Fulghum v. Madrid

OPINION OF THE COURT WATSON, J. This suit was commenced May 23, 1924, to reform a mortgage and to foreclose it. The reformation sought was in the description. The true description is lot 10 and the west half of lot 11 in block B, Covey addition to the city of Raton. The property was erroneously described in the mortgage as lots 10 and 11, in block 13, of that addition. By amended complaint, filed August 29, 1924, Richard H. Azar and Joseph Azar were made defendants; it being alleged that they claimed some right, title, and interest in the mortgaged property, but that, whatever their claim might be, it was junior, inferior, and subsequent to plaintiff’s rights as mortgagee. Defendants Azar answered, admitting that they made claims upon the property, and denying the priority of plaintiff’s mortgage. The court decreed reformation and foreclosure, but gave priority to the claim of defendants Azar. Plaintiff appeals. The facts found by the trial court áre: That on May 31, 1921, Madrid gave to appellant the mortgage in question, and that it was recorded the-next clay; that she intended to mortgage the land in question, but erroneously described it as above stated; that she had made default in the conditions of the mortgage, there being due $475, with interest and attorney’s fees; that defendants Azar, as copartners, sued Madrid September 29, 1920, obtained judgment against her September 14, 1922, recorded the transcript thereof December 18, 1922, and took out execution August 11, 1924, by virtue of which the property in question was sold by the sheriff to appellee Richard H. Azar, he receiving a deed dated September 13, 1924, and recorded September 16, 1924; and that, at the time of obtaining the judgment and of recording the transcript, appellees had no knowledge of , the mortgage or of any claim of appellant that he had a mortgage on the land in question. As will appear from the opinion in ruling upon motions in this appeal (Fulghum v. Madrid, 31 N. M. 91, 240 P. 990), the only question appellant is in a position to submit is whether the findings support the judgment. This situation prevents us from noticing several of his •contentions. Appellees, on the other hand, argue as though appellee Richard H. Azar- were to be here considered a purchaser at execution sale, without actual or constructive notice of appellant’s claim. This we cannot admit. The court not only did not so find, but the judgment does not recognize the sheriff’s sale or deed. It gives priority to the Azar brothers judgment lien. That is entirely inconsistent with appellees’ position. The sale and conveyance to Richard H.- Azar, if recognized by the court, would have completely merged the judgment lien of the Azar brothers, to which the court gave effect and priority. The .question is whether an unrecorded mortgage or a judgment lien shall have priority. We say an unrecorded mortgage, accepting appellees’ contention that the recording of a mortgage which does not describe the land can have no effect as constructive notice. Code 1915, § 4788, provided as follows: “No deed, mortgage or other instrument in writing, not recorded in accordance with section 4786 shall affect the title or rights to, in any real estate, of any purchaser or mortgagee in good faith, without knowledge of the existence of such unrecorded instruments.” Under this section the recording of a mortgage was not necessary to give it priority over a judgment lien. Ilfeld v. De Baca, 13 N. M. 32, 79 P. 723; Chetham-Strode v. Blake, 19 N. M. 335, 142 P. 1130. By chapter 11, Laws 1923, that section was amended to read as follows: “No deed, mortgage or other instrument in writing, not recorded in accordance with section 4786, shall affect the title or rights to, in any real estate, of any purchaser, mortgagee in good' faith, or judgment lien creditor, without knowledge of the existence of such unrecorded instruments.” We cannot doubt that the purpose of the amendment was to extend protection to judgment lien creditors without knowledge. It took effect in June, 1923. At that time a transcript of appellees’ judgment had been of record for some time, and no suit had been instituted for reformation of the mortgage. It remains to decide, then, whether the amendment had the effect to change the priority as between an existing unrecorded mortgage and a judgment lien, or whether that priority continued as it was under the law in force when the mortgage was given and the judgment lien obtained. There is, in this state, no constitutional inhibition upon retroactive legislation. The mere fact of its being retroactive is not sufficient to condemn it. It would no doubt have been competent for the Legislature to have made the amendment retroactive. It might have been expected in such case that the Legislature would have set some time within which a mortgagee might record his mortgage and thus preserve the priority which had vested in him over judgment liens. Indeed, it may be doubted whether, in the absence of such saving clause, and considering the effect (taking the priority of the mortgagee and giving it to the judgment lien creditor), the legislation could be upheld as retroactive. See 23 R. C. L. 172. See, also, Newton v. Thornton, 3 N. M. 287, 5 P. 257, where a statute allowing an occupant of land, on being deprived of his possession, to recover the value of improvements made, though in express terms retroactive, was not allowed to have that effect, since the improvements had vested in the owner of the land prior to the passage of the act, and since giving the act such effect would have been a taking of private property for private use. It is unnecessary, however, to pursue this question. There, is nothing in the amendment to indicate a legislative intent that it should have retroactive effect. In such case it is universally ruled that such effect will not be given it by construction. 36 Cyc. p. 1205 et seq.; 25 R. C. L. “Statutes,” § 35; Lewis’ Sutherland Stat. Const. (2d Ed.) §§ 335, 642; Beal Cardinal Rules of Legal Interpretation (2d Ed.) p. 414 et seq. See, also, Gallegos v. A. T. & S. F. Ry. Co., 28 N. M. 472, 214 P. 579, and State Tax Commission v. Powers & Scroggins, 29 N. M. 10, 218 P. 186, where the general rule is stated. It seems to us, therefore, that the priority must be determined according to the law in force when the mortgage was given and the judgment lien obtained. That being the case, appellant is correct in his contention that the court erred in rendering the judgment he did upon-the findings he made. Upon those findings appellant’s mortgage is a lien superior to appellees’ judgment. The judgment must be reversed, and the cause remanded, with direction to enter judgment for appellant in conformity herewith. It is so ordered. PARKER, C. J., concurs. BICKLEY, J., having been counsel, did not participate.