Hobbs v. Duff

By the Court, Rhodes, J.: A concise and accurate history of the litigation out of which this suit grows, is given in the report of Hobbs v. Duff, 23 Cal. 596, which was an appeal from the preliminary injunction, which, by the decree from which this appeal is taken, was made perpetual. On that appeal most of the questions going to the merits of this controversy were decided. It was then held that the plaintiffs were not estopped, either by the judgment in Duff v. Fisher, or by the judgment in Duff v. Hobbs, or by the judgment in Duff v. Goddard, from showing that William R. Duff was only a trustee for Ryan & Duff. It was also held that there was a sufficient consideration to support the assignment of the unsatisfied balance of the judgment of foreclosure in Fisher v. Ryan; that this action in equity could be maintained, although in the action at law on the appeal bond—Duff v. Hobbs—the defendants attempted, but failed, to set off the balance due on the judgment of foreclosure, against the demand on the appeal bond; that the proceedings in Duff v. Hobbs imparted notice to Joseph! of the set-off claimed by the present plain‘tiffs, and that without regard to the question of notice, he took his assignment, subject to the plaintiff’s right to such set-off; that if William R. Duff is a mere trustee for Ryan and J. R. Duff, he is not injured by the set-off, and that the latter are not injured, for the set-off satisfies a portion of their indebtedness. Other points were decided, about which no question is now made. The decision on the points above mentioned, became the law of the case. Objection is taken to the depositions of Buhne et al., on the ground,that no notice of their taking was shown. It was proven by oral testimony that the notice was given to the [489] attorneys of ¥m. B. Buff; and no reason is given why the proof of service may not be m;:de in that manner as well as by affidavit. It is also shown by an affidavit that the notice was served on the attorneys for Win. B. Buff and Josephi. The defendants interposed objections to the larger portion of all the questions which were propounded by the plaintiffs to Buhne and others, and they now rely upon all those objections, and specify particularly a number of questions which were asked of each witness; but they do not undertake to show wherein the questions were objectionable. The statement shows that all the objections found in the depositions were presented to the Court, and were overruled. It will suffice to advert to the character of some of those questions, in classes, without taking them up in detail. Questions were asked of the witnesses to show that William B. Buff acquired the title to one of the mills and the steam-tug—portions of the property which was sold at the foreclosure sale. That was the theory of the defendant’s case, and it could do them no injury to prove the fact by oral testimony. The record in Duff v. Fisher was better evidence of such fact; but the record was introduced in evidence, and as the oral evidence did not add to, vary, or contradict the record in the respect mentioned, no injury resulted to the defendants from its admission. The testimony of those witnesses, going to show that Wm. B. Buff" acquired the possession of such property and that he leased the mill to certain persons, instead of injuring the defendants rather strengthened their position, as it tended to show that he was in fact the owner of the mill. Evidence as to the pecuniary standing and ability of William B. Buff, was competent on the issue, as to whether he was in equity the owner of the property, the title to which was taken in his name. Testimony showing that Byan and J. B. Buff, or either of them, par [490] ticijoated in the treaty for the lease of the mill, or received portions of, or settled for the rent, or superintended matters in respect to the mill, was clearly competent, as tending to prove one of the material issues—which was that they, Ryan and Duff", were the equitable owners of the contract for the purchase of the mill, and of the judgment rendered in proceedings having their origin in that contract. The objections require no farther notice. The objection which is now made to the deposition of Ferguson, was not made when the deposition was offered in evidence; and besides this answer to the objection, it appears by the matters added to the transcript by stipulation, that a notice of the application for a commission to take the deposition was given. The testimony of Wise was objected to on the ground that it was not the best evidence—that the record of the examination of the witness ought to be produced; but the objection was properly overruled, because the testimony of Wise referred to the testimony of the witness on his voir dire, and on the production of the record it did not show that the witness was sworn or gave any testimony on his voir dire. The offer to show that the foreclosure suit was an amicable suit, and that it was agreed that no personal judgment should be rendered, was properly rejected. The invalidity of that feature of the judgment—the personal 'liability for the deficiency, after the sale of the mortgaged property— could not be proven, unless it had been alleged in the answer, and the answer contains no such allegation. If the judgment was not what it should have been, it can be reformed only in a direct proceeding brought for that purpose. Carpentier v. Oakland, 35 Cal. 439, is clear authority that it is not liable to a collateral attack on that ground. We do not understand that the minutes of the Court in the foreclosure suit show any material fact which is not [491] shown by the judgment roll. They were, therefore, immaterial; But if they differ in any material respect from the roll, they were not admissible to vary or contradict the roll. There is no error in the remaining specifications. . There is a further point which is presented by the plaintiff, which is decisive of this appeal. Josephi, to whom the judgment on the appeal bond was assigned, before the commencement of this action, is the only person who is interested in that judgment. He appeared by Patterson & Stow; G. F. Sharp appeared for William E. Duff", by filing a demurrer, and he is the only defendant for whom the Messrs. Sharp appeared. The notice of motion for a new trial was given by “G. F. & W. H. Sharp, attorneys for defendants.” The statement on new trial is signed by G. F. & W. H. Sharp, and Patterson & Stow. The plaintiffs’ attorneys stipulated to the correctness of the statement, and in the stipulation reserved “ all exceptions and objections to the right to make such statement.” The notice of appeal is given on behalf of the defendants, and is signed by G. F. & W. H. Sharp and Patterson & Stow. The record does not show a substitution of attorneys for any of the defendants. The plaintiffs insist that the motion for a new trial must be limited to William E. Duff", the only defendant for whom either of the Messrs. Sharp appeared, and we are of the opinion that the point must be sustained. Where there are several defendants to an action, and each appears by his own attorney, the proceedings in the cause on behalf of the defendants must be conducted by their respective attorneys until their authority is revoked, or other attorneys substituted. The attorney for one defendant has no more authority to give a notice for another defendant than he has to accept service of notices or other papers, or enter into stipulations for him, or consent to an order or judgment against him. The settlement by the attorneys of a statement on new trial, filed on behalf of a party who had not given notice of his intention to move for [492] a new trial, or the proposing of amendments to. such state- - ment, if the settlement was made, or the amendments were filed, without objection for the want of such notice, would amount to a waiver of the notice. In this case, however, the objection was made in the manner already mentioned, and the plaintiffs will not be deemed to have waived notice of the motion on the part of Josephi. The only defendant who can be heard on the grounds specified in the statement— they being the only grounds now relied upon—is William R. Duff (Spangel v. Dellinger, 42 Cal. 148.) He had assigned the judgment before the commencement of this action, and does not appear to be interested in the litigation, and therefore has no cause to complain of alleged errors, which might have been prejudicial to his assignee or to Josephi. Judgment and order affirmed. Mr. Chief Justice Wallace, being disqualified, did not sit in this case. Mr. Justice Crockett did not sit in this cause.