Security Investment Co. v. Golz

36 N.W.2d 862, 151 Neb. 172, 1949 Neb. LEXIS 80
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedApril 14, 1949
DocketNo. 32534
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 36 N.W.2d 862 (Security Investment Co. v. Golz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Security Investment Co. v. Golz, 36 N.W.2d 862, 151 Neb. 172, 1949 Neb. LEXIS 80 (Neb. 1949).

Opinion

Messmore, J.

This is an appeal from a decree of foreclosure of two tax lien certificates. The defendant George Golz was the owner of a life estate in 260 acres of land adjoining the village of Sprague, Nebraska, described as Lot 1, northwest, Lot 3 and west half of northeast quarter and northeast quarter of northeast quarter, Section 33, Township 8, Range 6, except right-of-way of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company. George Golz conveyed his life estate to Cammie Golz and Ida Lesoing in 1937.

George Golz, Cammie Golz, wife of George Golz, Ida Lesoing, sister of George Golz, and Joseph Lesoing, husband of Ida Lesoing, are appellants. William H. Golz, the remainderman, and Emma Golz, his wife, are appellees and cross-appellants. The Security Investment Company, Trustee, is the plaintiff and appellee. The [174]*174Security Investment Company is also a defendant and an appellee.

The undisputed facts shown by the record follow. Prior to 1933, George Golz, the owner of the life estate in the real estate hereinbefore described, was indebted to The Security Investment Company. On November 5, 1934, the county treasurer of Lancaster County sold and delivered two tax sale certificates for the delinquent taxes of 1933 to one Glen Foe in the amounts of $54.80 and $116.55. On May 21, 1935, the purchaser of the tax sale certificates paid the first half of the 1934 taxes thereon in the amount of $24.91. On August 26, 1936, Glen Foe assigned and transferred the two tax sale certificates and taxes paid thereon to The Security Investment Company, Trustee, for the amount of $289.30, as evidenced by a check dated August 26, 1936, given by such company. The Security Investment Company, Trustee, on September 4, 1936, paid the last half of the 1934 taxes and all of the 1935 taxes on the tax sale certificates in the amounts of $85.40 and $173.65.'

On October 8, 1936, George Golz and his wife executed and delivered to The Security Investment Company a mortgage agreement conveying his life estate for indebtedness he owed the mortgagee in consideration of the sum of $8,961.05, to draw interest at five percent per annum, payable annually, which was filed of record October 9, 1936. The mortgage provided, in addition to the conveyance, the following: “It is further contracted and agreed by and between George Golz and Cammie Golz, that from the date of this instrument until such time as the above described note in the amount of $8961.05 is paid in full, together with interest, that the said Security Investment Company — shall have charge of renting, collect all rentals, control, and manage the premises herein described upon which the said George Golz has a life estate without charge, and that all of the rentals accruing from said premises shall be applied as follows: First, for the payment of taxes accruing thereon [175]*175levied by the State of Nebraska, Lancaster County, and also insurance on the buildings in the amount of $---- nr insurable value. Second, for the payment of interest on the above described note and the balance remaining to be applied on the principal of said note hereinbefore described. It is further agreed and contracted between' the parties that unless mutually agreed to between the parties in writing, that this method of payment of the above described note shall be exclusive and binding upon each of the parties.”

On May 14, 1937, The Security Investment Company, Trustee, paid the first half of the 1936 taxes on the tax sale certificates in the amounts of $28.81 and $59.95. All subsequent taxes on the above-described real estate were paid by The Security Investment Company from the income and receipts from the real estate as provided for in the mortgage agreement.

On August 19, 1937, The Security Investment Company, Trustee, filed its petition in the district court for Lancaster County to foreclose the tax sale certificates and the taxes paid thereunder.

On July 25, 1946, the amount of indebtedness for which the mortgage on the life estate was given was paid in full and a balance paid to the owner of the life estate, George Golz.

The articles of incorporation of The Security Investment Company were filed in the office of the county-clerk of Lancaster County, December 29, 1932. The Security Investment Company, Trustee, and The Security Investment Company were one and the same entity during all of the' foregoing transactions. The secretary of The Security Investment Company testified that tax sale certificates were purchased in the name of The Security Investment Company, Trustee, so that the same might be sold to a client if call should be had for the same.

The Security Investment Company, during the period from October 8, 1936, to July 25, 1946, when the amount [176]*176of the indebtedness evidenced by the mortgage was paid by the owner of the life estate, was also the owner of the tax sale certificates and the tax payment receipts on such certificates as hereinbefore set out.

The Security Investment Company had its offices with the Martell State Bank to which the life tenant was indebted, and each had the same officers during the time the transactions were had in this case.

On June 15, 1948, the trial court entered a decree finding generally in favor of the defendant The Security Investment Company upon its cross-petition, and against the defendants George Golz and Cammie Golz, Ida Lesoing and Joseph Lesoing, William H. Golz and Emma Golz; further decreed that “in case the defendants George Golz and Cammie Golz, Ida Lesoing and Joseph Lesoing, William H. Golz or Emma Golz or either of them shall fail for twenty days from the entering of this decree, to pay to The Security Investment Company the sum of $1264.68 with interest thereon at the rate of nine percent per annum from this date and $126.47 as Attorney’s Fees for the attorney of The Security Investment Company and the costs paid out by The Security Investment Company in this action; that the equity of redemption of the defendants George Golz and Cammie Golz, Ida Lesoing and Joseph lesoing, William H. Golz and Emma Golz be foreclosed and said premises shall be sold as upon execution for the satisfaction of the aforesaid sums; that an order of sale for such purpose issue * * The decree further provided for the manner of the distribution of the funds.

The plaintiff, The Security Investment Company, Trustee, and defendants George Golz and Cammie Golz, Ida Lesoing and Joseph Lesoing, filed motions for new trial. Upon the overruling of the same, the defendants George Golz and Cammie Golz, Ida Lesoing and Joseph Lesoing, appealed.

The appellants assign as error that the decree of the district court is contrary to law for the reason that appel[177]*177lee, The Security Investment Company, violated its trust when as a-mortgagee in possession of the mortgaged premises it was obligated to pay all taxes thereon, it held tax sale certificates to the mortgaged premises, paid taxes on such tax sale certificates, and consequently cannot be permitted to strengthen its title in an action not involving its mortgage.

In the brief of the appellee'and cross-appellant, The Security Investment Company, Trustee, the statement is made that the appellees William H. Golz and Emma Golz have not appealed from the judgment of the district court and that the same is final as against them.

Section 25-1913, R. S.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
36 N.W.2d 862, 151 Neb. 172, 1949 Neb. LEXIS 80, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/security-investment-co-v-golz-neb-1949.