Walters v. Graham

190 Iowa 481
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedDecember 21, 1920
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 190 Iowa 481 (Walters v. Graham) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Walters v. Graham, 190 Iowa 481 (iowa 1920).

Opinion

Arthur, J.

— This is an action in equity, commenced in December, 1919, to foreclose a mortgage given to secure two notes, dated September 12, 1898, for $9,000. Interest was paid for one year, and, on August 14, 1919, $280 was paid on the principal. The appointment of a receiver to take possession of the mortgaged property and to collect the rents during the year of redemption was prayed for on three grounds:

(1) On the provisions of the mortgage.

(2) On the insolvency of the mortgagor.

(3) That the mortgaged property was inadequate to satisfy the debt, and that the rents were in danger of being lost to plaintiff.

The defendant admitted the execution of the note and mortgage. He resisted the appointment of a receiver to take charge [482]*482of the mortgaged property during the year of redemption. Defendant denied inadequacy of the security and insolvency of the defendant; and denied that the mortgage covered the rents and profits.

The only issue before the court was whether the plaintiff was entitled to the appointment of a receiver to take charge of the mortgaged premises during the year of redemption. The mortgage contained this provision:

“And if this mortgage is foreclosed, the court shall appoint a receiver to take charge of said premises and collect the rents and profits therefrom.”

The issues submitted to the court were whether, under the provisions of the mortgage, plaintiff was entitled to the appointment of a receiver; and whether the real estate was sufficient security for the debt; and as to the insolvency of the defendant ; and also whether the rents and profits were in danger of being lost to the plaintiff unless a receiver was appointed; and whether it was necessary to apply the rents on the mortgage debt, in order to satisfy the indebtedness.

A number of witnesses testified on both sides as to the value of the mortgaged property. As usually occurs, witnesses for the plaintiff placed the value at less than the mortgage debt, and witnesses for the defendant placed the value in excess of the mortgage debt.

On the question of the insolvency of the defendant, plaintiff adduced testimony to show that the defendant had no other property except the mortgaged property in controversy, and this testimony was not controverted by the defendant.

On the question of the danger of loss to plaintiff of the rents and income, the evidence shows that the rents were not being applied to the payment of the mortgage debt. The evidence also shows that the total rents of the premises during the year of redemption would be $1,080. The court found due on the mortgage debt $9,188.93, and costs and attorneys’ fees in the sum of $189.38.

On the issues whether the real estate was sufficient security for the debt, as to insolvency of defendant, whether the rents were in danger of being lost to plaintiff (mortgagee), an<1 whether it was necessary to apply the rents on the mortgage [483]*483debt, to satisfy the indebtedness, the court found for plaintiff.

Under this showing, and the findings of the court thereon, appellee urges that the court was authorized to appoint a receiver, under the general statute, Section 3822, and cites Hubbell v. Avenue Inv. Co., 97 Iowa 135, wherein the court, referring to this statute, said: '

“The section permits this appointment (the appointment of a receiver) independent of the agreement of the parties, if the facts exist under which such an appointment is authorized. ’ ’

Appellee also insists that the clause in the mortgage contract for the appointment of a receiver furnishes sufficient authority for the appointment of a receiver.

Under the record in this cause,’ we are to determine whether or not a receiver should be appointed, under the receivership clause in the mortgage, and on the issues of the insolvency of the mortgagor, the inadequacy of the property to satisfy the debt, and that the rents were in danger of being lost to the plaintiff. We are not called upon to do so, and do not pass upon the question of whether the record authorizes the appointment of a receiver under the statute alone, or the receivership clause in the mortgage alone, and we do not pass upon that question. It is for this court to say whether or not a receiver should be appointed upon the whole record in the cause bearing on that question.

In Des Moines Gas Co. v. West, 44 Iowa 23, it is held that, where there is but little doubt that the mortgagor is insolvent, and the mortgaged property is insufficient to pay the debt, and where the rents and profits are pledged, the general rule is to appoint a receiver, as of course.

The court found that a receiver should be appointed, and it was “ordered by the court that J. H. Connor be and he is hereby appointed as receiver to take charge and possession of all of said real estate, and to collect the rents, issues, and income thereof from the date of this decree until the year of redemption expires, and to apply said rents, issues, and income in the satisfaction of said mortgage debt, interest, and costs.”

As we understand it, defendant’s main resistance to the appointment of a receiver is that the mortgage does not pledge the rents and profits as security. So the question involved in [484]*484this case is a construction of the language used in the mortgage as to the appointment of a receiver.

Defendant insists that, while the mortgage provides that, in case of foreclosure, a receiver shall be appointed to take charge of the premises and collect the rents and profits, it does not mortgage or pledge the rents and profits during the year of redemption.

From the order it appears that the trial court took the view that the receivership clause in the mortgage does pledge the rents and profits. In Hubbell v. Avenue Inv. Co., 97 Iowa 135, this court had before it a receivership provision of the mortgage, as follows:

‘ ‘ In case of a foreclosure of this mortgage, under any of its provisions, it is hereby agreed that, on filing the petition for such foreclosure, a receiver shall be appointed to take charge of the mortgaged premises at once, and to hold possession of the same until the debt is fully paid and the time of redemption expires, and all rents and profits derived from said- premises shall be applied on the debt secured hereby.”

The court below appointed a receiver under that clause of the mortgage, aided by proof that it was doubtful whether the property would be sufficient to pay the judgment, independent of the rents which were pledged as part of the security, and that mortgagor was insolvent; and the question considered and decided by this court was as to the validity of such order. This court upheld the order of the lower court appointing a-receiver, and said:

“We see nothing in such a contract that is unconscionable, or against public policy; nor do we see why it should not be enforced as the parties intended.”

The holding in Hubbell v. Avenue Inv. Co., supra, has been adhered to.

In Stetson v. Northern Inv. Co., 101 Iowa 435, it was held that the rents collected by the receiver were properly assets in his hands, under a receivership clause as follows:

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190 Iowa 481, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/walters-v-graham-iowa-1920.