Sterling Realty Co. v. Relfe

130 P.2d 410, 21 Cal. 2d 164, 1942 Cal. LEXIS 437

• Court: California Supreme Court
• Decided: November 2, 1942
• Docket: S. F. No. 16432
• Status: Published

Opinions

CARTER, J.

— Plaintiff appeals from a judgment denying it relief in an action to quiet title to seventy-five parcels of real property situated in the city and county of San Francisco.

The record discloses that in 1926, plaintiff was the owner of seventy-eight separate parcels of real property situated in said city and county. It is not questioned that in that year, pursuant to a street improvement ordinance of said city and comity providing therefor, proceedings were regularly taken for the construction of an improvement affecting said property, the levy of an assessment thereon and the issuance of bonds for the payment of such assessment. One bond was issued against each of the seventy-eight parcels of said property. Defendant Federal Construction Company became the owner of said bonds. Each bond executed by plaintiff was payable both as to principal and interest in twenty semi-annual installments representing the amount of the assessment on each parcel of said property. Eleven of the installment payments were made by plaintiff, but it defaulted on the installment which became due February 4, 1933, and it has since been in default. On March 5, 1937, in accordance with the ordinance and at the request of the Federal Construction Company, the property was sold by the officials of the city and county of San Francisco because of that default. It is not questioned that the sale was regular in all respects except as hereinafter mentioned. The purchaser at the sale was defendant Emily Relfe. One certificate of sale was issued to her for all of the seventy-eight parcels of property. The ordinance authorized the sale of the property upon default as specified in the bonds, the approved form of which read:

“In the event of default in the payment of any installment . . . the Board ... is hereby authorized to sell the property herein described to pay the amount so due, together with the expenses of such sale.

“Such sale shall be made in the manner and form provided by law for the sale of real property upon execution. . . .” (Emphasis added.) The bond also gave the holder thereof the following remedy:

“. . . the person in legal ownership of this bond, shall, in the event of such default, have the right to foreclose the lien created by the said assessment for any unpaid portion thereof, as in the case where no bond had been made or executed, and such lien shall continue until such assessment is fully paid. ’ ’ With reference to the sale and certificate of sale, the requirements are:

“The said Board is hereby authorized to make any sale authorized by any agreement and bond and shall issue for each sale an original and duplicate certificate of sale, in appropriate form, referring to this Ordinance, describing the parcels sold and containing the name of the purchaser; the originals shall be delivered to the purchaser and the duplicates shall be on file in the form of stubs in a certificate book.” (Emphasis added.) A deed to the property described in the certificate is to be issued to the purchaser one year after the sale if the property is not redeemed. A year’s period of redemption is allowed the owner and ‘ ‘ all redemption money shall be paid by the Board of Public Works to the holder of the proper original certificate of sale, upon delivering up the same and receipting for the amount received.”

It is plaintiff’s claim that the certificate of sale and sale of the lots was void because only one certificate of sale was issued for all of the seventy-eight lots, rather than a separate certificate for each lot; that by making the certificate in that fashion plaintiff was injured by having thereby impaired its right to redeem the lots separately.

Clearly the ordinance contemplated that each parcel of plaintiff’s property be sold separately. That is true because each lot was individually assessed and each bond was a lien against the particular parcel described therein. It is the general rule that several parcels of real property separately assessed should be sold separately at a tax sale even though having a common owner. (Siege v. City of Richmond, 194 Cal. 305 [228 P. 461]; 61 C.J. 1197.) Only one certificate of sale was issued in the instant case for all of the lots and it might be construed to mean that a separate sale of each of the parcels was not had inasmuch as it refers to a “sale” (singular) and recites that “but one bid was received” and which was “$46,094.04 for all of said 78 lots.” However, the testimony is uncontradicted and the court found that the lots were sold individually. So far as appears it must therefore be concluded that the sale itself was valid.

Nevertheless if the certificate of sale was invalid, all proceedings thereafter taken would be invalid including the ultimate deed of the property to the purchaser after the expiration of the period of redemption. The ordinance provides that “At any time before the expiration of one year from the date of the certificate of sale” the property may be redeemed. If the certificate of sale is invalid then the period within which the property could be redeemed would not have commenced to run. It was said in Kinds v. Clark, 173 Cal. 49, 52 [159 P. 153], involving a tax sale to the city, a void certificate issued by the city treasurer to the city and a subsequent deed to the city followed by a deed from the city to a private purchaser, in which the owner brought an action to quiet title:

“But we do not find it necessary to consider whether the latter discrepancy is error, or if so, whether it is fatal to the defendant’s alleged title to the land, as we are satisfied that the failure to correctly state in the certificate the time ‘when the city will be entitled to a deed’ renders the certificate void, and annuls the subsequent proceedings.” (Emphasis added.)

