Vannice v. Bergen

Weight, Ch. J. The validity of the judgment under which defendants claim, is not a subject of much,' if any, controversy in the present proceeding; and as that is substantially the sole question dn another ease now before us, between these parties, we need not at this time give it'atiy attention. That Bergen'represented the land to be unincumbered at the time he conveyed the same to the plaintiff, Henry Van-nice, is very well established. Whether said purchaser had actual notice of defendant’s judgment at the time, is a question of more doubt.' The finding of the referee on this subject is not so clear and unequivocal, as -in the case which follows. True, he says, that the purchaser was told by Webb, one of the judgment creditors, of the existence and approximate amount-of defendant’s judgment, before the conveyance. But in another part of his finding, he admits there is conflict of testimony, as-the purchaser denied in- his testimony, in the -most positive terms, any such conversation. This being an equitable proceeding, we hear the case de novo, and hence look to the testimony to ascertain the truth in the premises, and especially so, where the finding is to some extent equivocal, and counsel seek to go behind it. Looking then at all the testimony and circumstances, we unite in the conclusion that actual notice is not established. Webb swears to it, we admit. Plaintiff as positively denies it. This conflict may be reconciled upon the hypothesis, that plaintiff, who is shown to be somewhat deaf, did not hear all that was said. The other assump — 560 — tion would lead to the conclusion that plaintiff had sworn falsely. In addition to this other persons were present, with reasonably fair opportunities for hearing the conversation, and swear that they heard nothing said about this judgment. Take the further fact, that Bergen was quite, if not entirely insolvent; that plaintiff paid him in property and money a sum almost equal to this judgment, over and above - the amount due on his mortgage, the improbability that he would take his deed and part with his means, with actual knowledge of this incumbrance, and it seems to us that plaintiff’s theory is the more probable and reasonable. The purchase was made then without actual knowledge of the existence of the judgment. Plaintiff was induced, by the misrepresentations of Bergen, to take the title, and relying thereon, he agreed to surrender his mortgage. And yet, by a contract thus made, as between them, he is not bound, but he may be heard in equity, to assert his lien, and will be allowed to revive or keep it in life, and recover thereon, as though the conveyance had not been made. As to this proposition we suppose there is no controversy. The question still remains, however, whether plaintiffs have a right to treat their mortgage as unsatisfied, and to insist upon it as a lien paramount to that of defendant’s judgment. In considering this question,^ brief reference to some of the facts may afford us assistance. It will be remembered that plaintiffs had the first lien upon this land. This lien never has been satisfied, in any other way than by the conveyance of the land from Bergen to them. Prior to this conveyance, and while the mortgage lien was in full force, defendants recovered their judgment. As far as material, it may also be stated that the debt forming the basis of the recovery, was contracted during the existence of said lien. After the conveyance, defendants levied upon and sold the land, but advanced no money, — 561 — parted with no right, except such as resulted from the satisfaction of their judgment by their purchase under the execution. Bergen was quite, if not entirely, insolvent at the time of his sale to Vanniee; or at least his ability to pay defendants’ demand, was as great afterwards as it was before. Nor does it appear that he then had or has had since, any property from which defendants could have made their judgment, or which has been lost to them by the act of plaintiffs, in connection with this land and their lien thereon. * Under such circumstances, we are unanimously of the opinion that plaintiffs’ mortgage is not extinguished, as against the said judgment creditor, so far as it covers the note of $1000, made to Henry Vanniee; while a majority of us entertain the same opinion as to the note payable to the son, Albert, and as a consequence that the court below erred in confirming the report of the referee, recommending the dismissal of the bill. As between plaintiffs and Bergen, as we have already seen, there would be no question as to their equitable right to insist upon the mortgage. For, assuming that they received a deed for the property, with the understanding and upon the agreement that the mortgage debt was to be satisfied, yet this was based upon his representation as well as the assurance and covenants of his deed, that the property was unincumbered, and therefore if the controversy related to them alone, and it was necessary to the protection of plaintiffs’ rights that the mortgage should be kept in life, equity would so order, and would not give to the mortgagee the benefit of a satisfaction procured by his own fraud and misrepresentations, jsuch representations having been relied upon, and with apparent reason, by plaintiff Now, is there any good equitable grounds for placing the present appellees (the judgment creditors) in any better position. — 562 — As to the general proposition, that if the mortgagee purchases the equity of redemption from the mortgagor, the .mortgage, as well as the mortgage debt, is extinguished, ■there is, of course, no doubt. For, ordinarily and legally, ..the effect of such an arrangement is to vest the mortgagee with the whole estate, and such an entire interest is inconsistent with his claim under the mortgage. (Wickersham v. Reeves & Miller, 1 Iowa, 413.) If, however, it was the intention to keep the mortgage alive, or if it is to the interest of the mortgagee, and it can be done without prejudice to the rights of the mortgagor or third persons, the doctrine .of merger, as between them, will not apply. Ordinarily, also, nothing but payment of the debt, or an express release, will operate to discharge or satisfy the mortgage. As long as there remains a debt the lien continues. And when an express release, or full and unqualified discharge, even, has been procured by fraud, equity, as between the parties to the mortgage, will interpose and revive it, giving it full validity from the date of the original lien. (Barnes v. Carnack, 1 Barb., 392; 1 Hillard on Mort., 329, 307. , This being so, we are not aware of any case which applies a different rule to a mortgagee who purchases the equity of redemption.