Stegmeier v. Gappert

190 N.W.2d 36, 1971 N.D. LEXIS 128
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 1, 1971
DocketCiv. 8714
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 190 N.W.2d 36 (Stegmeier v. Gappert) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stegmeier v. Gappert, 190 N.W.2d 36, 1971 N.D. LEXIS 128 (N.D. 1971).

Opinion

TEIGEN, Judge.

Tliis appeal is taken from an order denying a request for an extension of time in which to move for a new trial, and from the judgment entered against the defendants in the above entitled action. The case was tried to the court without a jury and the Gapperts, as appellants, have demanded a trial de novo in this court.

The record discloses that the application for extension of time in which to move for a new trial was made ex parte; therefore, the order denying the same is not appealable. Section 28-27-02(7), N.D.C.C., provides that an order made by the district court, or judge thereof, without notice is not appealable. Therefore, the appeal from the order is dismissed.

On March 16, 1962, the Stegmeiers, owners of approximately 560 acres of farm land, and the Gapperts entered into a written agreement to make a contract for deed under the terms of which the Gapperts would purchase from the Stegmeiers the land in question for the agreed sum of $42,500. The agreement provides that after the payment of $12,750 had been made, $5,000 of which was paid in cash leaving a balance of $7,750 to be paid in three annual installments, a contract for deed would be formally entered into. The agreement to make a future contract appears to be definite and certain on all subjects to be embraced in the contract for deed. No claim has been made to the contrary. The agreement to make a contract also provides that the Gapperts were to go into possession of the land on a date to be mutually agreed upon between the parties, but in no event later than April 1, 1962. It appears that the Gapperts have been in possession and have farmed the land since March 16, 1962. No contract for deed, however, was made. The Gap-perts have not paid any part of the balance required by the agreement to be paid as a condition prerequisite to the making of a contract for deed. They have, however, been in possession and have received all of the rents and profits from their operation of the land.

This action was commenced in November, 1969, more than seven and one-half years after the agreement to make a contract was entered into. A portion of the land, described in the agreement as the West Half of Section 21-136-87 and the North Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 10-135-87, was mortgaged. The mortgage was foreclosed and in November, 1966, a sheriff’s deed issued. The'purchaser at the foreclosure sale was the mortgagee. Thereafter, in July, 1967, the mortgagee, as owner under the sheriff’s deed, sold and *38 conveyed this land to the Gapperts for a consideration of $16,222.

By their complaint in this action the Stegmeiers seek to quiet the title and recover possession of the one quarter section of land described in the agreement which was not included in the mortgage foreclosure, to wit, the Northwest Quarter of Section 28-136-87. In addition, they seek to recover from the Gapperts damages for the use and occupation of said Northwest Quarter of Section 28 from the date the Gapperts took possession until the date of trial and, also, seek to recover damages for the use and occupation of the land which was foreclosed from the date the Gapperts took possession until the foreclosure was completed by the issuance of the sheriff’s deed. They also seek a money judgment for taxes, penalties and interest, and irrigation assessments, on the Northwest Quarter of Section 28, which they allege have not been paid by the Gapperts.

The Gapperts answered and counterclaimed. In their answer they admit the execution of the agreement and that they have been in possession of the Northwest Quarter of Section 28 since March. 16, 1962, but specifically deny that they are indebted to the Stegmeiers in any amount for the use and occupation of any of the land. They also affirmatively allege that, in addition to the $5,000 paid down, they paid the sum of $552.08 for taxes which had accrued for the year 1961 and which were the obligation of the Stegmeiers under the agreement, and that, therefore, the Stegmeiers had breached their agreement and cannot now attempt to enforce a part of said agreement and cancel a part thereof. In addition, as and for a counterclaim, the Gapperts reallege the agreement for contract for deed and then set forth facts pertaining to the mortgage foreclosure. They allege that they stand ready and willing to abide by the terms of the agreement insofar as the same can be applied to the Northwest Quarter of Section 28, ask that the court determine the amount due, and pray that the complaint be dismissed and that the Stegmeiers be compelled to convey to the Gapperts the Northwest Quarter of Section 28 in consideration of the payment of an amount to be determined by the court as being due and payable under the terms of the contract as the same pertains to the Northwest Quarter of Section 28.

The Stegmeiers replied to the counterclaim. In their reply they allege that the Gapperts have failed to comply with the terms of the agreement in that they have failed to pay the full down payment and have failed to pay taxes and assessments which have accrued while the property has been in their possession. They conclude that the Gapperts have, therefore, waived the terms of the agreement and pray that the counterclaim be dismissed.

Prior to the commencement of the trial a pretrial hearing was held. The issues for trial were determined at the pretrial hearing. Although no formal order on pretrial was entered, it is clear from the record that the parties agreed that the Stegmeiers are the owners and entitled to possession of the Northwest Quarter of Section 28 and that the Gapperts are the owners and entitled to possession of the West Half of Section 21 and the North Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 10, and that the only issue for trial was the question of the amount of damages to which the Stegmeiers should be entitled. Following trial, the court directed the entry of judgment in favor of the Stegmeiers for possession of the Northwest Quarter of Section 28 and awarded the Stegmeiers money damages for the reasonable use of the entire farm, before foreclosure, in the amount of $13,550, and for the reasonable use of the Northwest Quarter of Section 28 from and after the foreclosure to the date of trial in the amount of $3,728, for a total of $17,278; and credited against that amount the partial down payment of $5,000, leaving a balance of $12,278, to which the court, added interest earned in the amount of $1,000, for a total money judgment of $13,278. The court ordered judgment in favor of the Gapperts against the Steg- *39 meiers for possession of the West Half of Section 21, less a tract of 49 acres which it was agreed the Stegmeiers did not own, and the North Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 10, free and clear of any claim by the Stegmeiers. Judgment was entered accordingly.

In this appeal no claim is made that the award of damages for use and occupancy, if any is allowable at all, is improper as to amount.

Subsequent to the entry of judgment, both parties obtained new counsel for the purpose of the appeal. The new counsel for the Gapperts, who are the appellants here, have raised a number of new issues which were not raised in the trial court. It is the contention of the Gapperts on this appeal that the trial court should have dismissed the action on its own motion because it was instituted as an action to quiet the title when, in fact, it should have been in the form of an action to cancel a contract for deed.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
190 N.W.2d 36, 1971 N.D. LEXIS 128, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stegmeier-v-gappert-nd-1971.