Mackey v. Michelstetter

Cole, C. J. The demurrer to the complaint should have been sustained for this reason, if no other, that the plaintiff had a complete and adequate remedy at law and there .was [212] no necessity for invoking the jurisdiction of a court of equity to protect Ms rights. He claims to be a creditor of Henry Michelstetter. He has obtained a judgment on Ms debt, has issued an execution on Ms judgment under wMcM tbe sheriff seized and sold the personal property which the-judgment debtor had previously mortgaged to the creditors named. The action proceeds on the assumption that these chattel mortgages are fraudulent and void as to the other creditors of the mortgagor. The plaintiff asks the inter- . vehtion of a court of equity to declare them void and fraudulent as to such creditors. But what is the necessity for such an adjudication? If these chattel mortgages are void as to such creditors, they are certainly open to an attack on that ground in an action at law. The correctness of this view cannot be successfully demed. Why, then, resort to equity to obtain a decree adjudging the chattel mortgages null and void as to creditors, when, if such is their character, they constitute no obstacle whatever to the creditors’ collecting their debts by the usual legal process? Indeed, the complaint shows that the plaintiff Mackey disregarded these mortgages, and has caused the mortgaged property to be sold on an execution, and that his co-plaintiffs hold the proceeds of the sale as sheriff and deputy sheriff. It is surely not necessary that there be a judgment declaring that the lien of the attaching creditors on the fund is prior in right and superior in equity to the lien of the chattel mortgages. The contest between the different creditors, as to whom the fund belongs to, can be determined on a motion by the court. McDonald v. Allen, 37 Wis. 108; Allen v. BeekmAN, 42 Wis. 186. There is no necessity for a decree declaring the priority of the liens. But besides, it appears that one of the mortgagees has commenced an action of trover against the sheriff and his deputy for the value of the property seized and sold under the execution. Why cannot Mackey apply to be made a. party defendant [213] to that suit under see. 2610, R. S., when be will be in a position to directly attack tbe validity of tbe plaintiff’s title, wbicb is involved in that action? For it is evident tbat Morris Michelstetter’s right to tbe property in question will turn upon tbe vabdity of bis chattel mortgage and tbe legality of tbe sale made under it. As a part of tbe relief demanded in this suit, tbe plaintiff asks tbat Morris Miehelstetter be perpetually enjoined from prosecuting an action of trover for tbe value of tbe property wbicb tbe officers sold upon tbe execution. But we are at a loss to know upon what ground or principle a court of equity will grant such rebef. If Morris Michelstetter bad a good title to tbe mortgaged property, be is entitled to recover its value. But, if bis title is founded upon an instrument wbicb is fraudulent as to tbe mortgagor’s creditors, it can be impeached and defeated in tbe trover action. In any view wbicb we have been able to take of tbe case, we see no necessity for bringing this equitable action. Tbe questions as to tbe vabdity of tbe chattel mortgages, and of tbe rights of tbe parties under them, can be fuby litigated and determined in tbe common-law action pending. There are no special circumstances stated wbicb render a resort to equity requisite and necessary to protect tbe parties’ rights. It is suggested tbat the plaintiff Maohey may be compeHed to stand by and see questions involving bis right to tbe property htigated in the trover action to wbicb be is not a party. But, as we have said, be can become a party to tbat suit on appbcation and showing to tbe court tbat be is interested in tbe subject matter of tbe controversy. This is very clear; Tbe authority given tbe court by sec. 2610, above referred to, is ample for tbe purpose. It is said a court of equity may be invoked to remove conveyances and transfers wbicb cloud tbe title of personal property. Concede tbat to be so, but what occasion is there for invoking such jurisdiction here? Tbe remedy at [214] law is plain, adequate, and complete. There is no obstruction in the way of the creditors seizing the mortgaged property on execution, as the complaint shows. The property was in fact seized and sold in the ordinary way. The contest now is, "Who owned the property at the time it was so seized and sold? A court of law is entirely competent to settle that question, and is the proper forum to decide it, where there can be a trial by jury. It is said the facts stated make a case of fraudulent transfer by an insolvent debtor, within the decision of Winner v. Hoyt, 66 Wis. 227. Assume, for the purposes of the case, that this is so, yet why should the plaintiff resort to equity, when the pending action of trover affords a complete and perfect remedy to settle that and all other questions affecting the title to the property in dispute? An adjudication in that case as to the validity of the mortgages will be final and conclusive between the parties. By the Court.— The order of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to dismiss the complaint.