It is to be noted that under the ordinance here in question a certificate of sale is to be issued “for each sale.” We think it is clear that a separate sale of each parcel was necessary, hence there should have been a separate certificate of sale for each parcel. True, the ordinance goes on to provide that the certificate shall describe the “parcels” (plural) sold, but that refers to parcels upon which a single assessment was levied, inasmuch as immediately following that clause it is said the “originals” shall be delivered to the purchaser. The words “for each sale” are specific and control over any inference that may flow from general language. Inasmuch as tax proceedings are in invitum, the statute must be strictly followed, otherwise they are void. (24 Cal.Jur. 324.) This does not mean that where there are separate sales and all proceedings leading up to and including the sales are valid, the purchaser may not be entitled to have a corrected certificate issued to him under the same rule that entitles a purchaser at a tax sale to have a corrected deed issued to him where all of the proceedings are regular. (See Webster v. Somer, 159 Cal. 459 [114 P. 575] ; Fox v. Townsend, 152 Cal. 51 [91 P. 1004, 1007]; Routh v. Quinn, 20 Cal.2d 488 [127 P.2d 1].)

Defendants contend, however, that the single certificate was substantially equivalent to separate certificates. It is true that the certificate in question does set forth a description of each lot but opposite thereto appears the sum due under the bond and assessment. It does not state that those are the sums for which each parcel was sold, although the total amount recited as having been bid for the lots equals the total of those sums. It is obvious, therefore, that the single certificate covering all of the lots was not the equivalent of a separate certificate of sale for each lot.

Defendants refer to the rules pertaining to execution sales, such as, that certain defects in a certificate of sale do not affect the validity of the sale (Anthony v. Janssen, 183 Cal. 329 [191 P. 538]), and that various instances of irregularity in such a sale do not render it subject to attack (11 Cal.Jur. 133). They also point to the statement in the ordinance that the sales when the bond is not paid “shall be made in the manner and form provided by law for the sale of real property upon execution.” The sales under the ordinance are tax sales and a strict compliance with the law is required in sales of that character. It is said in Walton v. Moore, 58 Ore. 237 [113 P. 58, 59, 114 P. 105] :

“While the proceedings regarding the sale of land for taxes is in many respects analogous to sales of real property on execution, yet there is abundant reason for requiring a stricter compliance with statutory requirements in the former than in the latter class of cases. Sales on execution are usually the result of the voluntary contracts or acts of the debtor. There is an opportunity to realize something approaching the full value of the property sold and only so much need be sold as will satisfy the debt. While in tax sales the liability is involuntary and the delinquency usually the result of poverty or accident, and however great the value of the property, it cannot be sold for more than the amount of the tax.” The reference in the ordinance to the “manner and form” of execution sales cannot be said to require the application of the rules pertaining to execution sales to matters particularly covered by the tax ordinance, which we have seen is the case in the instant action. Contrary to the rules applied to execution sales it has been held that various defects in a certificate in a tax sale will nullify the proceedings. (See Hinds v. Clark, supra; Preston v. Kirsch, 5 Cal.App. 485 [90 P. 965].)

We think it is obvious that the invalidity of the certificate of sale affected the substantial rights of the plaintiff. It appears from the above quoted portion of the ordinance that the owner may redeem the property within one year after the sale upon paying the amount for which the property was sold plus a penalty, and “all redemption money shall be paid by the Board ... to the holder of the . . . certificate of sale, upon delivering up the same and receipting for the amount received. ’ ’ With only one certificate of sale for all of the parcels, it is obvious that compliance could not be had with that provision of the ordinance, if the owner desired to redeem any number of the parcels less than all of them. The purchaser would not wish to deliver the certificate of sale because he would still be entitled to it as representing his rights in the parcels not redeemed, while the owner would be entitled to have the certificate no longer outstanding and thus a cloud on his title as to the parcels redeemed. The owner’s right to redeem should not be made dependent upon what the city officials might endeavor to accomplish as a solution of the dilemma, when no solution could be in conformity with the terms of the ordinance. Defendants’ contention that because there has been a redemption by the owner of three of the seventy-eight parcels of the property the above difficulty is shown not to exist, is not convincing inasmuch as the circumstances of those redemptions do not appear, and we are advised of no method whereby they could have been made in conformity with the ordinance.

In connection with the question of the single certificate of sale substantially infringing plaintiff’s rights, defendants refer to the section of the ordinance reading:

“The provisions of this Ordinance shall be liberally construed to promote the objects thereof, and no error, omission, or irregularity in connection with the proceedings thereunder not affecting a substantial right of a party interested shall invalidate any of such proceedings.” That section can be of no help to defendants because as we have seen a substantial right of the plaintiff has been affected.

