Taylor v. Belville

74 S.E. 517, 70 W. Va. 484, 1912 W. Va. LEXIS 47

• Court: West Virginia Supreme Court
• Decided: March 12, 1912
• Status: Published

Opinions

Robín-son, Judge:

The bill sought an injunction against a sale of personal property under a deed of trust, on the ground that the property had been set apart as exempt from distress or levy. The injunction prayed for was awarded. Defendants demurred to the bill. The demurrer was sustained, the injunction dissolved, and the bill virtually dismissed by,striking the case from the docket. Plaintiff, appealing, says all this is erroneous.

That an injunction is a direct remedy to prevent the sale of exempted property cannot be questioned. A statute so prescribes. Code 1906, ch. 133, sec. 1. That a deed of trust is void when given by a husband or parent on property which has been set apart as exempt from distress or lev}»- in the manner provided by law, is also prescribed by statute. Code 1906, ch. 71, sec. 6.

It is submitted, however, that this latter statutory provision is unconstitutional and void. We do not so hold. There is nothing in the Constitution limiting the power of the Legislature so to enact. It has power to say that an exemption claimed by a debtor against legal process shall not be waived by him. That is all the act does. The act is an exertion of the power of regulation expressly given to the Legislature by the Constitution itself in the matter of exemptions from forced sale. Art. 6, sec. 48. “The people in their Constitution, as far as future debts may affect it, have the right to provide for any sort of homestead, guarded as they please, subject to or without restrictions ; to prohibit the owner of the homestead from incumbering it, or to permit it to be done; and, unrestricted by the Constitution, the Legislature has the same power.” Moran v. Clark, 30 W. Va. 358. The same must be equally true as to personal property exemptions.

But let us note the words of this statute: “Any deed of trust, mortgage, or other writing, made by a husband, or parent, to give a lien on property which has been set apart as exempt from distress or levy, under the twentj’-third section of the forty-first chapter, shall be void as to such property.” This law does not invalidate a deed of trust unless it is one given “on property which has been set apart as exempt from distress or levy” pursuant to another section of the law. That other section is this: “Any husband or parent residing in this State, or the widow, or the infant children of deceased parents, may set apart and hold personal property to the value of not exceeding two hundred dollars, to be exempt from execution or other process, except as hereinafter provided.” Plainly, to invalidate the deed of trust it must be one given on property that has been set apart as exempt from distress or levy. The exemption cannot be claimed as against the deed of trust in the first instance. It must have been claimed against distress or levy in relation to the property — against a distress or levy to which the property was subject before the deed of trust was given thereon.

Now, plaintiffs bill wholly fails to assert facts which show invalidity of the deed of trust under the statute. It does not show that the deed of trust was given on property that had been set apart as exempt from distress or levy. It does not allege that any legal process was ever outstanding to call for an exercise of the right of exemption. It does say that an exemption list had been filed. But with whom, is not disclosed. It does sa3r the creditor was pressing his claim. But it does not show that he had any judgment or other basis of legal process against plaintiff. As much as may be'inferred from the allegations of the bill is that the exemption list was filed with the debtor. Such a method of asserting exemption is not the one provided by law. That method does not exempt the property. It must be done in the way the Legislature has prescribed. It must be done by filing the sworn list and claim with an officer having process by which the property may be subjected to sale. The law plainly sets forth the way to claim exemption. If not followed, what is there to prevent the officer from proceeding to sell and the debtor from losing the benefit of exemption ? Code 1906,-ch. 41, secs. 24 and 25.

The provision of the Constitution as to exemptions from forced sale is not self executing. Speidel v. Schlosser, 13 W. Va. 686; Holt v. Williams, 13 W. Va. 704. It simply imposed on the Legislature the duty to pass an act giving exemptions. That act having been passed, the debtor must look to it for his right and the method of asserting it. The right to claim the exemption is merely a personal one. He is not compelled to take advantage of it. líe may let bis property go to sale, though entitled to exemption, either by choice or neglect. Speidel v. Schlosser, supra. “There is no power vested in his wife or children, or other member of his family, to require him to hold it exempt.” White v. Owens, 30 Grat. 43. His dominion over the property as the owner thereof has not been taken away so that he cannot waive the exemption, neglect to claim it, or fail to assert it in the proper way. He must follow the method prescribed by the law when he desires to claim exemption or the right will be lost to him. Since the entire right depends on statutory authority, it must be claimed in accordance therewith.

The Legislature has not said that the exhibition of an exemption list to the creditor, or to a trustee in a deed of trust for his benefit, will save the property from sale thereunder. Yet that is indeed the case the plaintiff makes. If plaintiff had facts on which to make a good case and did not present them, the fault must lie with him. It does not appear that the bill can be amended. Moreover, plaintiff did not ask to amend, and the court below could do nothing but sustain the demurrer and dismiss the bill, as it properly did. The decree must be affirmed.

Affirmed.