Renfro Bros. v. Goetter, Weil & Co.

CLOPTON, J. The bill was brought by the surviving partners of Renfro Bros., for the foreclosure of a mortgage on a stock of merchandise, executed by Crumley Bros. December 25, 1878. The mortgagors were the only defendants. On the day of the filing of the bill, a receiver was appointed by consent, who, under the order of the register, took possession, and proceeded to sell and dispose of the goods. Goetter, Weil & Co. and others applied by petition, during the progress of the cause, to be admitted as defendants, “ for the purpose of defending against the said pretended claim of Renfro Bros., and the unjust proceedings in which they are engaged.” The [313] petition alleges, that the petitioners were creditors of Crumley Bros., prior to, and at the time of the making of the mortgage, and also facts on which the mortgage is assailed as fraudulent. The chancellor made an order on the petition, against the objection of the complainants, allowing the petitioning creditors to come in, and defend against the bill, “ by answer, plea, or demurrer, as they may be respectively advised it is necessary and proper to do, under the rules and practice of this court, to the same extent as if they had been formally made defendants in the original bill, by subpoena or publication.” Thereupon, the petitioners filed a demurrer to the bill, and afterwards they filed an answer and cross-bill, which alleges substantially the same facts contained in the petition, but more in extenso, and more explicitly. The cross-bill, to which the mortgagees and mortgagors were made defendants, prays that the mortgage be declared fraudulent as against the complainants in the cross-bill, and that the effects in the hands of the receiver be applied to the pa3'ment of their claims. A petition, ordinarily, is a proper proceeding by a party to a pending suit, for some order or direction therein, touching the matter in controversy, or preliminary to the preparation of the cause. But it is inappropriate, when a stranger to the suit desires to present new claims, and raise new issues, not involved in the original cause, though in respect to the subject-matter of the suit. The purpose of the petition of the creditors was, however, not to present their claims, and have them determined as on petition, but that they be admitted as defendants for the purpose of asserting their rights and the invalid^ of the mortgage. • In the absence of statute or rule, a court of equity can not, on the application of a stranger, make him. a party to a pending suit, without the consent of the complainant, for the purpose of allowing such party to litigate with complainant his right or title to any relief whatever. In Stretch v. Stretch, 2 Tenn. Ch. R. 140, a bill was filed to have a trust declared in stock, which, it was alleged, was purchased by the defendant with funds held by'him in trust for his wife, the complainant. Certain creditors of the defendant made application by petition to be admitted as parties defendants, with leave to make defense by demurrer, plea or answer, and by cross-bill, alleging that the bill was brought for a fraudulent purpose, and was advised by the defendant to hinder and delay, if not to defeat his creditors. Chancellor Cooper disallowed the application, and, after reviewing the authorities, observed : “I have myself, in two or three instances, upon principle and authority, ruled against the right to intervene in this mode, and upon reconsideration see no reason to doubt the correctness of my ruling. [314] No such practice is known in equity, as making a person a defendant to a suit on his own application.” — Drake v. Goodridge, 6 Blatch. 151. A person, not a party to the suit, whatever may be his claim on the property involved, can not intervene by petition, and be made a defendant, against the objection of the complainant, for the purpose of defeating his entire suit, and reaping the proceeds of property brought into court by a bill, after its dismissal on his defense. Generally, a complainant may elect whom he will make parties, and with whom he will litigate, under the rules governing proper and necessary parties. Whenever, during the progress of the cause, it is disclosed or made known that an absent person is a necessary party in order that an effective decree may be rendered, or that a decree can not be rendered without affecting such person’s rights, it is competent for the court to order that the complainant amend so as to make him a party, and, on failure or refusal, to dismiss his bill; but the court can not make a party, without action taken by the complainant. When a person, not a party to a pending suit, between whom and the complainant there is no privity, but who has a claim or lien on the property, — a new and independent claim, — or is interested in the subject-matter of the suit, desires, for his own protection, to present his new claim, to assert his independent rights, and raise new issues, he must do so by a formal bill, containing appropriate allegations — an original bill in the nature of a cross-bill; or of a supplemental bill, as the case may authorize.— Cowles & Ledyard v. Andrews, 39 Ala. 125 ; Caron v. Mowatt, 1 Edw. Ch. 9; Anderson v. J. P. & M. R. R. Co., 2 Woods, 628; Stretch v. Stretch, supra. It appears -from the record, that Benedict, Hall & Oo. and others, who were creditors of Crumley Bros., filed a creditors’ bill, four days after the filing of the present bill, in which are alleged substantially the same facts as set forth in the cross-bill. The mortgagors, the complainants in the present suit, and two creditors, complainants in the cross-bill, who had caused attachments to be issued and levied on the mortgaged goods before either bill was filed, were made defendants. The bill prays, among other things, that such orders be made as will require the receiver appointed under the first bill to sell the goods in the usual course of trade, and bring the proceeds into-court to abide the orders of the court on a final hearing; that the mortgage be declared' fraudulent, and that the claims of complainants be paid out of the proceeds of sale. On an appeal in this case, the validity of the mortgage was considered. 75 Ala. 121. It was held, that, by clear implication, the mortgagors retained possession of the property until the law-day, with an implied power of sale; and that the mortgage, tending [315] effectually to shield the property for the joint benefit of the mortgagors and mortgagees, is fraudulent as against creditors. To this conclusion we adhere; and being, therefore, unable to see any benefit to accrue from litigation longer protracted, when this must be the result, we have considered the feasibility of avoiding a reversal. But the chancellor dismissed the original bill, and retained the cross-bill for further proceedings and future relief to the complainants therein. A cross-bill can be filed only by a party to the suit; and as the right of the creditors to bring the cross-bill is founded on an invalid order, it must fall with the order. It can not be the basis of any relief. We can not, on principle, consider and treat it as an original bill in the nature of a cross-bill. We may remark, that the necessity of another bill is removed by the pendency of the bill brought by Benedict, Hall & Co. and others. All the relief which the creditors need may be obtained in that suit, to which they may all become parties, and in which the assets may be marshalled. We have no doubt, that on a proper application, the chancellor will regard it as his duty to consolidate the cases, and make the receivership applicable to each, as conducive to the interests, and protective of the rights of all parties. Reversed and remanded.