Rice v. Wood

346 S.E.2d 205, 82 N.C. App. 318, 1986 N.C. App. LEXIS 2445

Opinion

EAGLES, Judge.

I

Defendants first assign error to the trial court’s denial of their motions for directed verdict made at the close of plaintiffs’ evidence and all the evidence. By introducing evidence, defendants waived their motion made at the close of plaintiffs’ evidence. Overman v. Products Co., 30 N.C. App. 516, 227 S.E. 2d 159 (1976). We therefore consider only the trial court’s denial of defendants’ motion made at the close of all the evidence. Defendants contend that the evidence presented conclusively shows that the transac tion was an absolute sale with a contract or option to repurchase. We disagree.

The purpose of a G.S. 1A-1, Rule 50(a) motion for directed verdict is to test the legal sufficiency of the evidence to take the case to the jury. Manganello v. Permastone, Inc., 291 N.C. 666, 231 S.E. 2d 678 (1977). On a motion for directed verdict the court must consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant. This means that the evidence in favor of the non-movant must be taken as true, resolving all conflicts in the non-movant's favor and entitling him to the benefit of all reasonable inferences. Summey v. Cauthen, 283 N.C. 640, 197 S.E. 2d 549 (1973). The motion should be denied if there is “any evidence more than a scintilla” sufficient to support plaintiffs’ prima facie case. Cunningham v. Brown, 62 N.C. App. 239, 240, 302 S.E. 2d 822, 824, disc. rev. denied, 308 N.C. 675, 304 S.E. 2d 754 (1983) (quoting Wallace v. Evans, 60 N.C. App. 145, 146, 298 S.E. 2d 193, 194 (1982)).

The law of this State is well settled that where land is conveyed by a deed absolute and at the same time an agreement is executed that the grantee will reconvey the property if the grant- or pays a sum certain at or before a specified time, the two documents, taken together, may either be a sale with a contract to repurchase or a mortgage. O’Briant v. Lee, 214 N.C. 723, 200 S.E. 865 (1939). Whether a particular transaction constitutes a mortgage or a sale with a contract to repurchase depends on the particular facts and circumstances involved, but in all cases, the decision finally turns on the real intention of the parties as disclosed by the writings or extrinsic evidence. Id. “A general criterion, however, has been established by an overwhelming con-census [sic] of authorities, which furnishes a sufficient test in the great majority of cases; .... This criterion is the continued existence of a debt or liability between the parties, so that the conveyance is in reality intended as a security for the debt.” Id. at 725-26, 200 S.E. at 867. The debt may exist prior to the conveyance or may arise from a loan made at the time of the conveyance. Id. In any event, the debt must not be discharged or satisfied by the conveyance; the grantor should remain bound to pay at some future time. Id. It is not merely the existence of the deed and an agreement to reconvey that constitutes the mortgage. “On the contrary, it is absolutely essential that at the incep tion of the transaction the deed be intended to operate by way of security.” Id. at 727, 200 S.E. at 867.

The documents themselves may show, on their face, that they were intended as security. However, if it does not affirmatively appear from the documents that they were intended as security and that fact cannot be reasonably inferred, then our Supreme Court has held that the actual intent of the parties is the controlling criterion in determining the true nature and effect of the documents. Id. at 732, 200 S.E. at 871. In establishing this intent, the plaintiff, grantor in the deed, has the right to prove by evidence dehors the deed that the transaction was really a mortgage. Id. However, the mere declaration of the plaintiff grantor will not be enough to show that the parties intended a mortgage. Hodges v. Hodges, 37 N.C. App. 459, 246 S.E. 2d 812 (1978).

If there was a debt, either antecedent or presently created, the instrument must be construed to constitute a mortgage, unless a contrary intent clearly appears upon the face of the instruments. If this fact does not appear, then the continued possession of the property by the grantor; the inadequacy of the consideration; that the negotiations originated out of an application for a loan; the circumstances surrounding the transaction; and the conduct of the parties before, at, and after the time of the execution of the instruments are some of the circumstances to be considered.

O’Briant v. Lee, supra at 733, 200 S.E. at 871.

