James v. Peppard Realty Co.

Faber, J. This is a motion for an extra allowance to a referee upon the sale of real property on foreclosure, pursuant to section 3297 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which, among other things, provides: “And a referee's compensation, including commissions, cannot, where the sale is under a judgment in an action to foreclose a mortgage, exceed fifty dollars, [566] unless the property sold for ten thousand dollars or upwards, in which event the referee may receive such additional compensation as to the court may seem proper, or in any other cause (case) five hundred dollars.” This statute fixes the referee’s fees at a sum not to exceed $50 where the property sold for less than $10,000. The provision that where the property sells for $10,000 or upwards the referee may receive such additional compensation as to the court may seem proper not to exceed $500 applies only to eases where some unusual or exceptional labor has been performed by the referee. It was never intended that solely because the property was sold for more than $10,000, as in this case, the referee is entitled to additional compensation. If that were so, there would be no reason for leaving the matter to the discretion of the court; there would be nothing but the amount realized to base a discretion upon. On this application there appears to have been no unusual or exceptional labor in connection with the referee’s duties, and the motion for additional compensation is denied. The referee contends that he was unreasonably annoyed by the attorney for the owner of the equity of redemption, who opposes this motion, but I know of no law or rule by which I can compensate him for such annoyance. He must find some other remedy. Motion denied.