Williams v. Allison

33 Iowa 278

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: January 26, 1871
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cole, Ch. J.

l. will: consruction of * parties. ’ I. The first question presented arises upon these facts. Bernhart Henn left the following will: “ Item, 1. I dc hereby give and bequeath unto ™ ^ my beloved wife, Elizabeth S. Henn, all my property of every kind whatsoever, whether real or personal, rights, credits, demands or otherwise, in law or equity, as fully as I might or could if living, or in any manner have or hold the same. Item % In case of the death of my said wife I give and bequeath, my said property to my beloved children Mary J. Henn and. * * * share and share alike. Item 3. In case. my said wife survive me, and should not use or dispose of all my said property, but at the time of her death a portion thereof should remain undisposed of by her, I give and bequeath the same to my said children or the survivors of them, share and share alike.”

The children of Bernhart Henn, deceased, by an amended petition, were made parties plaintiffs. The defendants moved to strike out of the amended petition the names of such children on the ground that they had no interest, and were improperly joined asplaintiffs. This motion was sustained, and thereon arises the first question -for our determination.

The first clause of the will gives the property in fee, absolutely, to the wife, Elizabeth Henn. The second clause is, most evidently, to be construed the same as if it read “ in case of the death of my said wife, before my decease, I give and bequeath,” etc. The third clause does not limit the estate; the absolute fee, given by the first clause to the wife, nor curtail her power of absolute disposal; it simply directs the disposition of what should remain undisposed of by her. What, if any thing, would be the effect of this clause of the will, in a controversy for siich remainder, between the children of Bernhart Henn and the children of his wife by a second husband, claiming such remainder as her heirs, we need not determine, for no such case is presented. But, as between her and the children, we hold that she is so possessed of the absolute fee, as that any disposition of the property made by her, either as grantor in a conveyance, or as a party to a suit, binds the property and concludes the children. And as a consequence there was no error, or certainly none to the prejudice of the plaintiffs in this case, and the ruling of the district court in this particular is affirmed. Jackson v. Coleman, 2 Johns. ; Jackson v. Babcock, 12 id. 389 ; Jackson v. Robbins, 16 id. 537 (i. e.), 589, and other cases cited by appellees’ counsel.

3. Statute oe proceeding 8to fflVsafe!sher’ II. The next question arises upon the statute of limitations. Our statute provides that actions founded on unwritten contracts, those brought for injuries to property, or for relief on the ground of fraud in cases heretofore solely cognizable in a court of chancery, and all other actions not otherwise provided for in this respect, must be brought within five years. Rev., § 2740, subd. 3. Those founded on written contracts, on judgments of any courts (except those courts provided for in the next section), and those brought for the recovery of real property within ten years. Rev., § 2740, subd. 4.

Although actual fraud is charged in this case, and the relief prayed for has heretofore been granted in a court of chancery, yet the relief sought has been heretofore granted as well in the courts of law as in the courts of chancery. This is especially true as to relief against such sales in gross, and for other irregularity, while the property remains in the hands of the execution purchaser. It is quite apparent, then, that this cause of action does not fall within the class specified in the third subdivision above quoted, and is not barred by the statute within five years.

Nor is it an action brought for the recovery of real property, in the more general and common acceptation of that term. And yet, so far as concerns the property held by the purchasers from the defendant Allison and his grantees, it is in effect and directly an action for the recovery of real property. And, if it should be found that the plaintiffs are the owners of the property, it is reasonably certain that defendants would be entitled to the provisions of the oc- • cupying claimant law, which accrue only to those who, in the proper action, are found not to- be the rightful owners of the land in controversy. Rev., § 2264, et seq. And, further than this, the defendant Allison, by the records of the county, is the owner of the lots still held by him ; and by the construction of law, at least, is in possession of them, since possession follows the title. This action is really brought to recover the property; and the right to have the sheriff’s sale set aside is one of the matters to be established in order to maintain the plaintiffs’ right to recover. The plaintiffs were the owners and in possession of the property; they have been divested of that ownership and possession, and it is to recover the same that this action is brought. This result, however, is sought by showing that the defendant, in equity, never had any title, rather than by showing in plaintiffs an independent and paramount title, as is usual in actions for the recovery of real property. Upon the whole case, we hold that to bar the action by the statute of limitations would require ten years, and, as a consequence, that the action is not barred by the statute. Our statute of limitations applies equally to suits in equity as in actions at law. Relf v. Eberly, 23 Iowa, 467.

