Rathje v. Siegel

McDonald, J. This is a suit to foreclose a trust deed or mortgage executed April 1, 1924, by Esther Siegel to Frank C. Rathje, trustee. The fee of the property was afterwards acquired by defendants Leo and Dina Greenberg, who assumed the obligations of the trust deed which was then of record in the office *378 of the register of deeds of Ottawa county, Michigan.It specified the time and place where the interest should be paid, and provided that in case of default the legal holder might declare without notice the whole amount immediately due and payable. There was default in the payment of the interest, and this bill to foreclose was filed. On the hearing foreclosure was decreed. The defendants Leo Greenberg and Dina Greenberg have appealed. The only question involved is whether the following provision of the trust deed is valid and enforceable: “It is agreed that if default be made in the payment of any one of the instalments of interest thereon, then at the election of the legal holder or holders of said principal note, the said principal sum together with the accrued interest thereon, shall at once become due and payable; said election to be made at any time after such default without notice.” The defendants contend that this provision of the trust deed is in the nature of a forfeiture, and that •in view of the circumstances equity ought to relieve them from it. The record shows no circumstances that bring the case within the rule announced in Wilcox v. Allen, 36 Mich. 160, cited and relied on by the defendants. In that case, the default was on account of an honest dispute as to the amount of the interest due. The court said: “We are all clearly of opinion that advantage can only be taken of a clause of this kind in a case where there can be or ought to be no reasonable dispute between the parties as to the amount due and unpaid. Where the mortgagor in good faith and upon reasonable grounds denies his liability to pay interest, or if he is so liable, claims it to have been paid, he cannot thus be made liable, even though it should turn out that he was in error. This clause is in the nature of a forfeiture or penalty. Its object is to punish for a willful neglect of a clear duty, and to hold it applicable *379 to and apply it in a case where there was an honest dispute, would be harsh and unjust, and contrary to all well settled equitable principles.” In the instant case, there was no dispute as to the amount due. The defendants had purchased the property and had assumed the mortgage. It was on record. It specified the time and place for payment of the interest. Mr. Barnard acquired the mortgage from one Carl Edward, and, before the interest was due, Edward called the Greenbergs by telephone, talked with Mrs. Greenberg, informed her of the sale to Barnard, and reminded her of the time and place for the payment of interest. The record shows no excuse for the default. In view of the facts, what was said by Mr. Justice Wiest in Brody v. Crozier, 242 Mich. 660, is applicable here: “Counsel for the defendant contends that the accelerative provision is inequitable, invalid, and unenforceable. The provision is harsh, bút a part of the contract, and is not outlawed by public policy, nor invalid or unenforceable. It was probably unwise for the defendant to place his interest in the property at the mercy of plaintiff, but we are powerless to extend him anything more than commiseration.” The defendants’ complaint that the bill does not state whether proceedings at law had been commenced for the recovery of the debt is raised for the first time in this court. It should have been brought to the attention of the lower court by motion or answer. If it had been, an amendment would have been permitted. We will treat it as amended in this court. The record presents no valid objections to the foreclosure decree. It is affirmed, with costs to the plaintiff. Fead, C. J., and North, Fellows, Wiest, Clark, Potter, and Sharpe, JJ., concurred.