Young v. Droz

Root, J. On the 3d of October, 1901, the county of Stevens brought an action to foreclose a certificate of delinquency, held hy it for delinquent taxes. The title of the case was “Stevens County v. H. Kahlen and 103 others.” The summons was in the following language, to wit: “You are. hereby summoned to appear within sixty days after the service of this summons upon you, exclusive of the day of service, and defend this action or pay the amount due against your property, together with the costs; and in case of your failure to do so judgment will be rendered foreclosing the lien for said certificate of delinquent taxes, penalty, interest and costs against the lands and premises hereinafter mentioned.” At. the bottom of the summons, the date of first publication was plainly stated. Under this proceeding, certain real estate lots belonging to appellant were sold to the county, and thereafter by the county to respondents. Appellant brings this action to quiet title to said lots, and to decree the- sale thereof, under the aforesaid foreclosure proceedings, null and void. Under former decisions of this court, said foreclosure proceedings, and the sale of said real estate thereundef were null and void. Instead of reading “sixty days after the service of summons upon you,” it should have read “sixty days from the date of first publication of this summons,” or in equivalent language shown that answer must he made within sixty days from the date- of first publication of the summons. See, Dolan v. Jones, 37 Wash. 176, 79 Pac. 640; Thompson v. Robbins, 32 Wash. 149, 72 Pac. 1043; Smith v. White, 32 Wash. 414, 73 Pac. 480; Woodham v. Anderson, 32 Wash. 500, 73 Pac. 536. It is contended by respondents, however, that appellant is estopped to raise any question as to the legality of this [650] foreclosure proceeding, for the reason that, at the public sale of these premises by the county, he appeared personally and bid upon the same. Respondents urge that this conduct on the part of the appellant constituted an estoppel as against him. This contention cannot be maintained. If the sale, and the proceedings pursuant to which it took place, had been merely irregular or voidable, there might be force in respondents’ contention. But as the sale was absolutely void, an estoppel cannot he successfully pleaded against appellant by reason of the conduct mentioned. Sturgiss v. Dart, 23 Wash. 244, 62 Pac. 858. ■ Some question is raised as to the amount that should have been tendered by appellant before commencing his action. He tendered the amount of taxes, penalties, and interest due at the time the property was sold to the county. The tender being refused, he paid the money into court. Respondents claim that appellant should have tendered the amount paid by them to the county when they bought. We think it is incumbent upon a plaintiff, in bringing this kind of an action, to first tender the amount due when the property was first sold to the county, together with any taxes that have been assessed and become due since said sale, with penalties and interest. It does not appear that any taxes had become due upon this property since the sale to the county. It appears that no one was in possession of said lots. Having tendered the amount appearing to he justly due, appellant was entitled to prosecute his action. McManus v. Morgan, ante p. 528, 80 Pac. 786. The judgment of the honorable superior court is reversed, and the case remanded, with instructions to enter a decree in favor of appellant, holding the sale to have been null and void, and quieting appellant’s title as against all [651] claims of these respondents, by, through, and under said sale. Mount, C. J., Crow, Rudkin, and Dunbar, JJ., concur. Fullerton and Hadley, JJ., took no part.