Wilson v. European & North American Railway Co.

Peters, J. The question is, whether it is necessary that a mortagee, whose mortgage is recorded, not being in actual possession of the mortgaged premises, should have notice of the pendency of proceedings instituted by a railroad corporation before county commissioners to ascertain the damages of land owners for land taken for the track of its road. We think a mortagee should be notified and made a party to the proceedings, and that the railroad company takes the risk of a want of notice if none is given. Practically, however, in many eases the necessity of notice is avoided; as where the mortgagee waives the damages, being satisfied with his security upon the land that is not taken ; or where the damages are awarded to the mortgager and are paid over to the mortgagee iipon his receipt or release therefor. And, we have no doubt, a mortgagee might resort to proceedings in chancery to recover the damages awarded to the mortgager. But the railroad corporation must see that the mortgagee is somehow paid or satisfied for the land taken ■ so far as covered by the mortgage. The statute (R. 8., c. 51, § 2,) provides that “persons having any interest in land (taken for railroad) have the rights and remedies of owners to the extent of their interest.” Certainly, a mortgagee whose mortgage is recorded has an interest as an owner within the meaning of this section. The easement taken may despoil the mortgaged land of all its value. Without notice, [361] a mortgagee might lose his entire security by proceedings carried on without his knowledge or consent. By our law, it is well settled that the strict legal estate passes to the mortgagee, to be defeated only by the subsequent performance of the condition annexed. He has the right to take possession at any time, unless there be an agreement between the mortgager and mortgagee to the contrary. This right is supported by repeated decisions, at the head of which is Blaney v. Bearce, 2 Maine, 132. He may support an action of trespass quare clausum, fregit against a stranger for an injury to the freehold. Frothingham v. McKusick, 24 Maine, 403. And even against the mortgager for such an injury. Stowell v. Pike, 2 Maine, 387. And in such case he may recover of the mortgager to the extent of the injury to the estate, without proof of the insufficiency of the remaining security. Byrom v. Chapin, 113 Mass. 308. He may insure the mortgaged estate against fire, and in case of loss collect the insurance without liability to account for it upon the indebtedness of the mortgager, where there is no agreement between them to that effect. Cushing v. Thompson, 34 Maine, 496. If in possession he may maintain a complaint in his own name for damages caused by flowing under the mill act. Ballard v. Ballard Vale Co. 5 Gray, 468. If in possession, he cannot be dispossessed by the mortgager (by the common law) in a suit at law, even if the mortgaged debt, after condition broken, has been paid. Wilson v. Ring, 40 Maine, 116. But by R. S., c. 90, § 28, (see act of 1870, c. 142) a mortgagee may now be ousted by a suit at law brought after condition broken, if the debt be paid. These various decisions are based upon the idea that a mortagee is the legal owner of the property mortgaged. Many questions of a troublesome character arise in respect to mortgaged estates, which can be better adjusted in equity than at law. But the question now presented is in reference to the right at law of the mortgagee. We find but few adjudications upon the exact question before us. In this state there are none. In New Hampshire (Parish v. Gilmanton, 11 N. H. 293,) it was held, not to be necessary to make a mortgagee a party in proceedings to lay out a highway over mortgaged land. But our theory of the character of a mortgage [362] of land does not prevail in that state. It is there regarded as possessing less of the attributes of a common law conveyance of an estate in fee than is accorded to it in this state. In that state a transfer of the debt secured, accompanied by a delivery of the mortgage, constitutes a legal assignment of the mortgage itself, Without any writing thereon or deed. In such case the registry of deeds does not disclose the assignee, and there would be great difficulty in giving notice to such a party. The doctrine of that case would not apply with much force here. In New York (47 N. Y. 157,) notice to a judgment creditor is not necessary, in laying out highways; but for the reason that the creditors statutory lien does not irrevocably attach to the fee of the estate of the debtor, but could be taken away at any time by the legislature. In Massachusetts, the decisions are unimportant and throw but little light upon the subject. It is merely said, in Breed v. Eastern Railroad, 5 Gray, 470, (reported in a note) that a sheriff’s ruling, that a mortgager who was petitioner and whose estate was incumbered with mortgages was entitled to damages under his petition to the same extent as if no mortgages had existed upon the estate, was affirmed by the court. But it does not appear in the report of the case whether the mortgagees appeared or not or objected or not, nor whether any provision was made to protect their interests or not, nor is the ground for the ruling disclosed. ■Not unlikely the objection came too late, it being held in Meacham v. Fitchburg Railroad, 4 Cush. 291, that the objection to the want of proper parties should be made to the commissioners before the jury are called in. And in the same case it was also held that notice to a mortgagee was unnecessary, where the mort. gagee consents in writing that the proceedings may be in the name of the mortgager. Then, it is well settled law that it is no defense to a suit in the name of a mortgager, that a mortgagee has also a right of action for the same cause. He may never sue. See Gooding v. Shea, 103 Mass. 360, 363, 364. In Breed v. Eastern Railroad, supra, the mortgager was the petitioner, no one setting up any superior or opposing claim. The doctrine that a mortgagee’s estate cannot be affected, where he is not a party in such proceedings, is maintained in Mississippi, in Stewart v. [363] Raymond Railway, 7 Smed. & M. 568 ; and in Iowa, in Severin v. Cole, 38 Iowa, 463 ; and in Wisconsin, in Kennedy v. The Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, 22 Wis. 581; though in these cases, being in equity, the railroad companies found total or partial relief in the orders of court, under their systems of foreclosure, that the estate so far as unencumbered by the railroad be first sold, and that, in case of deficiency of amount to pay the mortgaged debt, the portion occupied by the railroad be sold after-wards. The same rule would probably apply in this state, if we had jurisdiction in equity over the question. Sheperd v. Adams 32 Maine, 63. Redfield (Railways, vol. 1, p. 286) says, “the only general rule as to parties, perhaps, is, that those having an interest in the question may become parties plaintiff, or be made parties defendant, according to the character and quality of the interest.” In England, and in some of the states, the practice has been for the jury to ascertain the quantum of the damages merely, the title to the damages being a matter only with the courts. With us all questions, that of title included, are for the jury, questions of law being revisable by the court. In this case, at this lapse of time, this action is all the remedy the plaintiff can have; aud his claim for damages cannot be defeated. The taking the land was legal; the damages for such taking are recoverable in trespass. R. S., c. 51, § 6. Defendants defaulted for $75 and interest thereon from July 1, 1870. Appleton, C. J., Walton, Dickerson, Barrows and Virgins JJ., concurred.