in ignorance of the proceeding. Loucks labored-under “a mistake” of ignorance as to the effect of the suit,. whilst Kerr labored under “a mistake” of ignorance of any-suit, and the failure of either to move earlier was, I think,under the circumstances, excusable neglect. The year given-by section 724 in which to move has not yet expired, for. notice has not been given (67 Barb., 386, before cited).