In the instant case the deed and option to repurchase do not affirmatively show that the parties intended a mortgage. Further, such intent cannot reasonably be inferred from the documents. O’Briant v. Lee, supra. Therefore, it was necessary that plaintiffs prove the intent to create a mortgage by proving facts and circumstances dehors the deed inconsistent with an absolute conveyance. Id. See also Ricks v. Batchelor, 225 N.C. 8, 33 S.E. 2d 68 (1945). When, in response to O’Briant v. Lee, supra, we look at the circumstances to be considered in determining actual intent, we find here ample facts and circumstances sufficiently proved to support plaintiffs’ claims. First, plaintiffs remained in possession of the property following the conveyance, paying rent to the defendants in the sum of $216.00 per month, an amount equal to the monthly mortgage payments due to Cameron-Brown. Second, as to the consideration paid, plaintiffs’ evidence showed that at the time of conveyance the fair market value of their property was between $42,500 and $46,000. The sales price was $21,000 which included an assumption of the mortgage to Cameron-Brown of approximately $17,000. Further, plaintiffs received only $743.00 cash from the sale. The sales price was not arrived at by determining fair market value but by adding up the costs of the transaction, i.e. mortgage assumption, foreclosure costs, attorney fees, deed preparation and realtor’s commission plus an additional $743.00 to the plaintiffs to cover outstanding debts. The price specified for reconveyance was the amount advanced by the defendants plus a profit of $753.00 over the 18-month option period. Third, the transaction began out of negotiations for a loan not a sale. Mr. Rice testified that he requested a loan with a second mortgage and that he at all times wanted to keep his home and not sell it. Mr. Fagerberg testified that Mr. Rice came to him for a loan but that he could not make him a loan and as a result arranged the sale to C & A Associates with an option to repurchase instead. Fourth, the circumstances surrounding the transaction and fifth, the conduct of the parties before, at and after the conveyance reveal that the plaintiffs were in financial distress when they sought the help of Mr. Fagerberg. Foreclosure proceedings had been instituted by Cameron-Brown. Mr. Rice cancelled his pending application for a loan with his credit union as a result of his meeting with Mr. Fagerberg. The house was purchased at less than fair market value. Plaintiffs remained in possession as tenants paying rent equivalent to the mortgage payments. Defendants charged punitive late fees for past due rent in the amount of $20.00 per day. Defendants eventually claimed that plaintiffs had breached the rental agreement and that the option to repurchase was void. Defendants sued plaintiffs in summary ejectment seeking $432.00 in back rent, $612.00 late fees and to have the plaintiffs removed from the premises. Finally, we note that when evidence leaves the status of the transaction in doubt, courts generally hold a deed with an accompanying provision for reconveyance to be a mortgage rather than a conditional sale. O’Briant v. Lee, supra.

Looking at the five factors stated by the court in O’Briant v. Lee, supra, we find that there was substantial evidence, clearly more than a scintilla, sufficient to support plaintiffs’ prima facie case that the transaction in fact constituted a mortgage and that the trial court properly denied defendants’ motion for directed verdict made at the close of all the evidence.

Defendants’ primary argument is that the transaction could not be a mortgage because there was no debt created by the transaction since the contract to repurchase was entirely optional with the plaintiffs as to whether they would repurchase their home. This same argument was rejected by the Supreme Court in O’Briant v. Lee, supra.

But the contention is here made that there is no reciprocal obligation resting on the grantors to redeem; that it is entirely optional with them as to whether they shall exercise the right to repurchase within the time stipulated; that it does not appear upon the face of the papers that there is any personal obligation on the part of the grantors to pay the amount of the alleged loan and interest. This is not essential. Evidence of the indebtedness is not required to be in writing. It may be proven by parol. Furthermore, such obligation would only enable the mortgagee to look to the mortgagor for any deficiency remaining after the application of the proceeds of sale of the premises to the payment of the sum secured. In the cases where the question has arisen whether the transaction was one of purchase or of security and the instruments disclosed a debt in the amount of the alleged purchase price and no other sum is paid it has been held that this fact determines conclusively the character to the transaction as a mortgage. [Citations omitted.]

There may be no independent evidence of the debt — no bond, bill, or note taken for its payment: It may rest wholly on implication from the nature, facts, and circumstances of the transaction; it is sufficient that its evidence is the fair, just implication. . . . Indeed, when the purpose of the creditor is to avoid the appearance of a mortgage (as here alleged), it is not to be expected that he would defeat it by the introduction of an express covenant for the payment of the money or any other independent security disclosing its existence. [Citation omitted.]

O’Briant v. Lee, supra at 733, 200 S.E. at 871-72. Accordingly, this assignment is overruled.

Defendants nest assign error to the jury instructions. Defendants contend, by two separate assignments of error, that the trial court erred in explaining the law as to equitable mortgages and by failing to use defendants’ proposed instructions. We agree that the trial court’s instructions were fatally defective.

Specifically, defendants argue that the trial court erred in omitting certain factors for the jury to consider in deciding if the transaction constituted a mortgage or conditional sale. Defendants insist that if was prejudicial error for the trial court to exclude the following three factors: (1) did a debt exist between the parties; (2) were the plaintiffs bound to repurchase the property; and (8) the conduct of the parties before, at and after the transaction. We address each factor individually.