- Nor is there any reason for the application of a different rule. Then advancing one step further, we say, that a party who has not advanced any money upon the strength of such supposed release or discharge, who is not placed in any worse position by reason of his reliance upon said supposed extinguishment, or who does not show that an equity arises in his favor by such advancement or reliance, or something of that character, stands in no better position, and is entitled to no greater protection. And here it must be remembered that such third party is not to be affected by the fraud or act of the immediate parties, of which he had no actual or constructive notice. Considered in this — 563 — light alone, the party claiming the continued existence of the lien, could not, necessarily, resist the other or third lien holder. But the proposition is, that the right of the mortgagee to recover the mortgage, as against the mortgagor, being established, the same right exists as against third persons having no better or other equities than the mortgagee; and this, without reference to the question of notice of the fraud or misrepresentations, which induced the actual or implied discharge or release of the lien. Now, if, after such discharge, without notice of the fraud, and before the revival of the incumbrance, a third party should part with his money, upon the faith of such discharge, it would be manifestly wrong and inequitable to permit the revived lien to be asserted as against such intervening rights. Not so, however, when the rights did not thus intervene, or when the party has sustained no loss in consequence of relying upon the extinguishment of the lien. But, leaving the general discussion and coming to the case before us in its actual facts, we find that the respondents were fully as able to collect their debt from Bergen, after this bill was filed, as before the conveyance was made to Yannioe. In other words, they parted with no liens or securities from their reliance upon the satisfaction of the mortgage by the vesting of the legal title in the mortgagee; there was no change of the debtor’s property to their prejudice, or otherwise; they made no new or further advancement ; their judgment was simply a lien before such merger, subject to the prior mortgage; it occupies no worse position now, if that satisfaction should be set aside. If the claimed merger had not taken place, respondents would have been compelled to pay the mortgage' debt before they could have obtained a good title to the land. Upon what principle is it, that they shall be in a better position, or that they have a more favorable standing in an equitable — 564 — forum, because tbe mortgagee has bought in the mortgagor’s right to redeem ? And especially is this inquiry pertinent when it is remembered that it is manifestly to the interest of the mortgagee to keep his lien in life, and that, if he ever intended otherwise, it was because of the fraud of the mortgagor. Not only so, but it is worthy of remark, that respondents claim an interest in this property, not under the mortgage, but under the mortgagor, or in his equity of redemption. This right intervenes between the right under the'"mortgage and the equity. If the two rights coalesce or merge, what becomes of respondents.’ judgment lien ? When does it come in? Is it Dot lost in the union of the other two rights ? Or, if not thus lost, how can they claim that the union gives them a greater right, than if they stood separately ? And, in this view of it, is it not essential to them, that the mortgage should be kept on foot to enable them to enforce their legal or equitable rights ? Hunt v. Hunt, 14 Pick., 374. And the foregoing views, if correct, when applied to the note payable to Henry Yannice, it seems to us are equally applicable to the other. It will be perceived at a glance, that the whole reasoning applies with equal force to each. The case is placed upon the ground, that in equity the mortgage should be kept in life as to Bergen, and that respondents are in no position to claim- any greater protection. The entry on the margin of the record, by Albert Y., does not change the case. It is shown, beyond all question, that he was not paid anything by Bergen, but that this was a method adopted to transfer or release his interest in the security to his father. If the conveyance to the father by Bergen, under the circumstances, shall not have the effect of giving priority to respondents’ judgment over the mortgage, we cannot see why this “ receipt on the margin of the record” can equitably aid' them. If, as to them, the mortgage was satisfied, and they can claim the — 565 — benefit of the satisfaction,- that is an end of the case— the character of the evidence showing that satisfaction being quite immaterial. But it is claimed that defendants sold the land under their execution, bought it in, and thus satisfied their judgment before any steps were taken to revive this mortgage. And here it is not our purpose to enter upon the discussion of the question, whether at law defendants would stand in the attitude of innocent purchasers without notice.The point is one upon which the authorities differ, and some of which will be found referred to in Parker v. Pierce & Buell, ante. This is an equitable proceeding, and we hold that defendants are to be affected by the equities existing between plaintiffs and Bergen, under the peculiar-circumstances of the case, without discussing or determining whether a plaintiff purchasing at sheriff’s sale the property of his debtor, is, as a legal rule, to be treated like, any other purchaser. It must be remembered that they not only bid in the property themselves; that they paid no money, but that during the time that their judgment has been apparently satisfied, they have lost nothing, for their debtor has been in no condition to pay. They could have made nothing by execution. If he had been able to pay, and his property in the mean time was lost to them, a. very different question would arise. But if plaintiffs’ right to priority is recognized, defendants may have the entry of satisfaction on their judgment set aside, and the judgment will stand unaffected by any of the proceedings under the execution. All the costs made by said sale plaintiffs propose to, and should, pay with interest. . Under such circumstances, we do not believe any rule or principle is violated in reviving this mortgage. And it is certainly inequitable to give defendants a priority to which they have no pretense of right, save upon the technical ground, — 566 — that plaintiff’s debt has been satisfied by their purchase of the equity of redemption. - The decree below will be reversed and the cause remanded, with instructions to set aside the conveyance from Bergen to Vanniee, in accordance with the prayer of the bill; to ascertain the amount due and unpaid on the mortgage debt; to enter a judgment for the amount thus found, with an order of foreclosure, and that respondents be required to pay the amount thus found to be due, within a day to be fixed after said decree, and in default thereof that execution issue, as provided by law, for the collection thereof. Defendants may, at their option, have an order setting aside the entry of satisfaction on their judgment, and reinstating it as fully as if no sale had been made under said execution. Plaintiffs are required, however, to pay to defendants, or the clerk of the court below, for their use, alLthe costs of said sale, including fees for execution, making the sheriff’s deed, and recording the same, with interest thereon at ten per cent (they so offering by their bill), before being entitled to the decree herein contemplated. And the Court will make such other and further orders, not inconsistent with this opinion, as may be necessary and proper under the case made to settle the rights of the respective parties. Beversed.