5. laches : estoppel. ‘ III. It is further urged by defendants, that even if the action is not barred by reason of the letter of the statute of limitations, yet the plaintiffs have been guilty of such laches in the premises as will induce a court of equity to withhold any relief. That courts of equity do often refuse to lend their active interposition in behalf of stale demands, and where parties have been guilty of negligence and laches in the assertion of their rights, is quite true.

The plaintiffs seek to avoid the force of this objection of laches on their part, by alleging that the defendant Allison was'their agent; that ho agreed he would not issue execution without first notifying them of the fact; that he had claims of one of them upon a third party for collection and to apply in payment of the judgment; that he was authorized to negotiate sales of the lots, and to receive and apply tbe proceeds on. the judgment; that plaintiffs were absent from the State most of the time, and that they had no notice or knowledge of the sale until about the time the suit was brought. If these were all true, unquestionably the laches would be excused. But the fact of agency is denied, and the weight of evidence is not so preponderating as to justify us in saying that the relation of principal and agent did, in fact, exist; though there is much in the previous relations of the parties and in the other circumstances of the case to authorize the belief that plaintiffs may have so considered him. Substantially the same may be said of the other allegations made in avoidance of the laches. None of them are satisfactorily established ; and yet all the facts and circumstances proven afford some palliation or degree of excuse for the negligence and delay on the part of plaintiffs.

But this doctrine of equity which denies relief to parties guilty of laches is restricted, as a general rule, in its application to cases where third parties have, during the delay, acquired rights, or the opposite party has so changed his situation as that he would be prejudiced by allowing the negligent party to assert his rights. Mohawk Bank v. Atwater, 2 Paige’s Ch. 54; Cunningham v. Cassidy, 17 N. Y. 276 (i. e.), 282; Jackson v. Newton, 18 Johns. 355 ; Chambers v. Cochrane & Brock, 18 Iowa, 159 (i. e.), 170. Under this general rule, and in view of all the facts of this case, we hold that the laches of the plaintiffs do not defeat their right of action entirely. The effect such laches have in limiting the measure of the plaintiff’s recovery will be considered in connection with questions influenced by their laches.

6. execution en'másíe:lots IY. The proof shows that on the day of sale of the lots in controversy, the sheriff offered the lots through the entire list separately; that one was struck off to the defendant Allison at the bid of $1 ; and one was struck off to a third party at the bid of $50; and these were the only bids made for any of the lots as they were offered separately. The sheriff then offered all the lots (except the two bid off as aforesaid) in a lump, and the defendant Allison bid the amount still due upon his judgment for all of them, which was the only bid made therefor, and they were struck off to the defendant at that bid. It also appears that the lots were not contiguous, but were scattered over the original plat of Sioux city, and two additions thereto; in some instances two, three or more of the lots were contiguous to each other; or situated in the same block. It was also time, and so appeared of record, that one-half of the lots were the separate property of the execution defendant, Bern-hart Iienn ; and the deed to him recited the fact that the other half belonged to Williams; but his deed from Henn therefore was not upon the record, and, so far as the records showed (except by the recital aforesaid), the other half belonged to Henn and Williams jointly.

The balance due upon the judgment, including interest, costs and increase costs, was $1,652.05. It also appears that some of the lots had been sold for taxes, and as to others the taxes were delinquent, etc., and the nominal amount then required to redeem the property from tax sale, to pay the taxes, interest, etc., due thereon, was about $2,000. The testimony as to the value of the lots at that time is very conflicting; indeed the witnesses differ so widely as to require the exercise of a good degree of charity to credit either their memory or judgment. But from all the evidence together, after making generous allowances for the bias of judgment resulting from interest, prejudice and avenues of employment, we are satisfied that the price bid, after adding thereto the taxes, penalty, etc., was very inadequate; and yet not so inadequate as to justify us in setting aside the sale for that reason alone, although it is a fact entitled to consideration and of much weight in determining this point in the case. The bid was probably from one-sixth to one-twelfth the value of the property.

