Jefferson v. Sawyer

SOMERVILLE, J. The bill of complaint is filed by Fannie Jefferson and seeks the cancellation of a mortgage on real estate executed by complainant and her husband to secure a part of the purchase price for a moving picture show outfit sold to them by respondent. The bill shows that respondent, as vendor of said outfit, retained the title thereto, with the right to retake it, if the purchase money, due in monthly installments should not be paid as stipulated; and it is alleged that respondent did retake said property in accordance with the terms of the contract of sale, and that “the obligation of complainant and her husband was fully paid when the respondent repossessed the said property and applied the moneys paid to the rent of the property, as per agreement of purchase.” The answer admits the allegations of the complaint, but alleges that the property was retaken by respondent, not under the terms of the conditional sale, but under an agreement with complainant that he should take it and sell it, and credit the proceeds on the purchase price indebtedness. [1, 2] There is no dispute as to the law of tlie case. “A vendor under a conditional sale, who asserts his right to repossess the property, by such action abandons his right to sue for the purchase price.” Alexander v. Mobile Auto Co., 200 Ala. 586, 76 South. 944; Davis v. Millings, 141 Ala. 378, 37 South. 737. But, by subsequent contract or agreement, the parties may suspend the operation of that rule by authorizing a repossession for other purposes which are not inconsistent with the continuing liability of the vendee for the payment of the purchase price. Dillworth v. Holmes Fur. & Vehicle Co., 15 Ala. App. 340, 73 South. 288 (ninth headnote). i The issue presented by the pleadings is therefore one of fact, viz.: IVas the property retaken by the vendor under an agreement with complainant that he should so retake it and sell it, and that the proceeds should be applied to the indebtedness? If so, be took and held it as bailee for complainant, and the debt was not thereby extinguished, and the mortgage in question still stands as a valid security for its payment; while the picture show outfit remained and still remains the property of complainant. [3] Presumptively, of course, the retaking of the property by respondent was in the exercise of bis rights under the contract of sale, and the burden is upon him to show the contrary. Complainant denies that she authorized or consented to the taking, or made any agreement that respondent should sell it and credit the proceeds on her indebtedness for the purchase price. Respondent, on the other hand, testifies that complainant did so authorize and agree. But it is clear from the testimony of complainant and her son that there was such an agreement, and that both parties understood that the outfit remained the property of complainant, and that the debt subsisted as an unpaid obligation, secured by the mortgage on the land. This is in entire accord with' their conduct and declarations after the retaking by respondent. [4] It is true that respondent made use of the property in his own business for a considerable period of time — a use which, as bailee, he was not authorized to make. This made him liable to complainant for the reasonable value of such use, but it did not change their relations as bailor and bailee, and did not change the status of the property as a bailment, Under the evidence, we think that the trial court was justified in denying relief and dismissing the bill of complaint, and the decree appealed from will be affirmed. Affirmed. ANDERSON, O. J., and McCLELLAN and THOMAS, JJ., concur.