Andrews v. Kibbee

Campbell J.: These cases having been heard together, and it being claimed on the one hand, and denied on the other, that they are to be regarded as cross suits, and affected by the rules governing those, it becomes necessary, before referring to the peculiar form of the issues, to refer to such of the facts as may bear upon that portion of the controversy. Porter Kibbee some years ago executed to William S. Driggs a bond for $5000, and an accompanying mortgage on certain property, which was incumbered by previous mortgages made by prior owners. This bond and mortgage were assigned by Griggs to Stephen C. Andrews, who, on the fifth of March, 1858, assigned them to his uncle James Andrews, to secure two notes for $2,100 each, payable respectively April 1, 1859, and April 1, 1860. In June, 1859, Stephen C. Andrews, who had retained the bond in his possession, sued Porter Kibbee upon it, in the name of Driggs for the use of said Stephen, and obtained judgment upon it September 12, 1859, and upon that judg_ ment, after the return of an execution, filed a creditor’s bill in his own name, claiming to be the sole owner of the claim, making no allusion to James Andrews or his interests, and bringing in Henry C. Kibbee as indebted to [96] Porter Kibbee upon alleged joint dealings, and as having taken the title to certain land from Porter Kibbee, with intent to hinder and defraud his creditors. The Buhls were brought in as purchasers of the same land. This bill was filed December 21, 1859, and was defended by Henry 0. Kibbee, and proofs were taken from time to time on both sides. In March, 1861, Henry C. Kibbee purchased the securities which had been given by Stephen C. Andrews to James Andrews, and the bond and -mortgage assigned as before mentioned. In August, 1861, he filed a bill to establish his title to the securities, and to foreclose the mortgage, making as- defendants, George ~W. Bissell, as holding the prior incumbrances, which he claimed the right to redeem, Porter Kibbee, as mortgagor, and Stephen 0. Andrews, as assignor of the securities, charged with having asserted a right to collect them for himself by the proceedings at law and in equity first mentioned, and as having colluded with Bissell to defeat the equity of redemption in the mortgaged premises by previous foreclosure pur. chases in Bissell’s name. The Court below authorized Henry C. Kibbee to sue at law on the notes against Stephen C. Andrews, dismissed the bill of the latter, and granted a decree allowing a redemption and sale of the mortgaged premises, but directing the proceeds to be paid into court to be distributed as should be found proper on a subsequent inquiry. Before examining into the other questions which may arise upon the testimony and pleadings, it is necessary to determine whether the bill filed by Henry C. Kibbee is a cross bill. A cross bill for purposes of relief is always designed for the purpose of enabling a defendant to avail himself of some defense which can only be made complete by granting him some affirmative relief against complainant, or against some co - defendant. Equity rarely can grant any affirmative relief upon an answer alone. If this could [97] bo done, there could never be any occasion for a cross bill, which must be strictly confined to the matters involved in the cause. A bill which introduces other distinct matters is an original bill, and the suits are separate and distinct: — Story Eq. Pl. § 631; Griffith v. Merritt, 19 N. Y. 529. A brief comparison of the issues before us, shows that the two causes have very little in common, and have no common issue of any substantial importance. The suit of Andrews is purely a judgment creditor’s bill on a personal judgment. The rights of James Andrews or his assignees are not referred to in the pleadings, and there is no reference in them to any mortgage security connected with the bond sued upon. Such a bill, had James Andrews retained his securities, would not have affected or prejudiced his rights. He might have filed such a bill as Kibbee’s upon the same facts, and it could not be in any way connected with the former suit. The fact that Henry C. Kibbee is a defendant in the other suit, and is sought to be charged as a debtor or trustee of Porter Kibbee, does not prevent him from bringing such actions on his own account as he may see fit, and they can not be deemed cross actions unless the issues are dependent upon the same matters. A bill to foreclose or redeem a mortgage presents no case which could possibly be connected with a judgment creditor’s bill. The controversies, although having an apparent relation arising out of the peculiar circumstances, have no legal dependence on each other, each having matters involved which are entirely foreign to the other. The suits being distinct, each must be considered by itself, and determined upon its own facts. In the present case it may perhaps lead to no different result, inasmuch as no party can be entitled to any affirmative relief not warranted by the allegations in the pleadings. The ownership by Stephen C. Andrews of the bond against Porter Kibbee, is not admitted by Henry C. Kibbee. [98] The judgment being in favor of Driggs, the nominal plaintiff, must, if valid at all, stand in favor of the reat owner, whoever he may be. The evidence taken in the creditor’s suit shows that Andrews had previously assigned the bond and mortgage to secure a debt of equal amoitnt to James Andrews. The latter only, therefore, or those succeeding to his title, could bring a suit to enforce them. Stephen C. Andrews had, it is true, a nominal residuary interest in equity, but he could not on that account bring any suit in equity, unless it should be alleged in his bill that the assignee neglected or refused to do so, under circumstances calculated to prejudice his rights. He has no right otherwise to intermeddle with assigned property. The bill before us goes upon no such hypothesis. Stephen C. Andrews claims in that to be the sole owner of the bond on which he sues, and his pretensions are entirely adverse to those of his assignees, the bill not alluding to any assignment, but asserting the continuance of his original title, ■ It is claimed, however, that because Henry C. Kibbee has become possessed of the securities, and is a party defendant, the case under its present aspect is so changed as to rectify this objection. This is not so. The testimony which shows title in Henry C. Kibbee, shows that the complainant had no right of action such as he sets up in his bill. It is difficult to see how he could have amended his bill so as to remedy this defect, inasmuch as there is no evidence [tending to show any indisposition in the assignees to enforce their claims, and Andrews makes no offer to redeem them. But be this as it may, the bill has not been amended, and no supplemental pleadings have been filed. The case stands in a position where no such question can be entertained. This bill was properly dismissed. The decree upon Kibbee’s bill is so framed as to guard all of the rights which Andrews may have in the premises. The only controversy arising upon Kibbee’s rights in the [99] bond and mortgage is, whether tbe notes given to James Andrews are usurious, and on that account liable to deduction. The Court authorized a suit at law to be brought upon these, and the question is one. which can be tried at law more appropriately than in equity. ’ The decree granting a right to redeem from Bissell’s liens, and a right to sell the mortgaged premises, is for the benefit of Andrews as much as of Kibbee; and, inasmuch as it requires tbe proceeds to be paid into court, and not to Kibbee, the latter can only receive hereafter so much as may be found due him on tbe notes, which will be determined most effectively in tbe suit at law. The decree must be affirmed, with costs. Manning and Christiancy .JJ. concurred. Martin Ch. J. was not present at the decision;