Upon these facts we hold, that the sale was irregular, certainly voidable, if not absolutely void, and should be set aside, at least so far as the lots still held by the defendant Allison, at the time this action was brought, is concerned. As these lots were situated, the first offer of them separately affords no justification or authority whatever for their subsequent sale en masse. Where an entire farm or tract of land embracing contiguous subdivisions, possesses, or may possess, a greater value as a whole, than if separated or divided between different owners, it might, and probably would, be held regular, or not invalid, to sell the same in a lump, if no bid could be obtained for the subdivisions as they were offered separately. In such case, there is a reason for making a bid for the whole, when a bid for each or any of the subdivisions might not be made, for a party might reasonably want to purchase all or none; and for him it might have a value as an entire tract or farm, which it might not have if any of its parts or subdivisions were sold to another.

But, in this case, no such reason can possibly exist as to lots situated remote from each other. They can have no increased value by reason of being sold together. Each has its separate location, and, of necessity, its separate value, and the fact that the two lots are owned by one person cannot affect their respective values. In the absence of contiguity, or some special cause, such as woodland to a farm, different tracts or lots may not be sold together, and the illegality of such a sale cannot be avoided by first offering the different tracts or lots separately. If no bids are obtained for them when offered separately, the sheriff should so return; but such fact can give him no authority to sell distinct and remote parcels en masse.

The further fact, stated above, that a part of these lots belonged to one of these defendants and a part to another, affords an additional and strong reason for setting aside the sale. Such sale of the property of two separate owners tends to defeat and greatly embarrass in any event and always, the right of redemption. If such sale was attacked diligently and without any laches, there would be but little difficulty in holding it voidable certainly, even if the property had passed into the hands of bóna fide third persons for value. In any event there can be no question, either upon principle or authority, and whether tne irregularity of sale in gross rests upon the common law or upon statute, that so far as the property still held by Allison is concerned, the sale should and must be set aside. Grapengether v. Fejervarry, 9 Iowa, 163; Boyd v Ellis, 11 id. 102; Bradford v. Limpus, 13 id. 424; White v. Watts, 18 id. 76; Lay v. Gibbons, 14 id. 377; Love v. Cherrie, 24 id. 210; King v. Sharp, 26 id. 286; Tieman v. Wilson, 6 Johns. Ch. 411; Hewson v. Daggard, 8 Johns. 332; Woods v. Monell, 1 Johns. Ch. 502; Goff v. Jones, 6 Wend. 522; Cunningham v. Cassidy ; 17 N. Y. 276 ; S. C., 7 Abb. Pr. 183 ; Troup v. Wood, 4 Johns. Ch. 228; Bunker v. Rand, 19 Wis. 258; Anus et al. v. Lockwood et al., 13 How. Pr. 556.

Our statute (Rev., § 3319) provides for a further and special subdivision of land for the purpose of that particular sale, and does not otherwise-affect the common-law rule as to sale in parcels.

V. As to the property held by purchasers from the defendant Allison, we hold, that their title cannot be disturbed, and the sale as to them will not be set aside. There is no showing of any bad faith on the part of- any one of these purchasers, or that they had any actual notice of any fraud on the part of any one, or of any irregularity even, in the sale. They are only charged with constructive notice of what appears from the records. Although such sale might have been held void as to the execution defendantiand purchaser, and all others, if it had been promptly assailed by proceedings to set tbe same aside; yet, since these plaintiffs have been guilty of great delay, if not of culpable laches, in attacking the sale, following Jackson v. Newton, 18 Johns. 355, we will not inquire whether it is void, but accept the general rule as stated in San Francisco v. Pixley, 21 Cal. 56, that such sales are not void but voidable. And such sale, though voidable, will not be vacated after' a great lapse of time, so as to work injustice upon third parties. Mohawk Bank v. Atwater, 2 Paige’s Ch. 54; Cunningham v. Cassidy, 17 N. Y. 276 (i. e.), 282. It is shown that the defendants, who have purchased the property from the defendant Allison, have respectively improved their lots by the erection of buildings thereon of from $1,000 to $40,000 each in value, and that the lots have increased in value since they purchased from Allison, and upon the prices paid by them near ten-fold. Many of the lots have heen made homesteads; .others, places of business, and one a public school. To disturb all these parties, who have in good faith made their purchases and improvements, after the lapse of about six years, and the greatly enhanced value of the property, without a very clear and satisfactory showing of cause for the delay, would be to unsettle titles and reward the negligent. In view of all, the facts, we are clear, that the title of these good faith purchasers from Allison should not be unsettled, but-should be quieted in the respective owners thereof. Noyes v. True, 23 Ill. 503.

