Wolf v. McMahon

The opinion of the court was delivered by Horton, C. J.: The defendant in error objects to the consideration of this case upon its merits, and asks that the petition in error be dismissed because the judgment has been satisfied and plaintiff in error has accepted a deed of a portion of the premises mentioned in the pleadings. It appears from the record that McMahon sued Wolf and wife on a note and mortgage assigned to him by the payee of the note, one Ellen Downs. Wolf answered that the note and mortgage were executed to secure the purchase-price of an undivided fifth-interest in forty acres of land which the payee of the note verbally agreed to cause one John Donohue, the son of said Ellen Downs, to convey to him, and alleged non-performance of the contract. McMahon replied that the note was for a part of the purchase-price of forty-four acres of land; that all the land had been conveyed except the fifth-interest in forty acres; that the payee of the note and mortgage had become the owner of this by descent, and had duly tendered to David Wolf a warranty deed of herself and husband of the land. The deed was filed with the answer, and tendered in court. Judgment was rendered in favor of McMahon for $327 and costs, and a decree entered foreclosing the mortgage and ordering a sale of the premises to pay the judgment. The decree contained a further provision, that Ellen Downs upon the payment of the judgment was to convey to David Wolf by deed of general warranty, all her interest in the land described in the petition. Without the issuance of any order of sale, the judgment was satisfied by plaintiff in error, and as we understand from the arguments before us, the deed of Ellen Downs was accepted by him. In this condition of affairs we think the plaintiff in error has recognized the validity of the judgment, and cannot now be heard to say it is invalid. This is not the case of voluntary payment of a money [143] judgment. A deed has been accepted, and the plaintiff in error has obtained some benefits under the decree. There is no offer by him to reconvey the premises to Ellen Downs, and if on reversal the plaintiff would be entitled to restitution of the judgment, he would have the title of Ellen Downs to the premises without any compensation therefor. This would give him an unfair advantage. The proceeding in this court will be dismissed. All the Justices concurring.