Sutton v. Brekke

Per Curiam. This action was brought in justice court to recover the sum of $35, where plaintiff had a judgment. Defendant appealed upon questions of law and fact to the district court, where a verdict was returned in his favor. Plaintiff then appealed to ‘this court from an order denying a new trial. The money sought to be recovered represents the rent due from a tenant of real property belonging to a Mrs. Wilier. It is unnecessary to state how it came into the hands of defendant, who was not the tenant. Plaintiff had a mortgage upon the property, and he claims the money by right of some arrangement with the husband of Mrs. Wilier, as the result of which he occupied the position with respect to the property of mortgagee in possession. He claims that under the arrangement with the husband plaintiff was placed in the possession of the property, with the right to collect the rents from the tenant, applying the same upon a prior foreclosed mortgage and upon the one held by himself. Plaintiff’s whole case depended upon the validity of this arrangement. It is quite clear that the husband had no authority to enter into the contract and that it was wholly invalid. Section 3609, R. L. 1905; Van Brunt v. Wallace, 88 Minn. 116, 92 N. [520] W. 521. On no other theory of the ease did the evidence show a right of recovery in plaintiff. There were no errors in the admission or exclusion of the evidence. Order affirmed. Philip E. Bbown, J., being absent on account of illness, took no part.