Massey v. Fralish

McCOY, J. This action was commenced to foreclose a chattel mortgage against the administrator of the deceased mortgagor. Among the defenses interposed by the administrator defendant, one was that the claim of plaintiff, upon which this suit is based, was never presented1 to defendant or filed with him, and no proper or sufficient -proof of -any kind of any chattel mortgage, such as described in plaintiff’s -complaint, was ever filed with this defendant, or presented to: 'him1 for consideration. [1] The cause was triad before the court and a jury; but, as the action .is one triable before 'the court without a jury, the verdict could be advisory only, and the ordinary rules as to jury trials in actions triable 'before a jury have no -application to- this case. The -court -made the following findings of fact and conclusion of law: “The court finds as a matter of fact that the defendant, Louis- Frali-sh, is the duly appointed, qualified, and acting administrator of the -estate of Guy E. Fral'ish, and was appointed as such administrator 'September 12, 1914. “The court further finds that on the 6th day of October, 1914, the plaintiff 'presented to the defendant proof -of claim of a [94] promissory note given, by Guy E. Fralish to William Massey dated July 9, 1914, due October 1, 1914, for $1,250, with interest at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum; that said note appears to have been 'secured by a chattel mortgage; that no proper proof of claim of said mortgage was presented to1 the administrator or filed with him; that no copy of said mortgage was ever presented to -the administrator or filed with him. “The couht further finds as a matter of fact that Guy Fra-lish died intestate on the 19th day of August, 1914; that he was a single man at the time of his death; and he left surviving him his father, who is bis sole heir; and that Louis Fralish, who was subsequently appointed administrator of said estate, is brother of Guy E. Fralish, deceased. “Conclusions of Law. “As' conclusions of law based upon the foregoing findings of fact, the court concludes that judgment should be rendered in favor of defendant and against the plaintiff in this case, and that the plaintiff recover nothing therein.” Judgment was rendered in favor of defendant, from which plaintiff appeals, and assigns as error, among' others, that the findings and judgment are against the law and the evidence. [2, 3] It is the contention of appellant that a chattel mortgage lien is not within the class of claims mentioned in sections 170 and 178 of the Probate Code. We are of the opinion that appellant is right in this contention. Purdin v. Archer, 4 S. D. 54, 54 N. W. 1043; Fish v. De Laray, 8 S. D. 320, 66 N. W. 465, 59 Am. St. Rep. 764; Kelsey v. Welch, 8 S. D. 255, 66 N. W. 390; Thurber v. Miller, 11 S. D. 124, 75 N. W. 900. The failure, toi present a claim secured by a mortgage or other lien on specific property only affects the deficiency ‘arising after applying-the mortg'aged property to the payment of the claim or debt secured thereby, and in no manner affects the right of the lien owner to make foreclosure. In this -case plaintiff would be entitled to a deficiency judgment by reason of having filed the 'noté secured by the mortgage. It is urged 'by respondent that -section' 2, c. 207, Laws of 1913, requires the filing of a copy of1 the mortgage or other lien instrument 'with the claim' presented to- the administrator. We are of the opinion, however, that sections 170 and 178 were -in [95] no manner amended 'by said chapter 207. For the purposes of barring actions on claims against the estates oif deceased persons the provisions 'of sections 170 and 178, Probate Code, apply. Sections 174 and 175, Probate Code, as amended by said chapter 207, relate to the hearing and filing of claims for the purposes of a hearing, determination, and administration thereon before the county court, and have no relation to the subject of the presentation of claims comprehended within the meaning and purposes) of sections 170 and 178 of- said Code. The judgment and order appealed from- are reversed, and the cause -remanded for -further procedure in harmony with this decision.