Blevins v. Tilford
Blevins v. Tilford
Opinion of the Court
Appellee, Tilford, filed the bill in this cause seeking to foreclose two mortgages on the same tract of land, the mortgages being exhibited with the bill. The mortgages had by appellee been assigned as collateral security for a debt he owed) and the assignees were made parties to the bill. The prayer was that the assignees be first paid out of the proceeds of the sale to be decreed, that appellee’s debt be paid with costs and an attorney’s fee, and that the balance, if any, be paid to the parties entitled thereto. Appellant’s wife, who had joined in the mortgages, and the assignees were made parties defendant; but between appellee and his assignees there is ho controversy. Appellant Blevins in his answer claimed that the debt, to secure which the mortgages had been executed, had been paid in full, while Mrs. Blevins, by her cross-bill, averred that 60 of the 180 acres described in the mortgages were her property and that as to the 60 acres appellee’s mortgages were void, according to section 4497 of the Code, which forbids that the wife shall, directly or indirectly, become the surety for the husband. By his answer to Mrs. Blevins’ cross-bill appellee showed that the mortgage of date May 6, 1915, exhibited with his original bill, was taken in part to secure the payment of money then advanced to take up the mortgage to Schoffel ,of date October 19, 1909, also exhibited with his original bill, which was executed before Mrs. Blevins acquired title to the 60-acre tract by conveyance from her husband. In other part the mortgage of latest date was given to secure money advanced to satisfy a decree in favor of creditors of Blevins, in which decree the deed under which Mrs. Blevins now claims title was adjudged to be null and void as against creditors, having been made in fraud of them, and the 60 acres, together with other land, were ordered to be sold to satisfy the demands of the complaining creditors. In still* other part this mortgage secured the price of goods, wares, and merchandise sold by appellee to appellant. As to the mortgage of earlier date, the Schoffel mortgage, appellee’s amended bill show ed that, when paid, it was assigned to appellee, and by him was hypothecated along with the mortgage of May 6, 1915, and appellee and his assignees, in answer to the cross-bill of Mrs. Blevins, ask to be subrogated to the rights of the mortgagee therein named and of the creditors in the decree aforementioned. We find the facts with appellee. As to the law of the case not a great deal needs to be said.
The makers “agree to pay cost of collecting this note, including reasonable attorney’s fee for all services rendered in any way in any suit,” etc.
Both mortgages provided as follows:
“Grantors hereby agree to pay all cost, expense and attorney’s fees that may be legally incurred in collecting the indebtedness aforesaid, or in foreclosing this mortgage.”
These stipulations made out appellee’s ease for the recovery of attorney’s fees. Skid-more v. Stewart, 75 South. 1. 1 In Cooper v. Parker, 176 Ala. 127, 57 South. 474, the case was different. The agreement there was for “reasonable attorney’s fee for foreclosing this mortgage.” It was held that the agreement was for a fee for foreclosing by sale under the power, and not by suit in chancery.
The decree will be affirmed, and the cause remanded to the circuit court in equity, in order that the court may superintend its execution and such further orders and de *237 crees as may be made in accordance with this opinion.
Affirmed.
199 Ala. 566.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BLEVINS Et Al. v. TILFORD
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published