State ex rel. Legier v. Sutherland

35 So. 608, 111 La. 381, 1903 La. LEXIS 542
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedDecember 14, 1903
DocketNo. 14,697
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 35 So. 608 (State ex rel. Legier v. Sutherland) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Legier v. Sutherland, 35 So. 608, 111 La. 381, 1903 La. LEXIS 542 (La. 1903).

Opinion

Statement of the Case.

NICHOLLS, C. J.

In the application made to this court for review, the facts of the case are stated as follows:

Mrs. Bertha Sutherland bought a piece of property for $1,100, of which $700 were paid cash, and the balance, $400, represented by a mortgage note drawn to her own order, and by her indorsed. This note she subsequently paid. The signature and indorsement, as well as the mortgage inscription,, remaining undefaced and uncanceled, Mrs. Sutherland negotiated this note with petitioner, for which he paid her $390, the check, representing the purchase of which is in the record. When this note fell due after a conventional extension, petitioner foreclosed,, and was met by an injunction of Mrs. Sutherland, maker, in her own behalf and in behalf of her minor children. The injunction was based on the theory that, inasmuch as this note became extinguished by Mrs. Sutherland, she could not reissue it and revive the dead mortgage, and hence, although she sold to petitioner certain mortgage rights against her property, he had no such rights-even against her.

The district court perpetuated the injunction, and enjoined the sheriff from selling the property mortgaged. Plaintiff appealed to-the Court of Appeal, and that court affirmed the judgment and refused to grant a rehearing. This court ordered the record to be certified and sent up for review, and the case is. now before us for adjudication.

The plaintiff instituted a suit in the civil district court in which he prayed for executory process in enforcement by seizure and sale of certain specified property of a note of $400 executed by Bertha Swan, widow of' Robert Sutherland, dated March, 1899, pay[383]*383able one year after date to her own order, by her indorsed, with interest at 8 per cent, per annum from date until paid, payment of which note was secured by special mortgage on the property sought to be seized, and sold by notarial act before H. L. Lomis, notary public.

Plaintiff averred that he was the holder and owner of the note referred to, and the maker of the same was indebted to him for the amount thereof, and 10 per cent, upon the amount for attorney’s fees. He admitted that interest had been paid upon the note to January 9, 1901.

The usual orders required in such cases were granted by the court, and the property was seized.

The maker of the note, Mrs. Sutherland, in her own behalf and as tutrix of her minor children, filed a petition in which she prayed, in the matter of these proceedings, that a writ of injunction issue to the civil sheriff and the plaintiff, enjoining them from selling the property described on March 27, 1902, as advertised, or any other time; that they be cited in the premises, and that after due proceedings there be judgment against them and in her favor, individually and as tutrix, decreeing that the minors’ mortgage primed all other mortgages; that the injunction be perpetuated; and she further prayed for all other decrees and, judgments necessary in the premises, and for general relief.

This injunction was based upon allegations of the maker that she had on or about the 9th of March, 1900, paid in full the principal and interest of the note declared upon, and received possession of the same; that by said payment she became the owner of the note, and the mortgage securing the same became extinguished by said payment in full; that prior to the payment of the note she was appointed and confirmed and qualified as tutrix of her minor children, on whose behalf she appeared, and a legal morL gage was inscribed against her property, as would appear by a certain record, which she declared she annexed for reference; that, having paid said debt, and the mortgage securing the same having been extinguished, the only mortgage remaining on her property was that in favor of her minor children;' that in January, 1901, she took the note to her attorney, and explained to him that she had paid the same, and he agreed to raise a sura of money for her upon it, and gave her a receipt for the same, which she annexed; that she received in all- from the loan on said note the sum. of $200; that the vendor’s privilege was extinguished when she paid said note, on or about the 2d of March, 1900, and, if any mortgage still existed, it was subsequent to and secondary to the minors’ mortgage; that the plaintiff acquired said note after maturity, and all the equities which she had against her attorney could be pleaded against him; that the minors’ rights, as well as her own, would be irreparably injured and sacrificed if the sale was permitted to take place, and the injunction prayed for was necessary to protect her minors’ rights as well as her own.

A preliminary injunction issued as prayed for under the court’s order.

Plaintiff answered the injunction. He first pleaded the general issue. He admitted that he was the holder of the note, and averred that the same was acquired for him by his agent, for a valuable consideration, before the maturity of the extension of the note, and it was not subject to the equities between the maker and other parties.

That the note was acquired from plaintiff’s attorney for the sum of $390, and his own agent was influenced by the extension of the note, and would not have purchased the same, had it not been extended; that the maker called on his agent and attempted to borrow more money, but that at no time did she state or suggest that the note was not a valid obligation; that the minors were without interest, and had no cause of action; and that both parties were estopped -by their actions from setting up a condition of facts contrary to the rights of the holder of the note.

Plaintiff prayed that the exception of no cause of action be maintained against the minors, that the plea of estopifel with respect to both be maintained, that the action of the plaintiff be dismissed, and for general relief.

The district court rendered judgment ordering and decreeing that the writ of injunction which had issued be perpetuated, and accordingly the sheriff and the plaintiff were enjoined and prohibited from selling the property.

[385]*385Tlie court further adjudged that there be judgment in favor of the plaintiff in injunction in her individual capacity, and in her capacity as tutrix of her minor children, against the plaintiff, decreeing that the minors’ mortgage primed all other mortgages.

Plaintiff appealed from this judgment to the Court of Appeal, and that court affirmed the judgment.

Opinion.

The agent of the plaintiff who acted for him in the matter of the note declared upon testified that he had purchased it from an attorney at law, who called on him and asked him to buy it; telling him he held it for one of his clients, Mrs. Sutherland. Witness did not know he was representing the maker of the note. Witness answered that he would hare to look up the title. This he did, and, being satisfied with the result of the examination, he gave him a check for $390, and took possession of the note; receiving a fee of $10 for making the examination. When he was called on in regard to the note after he had made' the examination, he told the attorney that, before he bought it, it would have to be first extended. When he first saw the note, it was a past-due note, and had no extension upon it. He told the attorney he would lend money on it if it was extended, and the extension which was written on the back of the note was made. It was written and placed there by the witness himself.

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Bluebook (online)
35 So. 608, 111 La. 381, 1903 La. LEXIS 542, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-legier-v-sutherland-la-1903.