Schoolfield v. Cogdell

120 Tenn. 618
CourtTennessee Supreme Court
DecidedApril 15, 1908
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 120 Tenn. 618 (Schoolfield v. Cogdell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Tennessee Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schoolfield v. Cogdell, 120 Tenn. 618 (Tenn. 1908).

Opinion

Mr. Justice McAlister

delivered the opinion of the Court.

The original bill herein was filed on the 11th of June, 1905, for the purpose of rescinding a contract for the sale of a half interest in the growing timber on what is known as the “Pearson tract” of land on the ground of fraud. The bill alleged that W. E. Cogdell had pointed out timber as being on the land bought of Pearson which was not thereon, and that Schoolfield has paid $1,000. He further alleged that L. L. Pearson had a lien on the land for about $7,000 purchase money which [621]*621■would be due some time in December, 1905, and that a •deed of trust bad been given to secure the same. It was stated in tbe bill that various incumbrances which were enumerated were still outstanding against the property. It was claimed therein that Schoolfield was ■entitled to a rescission of the contract and to a lien on the land for the return of $1,000 which he had paid to Cogdell. Complainant also asked for a decree foreclosing all the liens upon the aforementioned property, and to have the proceeds of sale applied in discharge of the indebtedness owing by the defendants in order of priority. It was stated in the bill that the corpus of the property is not sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness due, and that complainant is entitled to the •appointment of a receiver to take charge of and rent out the property pendente lite, and to impound the rents and property.* The chancellor on the pleadings and proof pronounced a decree in favor of the complainant, Schoolfield, and against the defendants W. E. Cog-dell and Elizabeth Cogdell for the sum of $1,060, but field that no lien existed in favor of the complainant for satisfaction of this judgment on the land purchased by L. L. Pearson of the defendants. The bill, as already stated, averred the insolvency of Cogdell and wife, and sought, among other things, a foreclosure of •all the liens upon the property known as the “Pearson Tract.” A receiver was appointed, who was directed to rent out the Pearson tract and collect the rent. The land was rented out by the receiver for the year 1906, [622]*622and rents were collected by Mm approximating $750 on that year. It is also shown that $400 is in the bands of the receiver arising out of the rents for 1905. It appears that while the Pearson land was in the custody of the court through its receiver, R. M'. Heath, trustee in the Pearson mortgage, at the instance of Pearson, sold the land, comprising about 658 acres, and it was purchased by Pearson. Pearson thereafter filed a petition, claiming the rents in the hands of the receiver upon the theory that the rents were collected after his purchase. The chancellor further decreed that the costs of the receivership and other costs were payable out of the rents, and directed that the residue be paid over to said Pearson. As already stated, the chancellor denied the right of the complainant to the lien on the land or any part of it, and also decreed that he was not entitled to any portion of the rents. TMs decree was pronounced on March 19, 1907, and, from so much of the decree as denied complainant a lien on the land and any portion of the rents impounded by him, complainant appealed to the supreme court, and assigned the following errors:

“(1) In not affirming that he was entitled to a lien upon the land upon granting a rescission of the contract.
“(2) That it was error not to have ordered a reference to ascertain the amount of the outstanding debts secured by the several mortgages described, and, after judicially ascertaining the several amounts, to have de[623]*623creed a sale of the several tracts of land pursuant to the prayer of the bill and in accordance with the practice of the court of chancery to have adjudged the priorities among the lienors; and
“(3) In not affirming that the rents accruing subsequent to the appointment of the receiver were applicable to the debt of the appellant against Oogdell and so decreeing.”

This court at the April term, 1907, entered the following decree on the errors assigned, viz.:

“(1) That the sale of the lands described in the original bill of A. A. Schoolfield v. Elizabeth Cogdell and Others, by E. M. Heath as trustee, in a conveyance made to him in said lands for the benefit of L. L. Pearson, is null and void, the said lands being at the time of the sale made without the permission of the court, and the decree of the chancellor approving said sale and refusing said land to be sold in these causes is hereby reversed.
“(2) That these causes be remanded to the chancery court of Shelby county, and that the amounts of the several incumbrances upon said land existing at the time the bill of A. A. Schoolfield was filed be ascertained by a proper reference or otherwise, that the said lands then be sold under a proper decree to be entered in said court for that purpose, and that out of the proceeds of said sale the said several incumbrances upon said lands be paid in the order of their priority, to be decreed by the chancellor, and, if a surplus re[624]*624main, that the same be applied to the satisfaction of the decree granted in said court in fayor of A. A. School-field and against Elizabeth Cogdell and W. E. Cog-dell.
“(3) That the decree of the chancellor disposing of the rents of the said lands while in the custody of the court in these causes be reversed, and that he make such proper disposition of the same in payment of the costs of these causes and the liabilities of the defendants, W. E. and Elizabeth Cogdell, as may be meet and proper under the adjudications of this court and the equities and rights of the parties in such cases, except that no part of the rents of 1906 will be applied to the payment of the compensation of the receiver for 1905.
“(4) In all other respects the decrees of the chancellor are affirmed.
“(5) The defendant L. L. Pearson will pay all the costs of this appeal for which execution will issue against him and G. H. Gilham, security on his bond for the prosecution of his appeal.”

On June 14, 1907, after the remandment of the cause to the chancery court of Shelby county, a decree of reference was entered by counsel for the complainant, directing the master “to ascertain and report the amounts due upon the several incumbrances upon the said land, all of which are set forth in the pleadings herein, and report the same to the court.”

It seems, however, that no steps were taken to exe[625]*625cute this order of reference, and on September 2, 1907, L. L. Pearson applied to the chancery court for permission to sell under his deed of trust. Accordingly a decree was entered September 2, 1907, allowing such a sale to be made, and appointing R. M. Heath special commissioner to make it. The decree, however, recites :

“The clerk and master will execute the reference here-inbefore ordered, but the sale allowed and directed will not be delayed or suspended by the said reference, as ■each may proceed independently of the other, and all rights will be- hereinafter adjusted by proper decrees.”

It appears that a sale of the land was made by R. M. Heath, special commissioner, October 15, 1907, to L. L. Pearson, for $1,000, and reported to the court October 29, 1907.

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Bluebook (online)
120 Tenn. 618, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schoolfield-v-cogdell-tenn-1908.