Plaintiff urges that under the ordinance two liens are created on the property, one securing the assessment, and the other securing the obligation represented by the bonds; that the former is declared by the ordinance to continue until the assessment is paid, whereas the latter is not; that the lien securing the obligation of the bonds may be foreclosed by a sale of the property as was had in the case at bar, but that the other lien may be foreclosed by an action therefor; that because the lien securing the bonds did not continue until the obligation was paid, it expired by virtue of section 2911 of the Civil Code as to any installments that had become payable more than four years prior to the sale (Code Civ. Proc., § 337); and that as the eleventh installment became due more than four years before the sale, the sale was void inasmuch as the purchase price included that installment. The obligation created by the bonds is the same as the assessment, the latter being the basis for the former. But whatever may be the rule, in that respect plaintiff concedes that the obligation and the assessment lien are alive. Its action is one to quiet title and it is not entitled to an unconditional decree in its favor. The rule in an analogous situation is applicable. Although the obligation is barred by the statute of limitation, a mortgagor cannot have his title unconditionally quieted against the lien of the mortgagee. (17 Cal.Jur. 1005.) It is conceded by plaintiff that the lien of the assessment is continuing, and that therefore, if the bondholder brought an action of foreclosure, the statute of limitation would not be a bar.

Defendants assert that the judgment is correct because plaintiff did not tender or offer to pay the amount admittedly due under the bonds and that inasmuch as he is asking for equitable relief, he must do equity. It appears that no offer was made by plaintiff to pay the amount due on all or any one of the parcels of the property. Plaintiff’s complaint is in the conventional form of quiet title actions which in substance alleges that it is the owner of the property and that defendants claim an interest therein but their claim is without right. The prayer was for such other and further relief as shall seem meet and just in equity.

Defendants rely upon Siege v. City of Richmond, supra; and Bradley Co. v. Ridgeway, 14 Cal.App.2d 326 [58 P.2d 194]. In the Stege case the action ivas by an owner to quiet title against an invalid sale for delinquent special assessments. Judgment for defendants was affirmed on appeal even though the proceedings were invalid. The court stated at page 318:'

“But the fact that the sale of appellants’ property was invalid would not necessarily entitle the appellants to a decree quieting their title under the circumstances here shown. . . . The plaintiffs in this equitable action seek to relieve the lands from the burden of the assessment for such benefits without paying or offering to pay their just portion of the cost of the improvements. . . . The later case of Hayne v. San Francisco, 174 Cal. 185 [162 P. 625], was an action to quiet title. The defendant asserted a lien on the land by virtue of certain special assessments levied to pay the costs of the construction of a tunnel. The plaintiffs did not pay or offer to pay the assessments. The court said: ‘As we find the assessment to be valid, the property of the plaintiffs is justly liable for its due proportion thereof. In such cases the plaintiff is not entitled to any relief in a court of equity unless he shall pay, or offer to pay, the amount actually due upon the assessment against his property. As was said in Ellis v. Witmer, 134 Cal. 253 [66 P. 303], “this being the ease they cannot successfully invoke the assistance of a court of equity against the irregularities in the sale complained of, unless on the condition of paying what is due from them. Here no siich condition has been imposed by the court, nor is there an offer in the complaint to pay ivhat is due. The plaintiffs Avere therefore not entitled to relief.” ’ ” (Emphasis added.)

The intimation is clear from the foregoing that it is wholly proper that a conditional judgment may be entered which preserves the lien of defendants. Although plaintiff did not plead a tender or make one, as >ye have seen, if the ordinance is complied with plaintiff is confronted Avith a difficult situation with reference to the exercise of its right to redeem the various parcels severally. It is entitled to a determination of its rights under the circumstances. The certificate issued is void, and it should be so determined. Defendants have their lien on the property and it should be protected, but plaintiff should have its title quieted as to any or all of the parcels upon condition that it pay within the time allowed for redemption, the amount due against such parcel together with penalties and the costs of the sale. The court should order correct certificates of sale issued and compute the period of redemption from the date thereof. That equity requires such a result is further apparent when we consider that the judgment declares that the Department of Public Works is “authorized to make, issue and deliver to . . . Emily Relfe a deed to the real property.” By reason of the invalidity of the certificate of sale she is not entitled to such deed. If that provision were permitted to remain in the judgment it would be tantamount to quieting title in Emily Relfe against plaintiff and deprive it of its right of redemption.

Defendants assert that plaintiff was guilty of loches. Suffice it to say that the sale was held on April 28, 1937, and the certificate bears that date. Plaintiff commenced its action on April 20, 1938, prior to the expiration of the period of redemption if the certificate had been valid.

The judgment is reversed and the trial court is directed to enter a decree in accordance with the views herein expressed.

Gibson, C. J., Shenk, J., Curtis, J., Sehauer, J. pro tem., concurred.