Larremore v. Squires

Laughlin, J. On the 19th day of Hovember, 1897, the defendant Sqqires procured from the plaintiff a loan of $2,000, and, as collateral security therefor, he and his wife executed to her a mortgage upon the premises described in the complaint, which are situate on the easterly side of Webster avenue, between One Hundred and Seventy-fifth and One Hundred and Seventy-sixth streets, in the city of Hew York, which provided that the loan should be repaid according to the terms of a bond executed by Squires, bearing even date with the mortgage. The plaintiff employed the Lawyers’ Title Insurance Company as her attorney and agent, to place said loan and pass upon the title. The com [63] pany, acting for her, accepted the title, relying upon the validity of a certain lease, hearing date July 29, 18Ó7, between the executors of the estate of Solomon Jesserun, who were Squires’ grantors, and the defendant Hary Dugan, which had been exhibited to the officers of said company having charge of the matter for the plaintiff, as to the interest of said Hary Dugan in the premises, she being in occupation of the house upon said premises at the time. This bond and mortgage, by their terms, fell due two years after date. On the 31st day of October, 1898, for a good and sufficient consideration, the mortgagors agreed with the mortgagee that the indebtedness to secure which the mortgage was given should become due and payable on the 1st day of ¡November, 1898. This indebtedness not having been paid, the plaintiff instituted this action to foreclose the mortgage. The complaint alleges that the defendant Dugan is in possession under said lease, and that her term as such lessee has expired, and that she is in possession, holding over under said lease, and having no other interest in the premises, and that her interest is subordinate to the plaintiff’s mortgage. She interposed an answer, admitting that she is in possession, but denying the making of the lease and all other allegations concerning her interest, and setting up as an affirmative defense that she has been in possession since the 12th day of September, 1875, as a tenant of one Edward Lehigh, whom she alleges then was and still is the owner of said premises. The answer then specifically admits that about the date of. said lease the defendant Hary Dugan signed a paper acknowledging that she was a tenant of said Squires, and that, as she is informed and believes, the paper so signed was the lease set forth in the complaint, but that she was not aware of its nature or contents, and that her signature thereto, was obtained by means of fraudulent representation. The evidence satisfactorily shows that the plaintiff made the loan relying upon said lease, and believing that the interest of the defendant Dugan was that of a tenant thereunder whose tenancy had expired. Solomon Jesserun had a record title to said premises, but he had no conveyance from said Lehigh or from the grantees or representatives of said Lehigh. The will of said Jesserun was duly admitted to probate on the ,14th day of July, 1886. Thereafter the defendant Squires, desiring to purchase the premises of [64] the widow, executrix, executors and trustees of said Jesserun, employed said Lawyers’ Title Insurance Company to examine the title. This company discovered that the defendant Mary Dugan was in possession, under such circumstances that- it became advisable to have her relationship to the owners more satisfactorily established. As the agent and representative of the executrix and executors, the defendant Squires called upon the defendant Dugan and negotiated a written lease between them for the nominal rental of one dollar per month, until such time as the owner should sell. The lease was prepared in duplicate, one signed by the •executors and left with the defendant Dugan, together with a receipt for six months’ rent thereunder, without requiring the payment of such rent; and the other delivered to her for her signature. She thereafter conferred with one Robert E. Holden, a real estate agent whom she knew and in whom she had confidence, •and stated to him the facts relating to her claim and possession. Her claim, as shown by the evidénce, is (but it does not appear whether she so stated it to Holden) that about twenty-four years ago she entered as a tenant of said Lehigh, who had then occupied the premises for a few years under a quit-claim deed dated in 1868, and acknowledged in 1872, and that after three or four years he departed, saying that he was going to a hospital for treatment, leaving her in possession and telling her to remain until he returned and to pay no rent to anyone, and that she has remained in possession ever since and has paid no rent and has not heard from said Lehigh. Holden advised her that she had no ■claim by which she could retain possession as against said executrix and executors, and that it would be better for her to acknowledge their ownership and become their tenant as suggested than to attempt t-o resist their claim. The evidence satisfactorily •establishes that with a full knowledge of all the facts, she, not being able to write, authorized Holden to sign her name to said lease, that he did so, and she then held the pen while he made her mark, and he thereupon signed as a subscribing witness, and thereafter acknowledged its execution as such subscribing witness and delivered the lease by her authority to the representative of said executrix and executors. The validity of the lease is fairly presented by the pleadings and by the evidence. The rule that the validity of claims which are paramount to a mortgage sought to be foreclosed cannot be [65] determined in a foreclosure action is not applicable here in view of the pleadings and of the facts, and it does not preclude the court from adjudicating in this action upon the validity of the lease. Cromwell v. MacLean, 123 N. Y. 474; Helck v. Reinheimer, 105 id. 470; Jacobie v. Mickle, 144 id. 237. The defendant Dugan is estopped under the circumstances from contending, as against the plaintiff, that she has any other interest as a tenant than that which she acquired by virtue of her lease from the executrix and the executors of said Solomon. Page v. Krekey, 137 N. Y. 307; Trenton Banking Co. v. Duncan, 86 id. 221; Marden v. Dorthy, 160 id. 41, 61, 65. It was not necessary for the plaintiff to plead such estoppel to entitle her to make the necessary proof and interpose it as an answer to the defendant’s claim concerning her former tenancy. Abbott’s Briefs PL, § 880; Heiser v. Hatch, 86 N. Y. 614; Woolner v. Hill, 93 id. 576. A decision may be prepared by the attorney for the plaintiff reciting the material undisputed facts and finding the controverted facts in accordance with this opinion, and decreeing a foreclosure and sale of the mortgaged premises and awarding costs to the plaintiff. The decision may be submitted to the attorney for the defendant, and, if not stipulated as to form, it will be settled by me on two days’ notice. Ordered accordingly.