Ashurst v. Lehman, Durr & Co.

CLOPTON, J. It has been said, that the exercise of the power to appoint a receiver pendente lite, is one of the most responsible duties which a court of equity is called on to perform, as its effect is to deprive the defendant of his possession before a final decree, which may work great, and even irreparable injury, though the property taken into the custody of the court may be finally restored. The appointment rests largely in the discretion of the court; not an arbitrary or capricious, but a judicial discretion, controlled by a consideration of the circumstances of each case; and the power should be exercised with great caution and circumspection. Actual fraud, or imminent danger, is not, in all cases, essential to tbe exercise of tbe power. There should, however, be a concurrence of two grounds — a reasonable probability of success on tbe part of tbe complainant, and that tbe subject-matter in controversy is in danger. Tbe remedy is preventive in its nature, and its purpose is tbe preservation of tbe subject-matter of litigation, for tbe benefit of all tbe parties in interest, until their rights can be finally adjudicated. It does not affect tbe title, nor establish tbe rights of tbe parties. Such being the nature of tbe remedy, tbe appointment of a receiver is authorized, when tbe party seeking tbe appointment shows, prima f acie, a title reasonably free from doubt, or a lien upon tbe subject-matter of controversy, to wbicb be has a right to resort for tbe satisfaction of bis claim, and that it is in danger of loss, from waste, misconduct, or insolvency, if tbe defendant is permitted to retain tbe possession. Notice of tbe application for tbe appointment, and the. officer to whom it will be submitted, must be given, or a good reason shown for tbe failure to give tbe same. — Brierfield Iron Works Co. v. Foster, 54 Ala. 622; Micou v. Moses Bros., 72 Ala. 439; Bard v. Bingham, 54 Ala. 463; Ex parte Walker, 25 Ala. 81; Code, 1886, § 3534. Tbe allegations of tbe bill, wbicb are verified, are not controverted. We must, therefore, on appeal, assume their truth. Tbe relation of mortgagees and mortgagor exists [372] between complainants and defendant. The mortgage conveys land, the crops grown during the current year, and other personal property, as security for a debt due by defendant to complainants. The lands are incumbered by a prior mortgage, to the extent of their value. The claim of the complainant is past due. The bill avers, that defendant has refused to deliver the crops and other personal property embraced in the mortgage, and claims that there are prior liens upon the crops. It also avers, that the defendant has appropriated a portion of them to purposes other than the payment of complainants’ debt; that defendant is insolvent; and that the crops are in danger of being lost or destroyed, unless they are promptly taken into the custody of the court; and that the security is inadequate, unless they are preserved and applied to the satisfaction of complainants’ debt. The receivership was extended only to the crops. Considering the nature and character of the subject-matter of controversy, the facility with which the crops may be disposed of, their liability to waste or destruction, the necessity of their preservation and application to the mortgage debt, the insolvency of defendant, and his application of a part of the crops in disregard of the rights of complainants, we are of opinion that the bill makes a prima facie case for the appointment of a receiver, and shows a good reason for the failure to give notice of the application. — Sims v. Adams, 78 Ala. 395. Affirmed.