Wernik v. Kolodziejczak

215 N.W. 360, 240 Mich. 468, 1927 Mich. LEXIS 920
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 3, 1927
DocketDocket No. 23.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 215 N.W. 360 (Wernik v. Kolodziejczak) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wernik v. Kolodziejczak, 215 N.W. 360, 240 Mich. 468, 1927 Mich. LEXIS 920 (Mich. 1927).

Opinion

Sharpe, C. J.

On May 12, 1919, the defendant Kolodziejczak brought suit before a justice of the peace in the city of Detroit against the defendants Martin Malak and Veronica Malak to recover on a promissory note executed by them in the sum of $360. The docket reads: “Defendant pleads notice of fraud and duress,” and that on June 21, 1919; the justice—

“thereupon rendered judgment in favor of plaintiff and against defendant for $360.00 (three hundred sixty dollars damages) and one and 75-100' dollars costs.”

A new trial was thereafter granted, resulting in a judgment on July 7, 1919, similarly worded, for $379.50 damages and $2.50 costs. An execution issued thereon was returned unsatisfied, whereupon a transcript was taken to the circuit court and an execution issued therefrom, under which a levy was made on a two-family flat owned by the Malaks by the entireties. Sale thereunder was had on February 21, 1920, to the defendant Kolodziejczak for $448.47, the amount of the judgment, with interest and expense of sale. No redemption having been made, the sheriff’s deed was delivered on May 17, 1921, and the same was recorded on May 20, 1921.

On November 10, 1919, 25 days after the levy, the Malaks conveyed the property to the defendant Acichocki, and on the same day he conveyed it to the defendant Rosie Malak, a daughter of Martin and Veronica. On August 24, 1920, Rosie sold the property to the plaintiffs under a land contract for the sum of $6,000, of which $2,000 was paid in cash, and on *471 which several small payments were thereafter made. They entered into possession. On August 28, 1920, Eosie conveyed the- property by warranty deed to the defendants Kaluzny, husband and wife, and assigned to them her interest in the contract with plaintiffs.

After obtaining his deed from the sheriff, Kolodziejczak began proceedings against the plaintiffs before a circuit court commissioner to Obtain possession, and obtained' a writ of restitution therefor. Thereupon plaintiffs signed a written memorandum, indorsed on such writ, acknowledging service of the same upon them and that possession had been surrendered to Kolodziejczak, and stating that “we do hereby attorn to him as such owner” and agreed to pay him rent for occupation of the premises. They remained in possession for about two weeks.

On September 12, 1921, Kolodziejczak sold the premises under land contract for the sum of $5,150, with a down payment of $700, and the vendees or their assignees are now in possession. The defendant bank is the holder of a mortgage on the premises in the sum of $1,500, executed by Martin and Veronica Malak on July 19, 1919.

On December 14, 1923, the plaintiffs filed the bill of complaint herein. They seek to have the judgment and the sale and sheriff’s deed, heretofore referred to, decreed to be null and void, and for other relief. The trial court found that the judgment and sale made thereunder were valid and passed title to Kolodziejczak. He also found that at the time of the levy and sale the Malaks had a homestead right in the property which had passed to plaintiffs and that the title of Kolodziejczak was subject thereto. The plaintiffs and defendants Kolodziejczak and Kaluzny appeal.

1. The Judgment. The action before the justice was brought to recover on a promissory note signed by both defendants Malak. From the docket it ap *472 pears that the “defendant’’ pleaded and that judgment was rendered against the “defendant.” It is urged that the judgment was not entered against both defendants, and that it cannot be determined against which one of the parties sued it was rendered. The use of the word defendant, instead of the plural thereof, is easily accounted for. If is apparent that the page of the docket was partly printed, and that the justice simply omitted adding the letter “s” to the word defendant where it appeared in the printed form. Both defendants were personally served. The error was clerical, and furnishes no sufficient ground for invalidating the judgment. Zimmer v. Davis, 35 Mich. 39; Wilcox v. Railroad Co., 45 Mich. 280; Holcomb v. Tift, 54 Mich. 647.

2. The Sale. It is claimed that the sale was void because notice thereof was not posted, as required by the statute. 3 Comp. Laws 1915, § 12900. Section 12905, however, provides:

“The omission of any officer to give the notice of sale required in this chapter, or the taking down or defacing any such notice when put up, shall not affect the validity of any sale made to a purchaser in good faith, without notice of such omission, taking down or defacing.”

In disposing of such a claim in Cook v. Knowles, 38 Mich. 316, 322, it was said:

“It is a sufficient answer to say that the want of notice would not in this State invalidate the title. The' sheriff may be liable, but the innocent purchaser cannot be prejudiced. The certificate of sale’ and deed are his evidence of title.”

See section 12903 and Grand Rapids National Bank v. Kritzer, 116 Mich. 688.

The distinction between a sale thus made and one on foreclosure of a mortgage by advertisement is apparent. In the latter the notice is given by the mort *473 gagee and not by an officer of the court under bond for the proper discharge of the duties of his office. It may also be observed that personal notice of such sale was sent by mail to the Malaks by the attorney for Kolodziejczak, and an adjustment of the matter was urged upon them.

8. Bill in Aid of Execution. It is urged that, as the Malaks had parted with their title before sale, a bill in aid of execution should have been filed before sale, under section 12897, 3 Comp. Laws 1915. It appears that a notice of the levy was duly filed in the office of the register of deeds. Under this statute the purchaser acquired—

“all the rights and interests that the debtor had in and to the lands so sold at the time of the levy by virtue of the execution.”

The sale by the Malaks to Acichocki was made 25 days after the levy. The effect of the above statute is “to give a levy under an execution the same priority accorded to a conveyance duly recorded.” First Nat. Bank of Durand v. Phillpotts, 155 Mich. 331, 336. See, also, Lachelt v. McInerney, 185 Mich. 413. The title was in the Malaks at the time of the levy, and the sale of the interest then held by them was properly made.

4. Inadequacy of Purchase Price. After levy, and before sale, the property was appraised by persons selected by the sheriff at the sum of $4,900. It was bid in by Kolodziejczak for $448.47, the amount of the judgment and interest and expense of sale. Within three months thereafter it was sold for $5,100. It is urged that the inadequacy of the purchase price rendered the sale void.

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Bluebook (online)
215 N.W. 360, 240 Mich. 468, 1927 Mich. LEXIS 920, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wernik-v-kolodziejczak-mich-1927.