We have now disposed of all the questions made in the argument of the case, and our views lead us to the conclusion that the judgment of the district court must be reversed.

The sheriff’s sale and deed of the lots, so far as respects those owned by Allison at the time this suit was commenced, will be set aside and the title quieted in the plaintiffs. As respects the lots sold and conveyed by Allison to good faith purchasers, before this action was begun, tbe title will be quieted in such purchasers and owners. Some question has arisen in our minds as to whether the defendant Allison shall be charged with the price he bid for the lots sold by him to third persons, or shall be charged with the amounts he has received for them. At first view it seemed to some of us that the latter was the true rule, and this for the supposed reason that Allison was the holder or custodian of the legal title in trust for these plaintiffs, and being a trustee he should account for the proceeds of the trust property.

But on further examination, and in the absence of proof showing any actual fraud, and with the positive and uneontradieted testimony of the sheriff that he made the sale in the manner he did, on his own motion and without any request by Allison so to do, or knowledge by him of his purpose so to sell, we think he should be held to account for only the amount of his bid for the lots sold by him, this amount to be ascertained and fixed by the proportionate value of the lots sold to all the lots purchased. This view finds its support in the fact that the sale is voidable for the mere irregularity of the sheriff, and if the defendant had sold all the lots, prior to the bringing of the suit, we know of no principle of law or equity which would make him a trustee of the proceeds of such sale for the benefit of the judgment defendants. If he would not be trustee when he had sold all, why should he be when he has only sold a part. It seems that the principle upon which the judgment debtor may reach property irregularly sold by the sheriff is that he has an equity m the property arising from, or which is not cut off by the irregular sale, which equity he may enforce against the property itself while in the hands of the parties charged with notice of such equity, but which, in the absence of fraud, will not be carried beyond the property itself. In other words, if the judgment debtor, by his negligence or laohes in asserting Ms equity, suffers the party to change his relation to the property, so that the property itself cannot be reached, he must lose the benefit of such equity. Indeed, this is the general rule, for if one have an equity in real property held by another, and which, as against that other, might be enforced; yet, if that other sell to a third party, as against whom such equity could not be enforced, this fact alone will not give the one a right to collect the value of his equity from the other, who by his sale had cut.it off from the property itself.

The cause will therefore be remanded with directions to the district court to set aside the sheriff’s sale and deed so far as respects the lots held by Allison; to ascertain, by reference or otherwise, the proportionate value of the lots sold by Allison, upon the basis that all were worth $1,652.05, the amount of his bid, and to credit such amount upon the judgment of Allison v. Henn, Williams & Bacon, setting aside the original credit and satisfaction; also to ascertain, in the same manner, the whole amount of taxes, penalty, interest, costs, etc., which Allison has paid upon all the property and which was a lien thereon at the time of his purchase, and fix the proportion which should be paid by the lots still held by Allison, upon the basis of their proportionate value of the whole property; and also' to ascertain the amount of taxes, etc., paid by Allison since his purchase upon the lots still held by him, and for the aggregate of these two latter sums, with interest from dates. of payment, Allison will be entitled to a lien upon the property, and the same may be enforced by special execution. And execution may also issue upon the original judgment for the balance still due thereon, and for that purpose the judgment will be considered as revived against Elizabeth S. Henn, the executrix and devisee of B. Henn, deceased. Or, at the request of either party these supplemental . proceedings and final judgment may be had in this court.

Reversed.