We believe the trial court committed prejudicial error by refusing to submit to the jury the factor of whether or not a debt existed between the parties. There can be no mortgage unless and in fact a debt exists between the parties for by definition a mortgage is “an interest in land created by a written instrument providing security for the performance of a duty or the payment of a debt.” Black’s Law Dictionary 911 (5th ed. 1979). An instrument, irrespective of its form, is a mortgage if intended as security for the payment of a debt and “once a mortgage, always a mortgage.” O’Briant v. Lee, supra at 725, 200 S.E. at 867.

As we stated earlier, O’Briant v. Lee makes if dear that it is absolutely essentia! that at the inception of the transaction the deed be intended to operate by way of security. This requires the continued existence of a debt or liability between the parties so that the absolute conveyance is in reality intended as security for the debt. Id. As explained by our Supreme Court in Ferguson v. Blanchard, 220 N.C. 1, 7-8, 16 S.E. 2d 414, 418 (1941):

Whether any particular transaction amounts to a mortgage or an option of repurchase depends upon the real intention of the parties, as shown on the face of the writings, or by extrinsic evidence, and the distinction seems to be whether the debt existing prior to the conveyance is still left subsisting or has been entirely discharged or satisfied by the conveyance. If no relation whatsoever of debtor and creditor is left subsisting, the transaction is a sale with contract of repurchase, since there is no debt to be secured. Pomeroy’s Equity Jurisprudence, sec. 1195.

The debt may have existed prior to the conveyance or it may have been created at the time of the transaction. O’Briant v. Lee, supra. In either event, a material question to be answered is whether the relationship of debtor and creditor continues to exist after the conveyance? Hardy v. Neville, 261 N.C. 454, 135 S.E. 2d 48 (1964). “If the relation of debtor and creditor still continues, equity will regard the transaction as a method of securing a debt — and hence a mortgage.” Ricks v. Batchelor, supra at 11, 33 S.E. 2d at 70.

While the trial court did instruct the jury that the parties must have intended a mortgage, only three factors were given to the jury for their consideration: (1) the financial situation of the parties, (2) the inadequacy of the consideration, and (3) the fact that plaintiffs remained in possession of the property following the conveyance. The trial court never mentioned the crucial requirement of the creation and continued existence of a debt. We believe this omission constitutes prejudicial error.

We do believe that the trial court properly refused to submit to the jury defendant’s second proposed instruction as to whether the plaintiffs were bound to repurchase the property. The document executed by the parties that accompanied the deed clearly gave plaintiffs the option to repurchase the property from defendants for $4,790.00 on or before 28 February 1982. An option is a unilateral contract by which the maker grants to the optionee the right to accept or reject a present offer within a limited time. Lentz v. Lentz, 5 N.C. App. 309, 168 S.E. 2d 437 (1969). It imposes no obligation to purchase upon the obligee. Sandlin v. Weaver, 240 N.C. 703, 83 S.E. 2d 806 (1954). As explained by our Supreme Court in OBriant v. Lee, supra, it is not essential that the documents show that the grantors were personally obligated to pay that amount of the loan and interest. That obligation only enables the mortgagee to look to the mortgagor for any deficiency remaining after application of the sale proceeds to the sum secured. Id.

The trial court should also have included defendants’ third proposed factor — conduct of the parties before, at and after the transaction — in his instructions to the jury. This is a proper factor to be considered as explained by the court in O’Briant v. Lee. We are mindful of the trial court’s instruction that the jury consider the facts and circumstances surrounding the transaction. However, as O’Briant v. Lee makes clear, the conduct of the parties is a separate factor for consideration in determining the parties’ actual intent.

A jury charge is sufficient if, when it is read contextually, it clearly appears that the law was presented in such a manner that there is no reasonable cause to believe that the jury was misled or misinformed. Gathings v. Sehorn, 255 N.C. 503, 121 S.E. 2d 873 (1961). The burden is on the appellant to show not only error but to show that if the error had not occurred there is reasonable probability that the result of the trial would have been favorable to him. Gregory v. Lynch, 271 N.C. 198, 155 S.E. 2d 488 (1967). The jury charge as given omitted a critical factor for the jury’s consideration in determining the parties’ intent. We cannot say that by the instruction given that there is no reasonable cause to believe that the jury was misled. The facts before us present a close factual question and we believe appellants have carried their burden.

We do not pass on appellants’ remaining assignments of error which raise the same questions as their first assignment of error. This case will be remanded to the district court for a new trial.

New trial.

Judges Arnold and Parker concur.