Gamble v. Voll

Baldwin, J. delivered the opinion of the Court Field, C. J. concurring. Appellants filed their bill to set aside a judgment and sale by respondents of certain property. The ground is fraud in obtaining this judgment, which the appellants claim a right to vacate, in order to give effect to their judgment recovered on a subsequent mortgage and sale under it. The facts are, that respondents held two mechanics’ liens upon the property; one for six hundred and fifty-two dollars and sixteen cents, filed October 30th, 1854, and the other for fifty-three dollars and eighteen cents, filed December 8th, 1854, against defendant Voll. Voll, in 1855, procured from respondents an entry on the record, stating that the lien did not fall due till January 15th, 1856. It seems to have been supposed that under the Act of 1855, this could be done, and the lien thus extended with safety to the creditor. But it was discovered that the Act of 1855 in this respect only applied to subsequent and not to existing liens; and respondents accordingly brought suit within the year limited, and judgment was obtained. The plaintiffs below relied on two grounds, which do not seem to be consistent: 1st. That the lien had expired; and 2d. That the lien had been so extended that the debt was not due, or the lien could not be enforced at the time of suit. I. But it is readily answered, that as this arrangement was made for the extension of the lien upon a misapprehension, the debt being just and legal, the parties had a right to rescind what was so done. The [510] judgment could only be impeached by the plaintiffs for fraud, and no fraud is proved by this rescission of the arrangement made under these circumstances. The parties had a right to rescind the arrangement; and unless it were shown that the plaintiffs had acquired some rights by these proceedings which it would be inequitable to disturb, the plaintiff has no cause of complaint. 2. The mere fact that the judgment is taken for too much, is not itself conclusive proof of fraud. We are aware that the contrary seems to be intimated or held in Taaffe v. Josephson (7 Cal. 352). But the doctrine in that case cannot be maintained and is overruled. In this case, the sum over the original contract price for the articles for which the lien was claimed, arose from a charge of interest at two per cent, given on a prior extension of the lien. It is plain that the interest cannot be charged upon the premises as against the subsequent mortgage; but the mere fact that it was erroneously included in the amount of the judgment, is not conclusive proof of fraud in the judgment. 3. The sale to respondents under decree and judgment against Voll is not conclusive of the rights of the subsequent mortgagee to the lien-holder, if he were not made a party to the proceeding of the lien-holder. The mortgagee would have a right to redeem the premises on paying the money justly due, interest, costs, etc. But there is no case made for setting aside the judgment, sale, etc. (Whitney v. Higgins, 10 Cal. 547.) 4. The other assignments are without force. It is nothing to the plaintiffs that the premises are not so described as to pass title, so far as this bill is^concerned. If they are not, the respondents get no title, and the plaintiffs have a clear remedy in ejectment. 5. It is not necessary to consider the other points, for the main question in this case was as to the actual fraud in procuring the judgment and sale, and that question has been found by the Judge below, and is not affected materially by the minor objections made by the appellants, if there be anything in them, which we think is not the case. There is no ground for the interposition of a Court of Chancery except the fraud charged, and this being ignored by the finding, the bill of the plaintiffs must be dismissed. But we think, under the circumstances, that the decree should be confined to the disposition of this single matter of fraud, leaving the plaintiffs to pursue their legal [511] remedy in ejectment, if they shall be so advised, without prejudice from this decision otherwise than by the adjudication of this question. The decree below will be modified accordingly, at the costs of the appellants. Ordered accordingly.