M'Millen v. First National Bank

OPINION OP THE COURT. BOBEBTS, C. J. The vital question in this ease, as shown by the facts stated, i's, whether the second order of sale was void, because it did not show on its face the number of previous executions which had been issued on the judgment, as required by sub-sec. 7 of article 3729, Bevised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1911. If the execution was not void, the sale to appellant resulted in a satisfaction of the judgment, in so far as it directed the sale of the property in question, and a subsequent execution for the sale of the same real estate would be invalid. “When satisfied, the judgment has fully accomplished its mission, and the preponderance of authority is in favor of disregarding. as absolutely void all proceedings taken subsequently to the satisfaction.” Freeman on Executions, (3rd ed.) sec. 19. At the sale, under the second execution, appellant bid in the real estate at an amount sufficient to satisfy the indebtedness owing it by C. S. McMillen, and received a sheriff’s deed therefor, and, such amount so bid, after paying in cash the costs, etc., was credited on the judgment. If this was a valid sale, it resulted necessarily in the pajunent of McMillen’s obligation to the bank and he was entitled to the return of the note in question. The subsequent sale, under the third execution, would be invalid and void and would have no effect whatever upon the rights of the parties to this suit. Appellant relies.upon the case of Driscol v. Morris, 2 Tex. Civ. App. 602, 21 S. W. 629, where the Court say:— “Mention of previous executions in a bill of costs attached to an execution is not a compliance with Bev. St. art. 2281, declaring that, when an alias or pluries execution is issued, it shall show fim its face’ the number of previous executions.” A reading of the case, however, will show that the Court approved an instruction, informing the jury that such omission was an irregularity, and also of another instruction advising the jury as follows:— “But if you find from the evidence that said land did not sell for a grossly inadequate price, or if it did sell for a grossly inadequate price, yet if tbe irregularities herein before mentioned did not conduce thereto, then you can not find for the intervenor.” Thus clearly indicating-that the Court did not intend to, nor hold, that such an omission would render a sale under such an execution invalid. » The authorities all agree • that mere irregularities in execution and judicial sales do not make the same illegal, but at most make them only voidable, and then only upon prompt action of the injured party. Morris v. Hastings, et al., (Tex. Sup.) 7 S. W. 649; Freeman on Executions, sec. 339. 1 A later case decided by the Court of Civil Appeals of Texas (Corder v. Steiner, et al., 54 S. W. 277) distinctly holds that a failure to state in the execution the number of executions previously issued does not render the execution void. The Court say: “Failure to state in the execution the number of executions previously issued did not render the last execution void. It was a mere irregularity.” This question, however, has been settled by the Supreme Court of Texas, contrary to appellant’s contention. In the case of Graves v. Hall, 13 Tex. 379, appellant-instituted suit to revive a judgment, which appellee resisted on the ground that appellant had not kept the judgment alive by the issuance of executions as required by law; his contention being that the executions subsequent to the first did not purport to be alias or pluries, etc. The lower court held with appellee, that such executions were nullities, and gave him judgment on his plea of the statute of limitations. The Court say:— “In support of the judgment we are referred to the cases of Bennett and wife v. Gamble, (1 Tex. R. 124) and Scott & Rose v.’Allen, (Id.) 508; neither of these cases, as will be seen, enunciates any such principle as that, where executions have been regularly issued in respect of time, and the judgments and executions are before the court whereby it may be seen that they were so issued, the clerical omission to give them their proper numerical clesignation, will warrant their being treated as nullities.” The Court further say: “Though the excutions in question were irregular in point of form, they were not nullities. They might have been amended; and when the Court has before it that which to amend by, a mere clerical omission will be considered as amended; upon the principle, that, as to mere matters of form, for the purpose of sustaining right, that will be considered as done which ought to have been done.” And in the case of Hancock v. Metz, 15 Tex. 205, the same Court say:— “However irregular a proceeding may have been, the title of the purchaser will not be affected by it, unless the proceeding was absolutely void.” In the case of Morris v. Hastings, supra, the Court say:— “When notice of sale has not been properly given, if objection be made by the defendant in execution without unnecessary delay, the sale may be set aside. But the notice of sale, being for the benefit of the defendant, will be considered waived if not made in a reasonable time.” 2 The provisions as to the order of sale and the manner of making it are for the benefit of the defendant alone and can be waived by him, and, where there are irregularities in this regard and he does not move promptly he is con-. sidered to have waived them. No one else can assert these rights for him, and it must be apparent that even the defendant could not have the proceedings set aside without notice to parties and some regular proceeding authorized by law, and in such manner as to obtain an order from a court having jurisdiction of the subject matter. If what has been said above is true, then the issuance of the second order of sale, the sale of the land thereunder, the purchase by appellant and the execution of' the deed to it were absolutely binding, and the Clerk and Sheriff, having performed their regular duties in the execution of said judgment, had no power to take any further action, nor did appellant have the right to cause the third execution to issue. 3 Where a court renders final judgment in a cause, it has no jurisdiction to proceed further except in carrying out the terms of the judgment, and where that is left to non-judicial officers, their power is fixed by the terms of the judgment and when once executed the power is ended. We therefore conclude that C. S. McMillen’s obligation to the appellant was discharged by its purchase under the second execution, and that the third execution issued on the judgment was invalid and the sale thereunder void. 4 Appellant, however, contends that this suit is a collateral attack upon the proceedings in the Texas Court, but in this it is mistaken. Appellee relies upon the judgment, execution and sale by that Court. He contends that such proceedings were regular and valid and relies thereon as a discharge of the indebtedness of his assignor to appellant. It is true he claims the third execution and sale were void, because of a valid satisfaction of the judgment, in the amount for which the land sold under the second execution, but this third execution and all proceedings under it we have seen were invalid and void; but it is clear that every one may disregard proceedings which are nullities and without jurisdiction. 5 Appellant further insists that appellee was estopped to deny that the sale under the second execution was invalid, but we do not understand upon what theory the assumption is based. It is well understood that there are three classes of estoppel, viz: — estoppel by record, estoppel by deed, and equitable estoppel or estoppel in pais. There was no attempt made to show that C. S. McMillen caused the third execution to issue, or that he had knowledge of its issuance, or acquiesced therein. For the reasons stated, the judgment of the lower court will be affirmed, and it is so ordered.