Dessart v. Bonynge
Dessart v. Bonynge
Opinion of the Court
This action was brought to reform a deed of trust executed by John Dessart and Alice Dessart, his wife, to W. A. Bonynge. Defendant Marsh is an attaching creditor of the Dessarts. From a decree reforming the instrument, as sought, the defendants appeal.
The complaint alleges that, by mistake of the scrivener employed to draft the instrument, a certain piece of real estate, the homestead of the Dessarts, was omitted, and that Marsh had notice of this omission at the time he caused the
It appears from the complaint and from the trust-deed in evidence that the instrument was executed for the purpose of securing the payment of a note given by John Dessart and one L. F. Swain, held by the Commercial National Bank of Los Angeles, California, the beneficiary under the deed of trust. There is no allegation in the complaint that this note, though past due at the time the action was brought, had not been paid. Furthermore, there is no testimony in the record showing that the indebtedness secured by the deed of trust had not been satisfied, nor is there any finding of the court' on the subject. A bill or complaint seeking the reformation of an instrument should show every element necessary to entitle the complainant to equitable relief. “The bill must show that the plaintiff is entitled to the relief sought, and must allege some equity superior to that of the party against whom he seeks it.” 18 Ency. of Plead. & Prac., p. 804. It would be an entirely idle proceeding for a court to reform an instrument, unless some right could be enforced under it after its reformation. A court will not reform an instrument merely for the sake of reforming it. Thompson v. Phœnix Ins. Co., (C. C.) 25 Fed. 296. So far as may be ascertained from the pleadings, evidence, or findings in this case, the trust raised by the instrument reformed was fully executed at the time the suit was brought, and the only effect of the decree is to east a cloud upon the title to the Des'sarts’ property and prevent the enforcement of the rights of the attaching creditor, against whom, certainly, no superior equity is shown. Had this been an action to foreclose the trust-deed or mortgage,
The judgment of the lower court is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JOHN DESSART, and v. W. A. BONYNGE, and
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Pleading — Demurrer—Waiver.—Where a demurrer is interposed to a complaint, and no ruling is had thereon, and the parties go to trial without calling the court’s attention thereto, the demurrer is waived. 2. Same — Reformation of a Trust-Deed — Grounds — Interest — Necessity of Showing. — A complaint in an action to reform a . trust-deed, given to secure the payment of a note, so as to inelude other property, which fails to show that the debt secured has not been paid, is fatally defective.