Golden v. Easterling & Sons
Golden v. Easterling & Sons
Opinion of the Court
Ed Golden gave his note for $170 principal to J. M. Easterling & Sons. The note stipulated for interest from date at 8 per cent, per annum, and was dated January 9, 1925, and it was secured by chattel mortgage of the same date. A part of the consideration of the mortgage was the right of Golden to have all the wood and logs which had been cut, and which should thereafter
Was the motion to dismiss good? Section 3396 of the Civil Code (1910) reads: “It shall be the duty of the justice of the peace, or notary public, with whom the affidavit and mortgage are filed, to give notice to the mortgagor of said proceedings at the time of issuing execution.” This section is grouped in the code with other sections concerning procedure in justice’s courts; nor is there any such requirement as it contains as to notice in section 3386 of the same code, which controls chattel-mortgage foreclosures generally. However, the origin of section 3396 settles the issue adversely to the contention of the plaintiff in error. It is taken directly from section 3 of the act approved September 39, 1881 (Acts 1880-1, p. 136). By its terms this act applies strictly to justice’s courts. Clearly it has no- application to foreclosures in superior courts; and of course the judge correctly overruled the motion to dismiss.
Whether or not the verdict and judgment were excessive depends entirely upon the testimony of Earl H. Easterling, one of the plaintiffs. He swore that the plaintiffs took twelve cords of wood off the right of way and burned it, and that it was worth $3 per cord, or a total of $36. He testified also that the plaintiffs subsequently took six cords of wood from the right of way, and that it was worth $3 per cord, or a total of $18. Of course, the total worth of the wood for which the defendant should have had credit was $54. By deducting this last sum from the $170 sought to be recovered we get $116, the precise amount of principal stated in the verdict. No question is made as to the interest allowed, and, indeed, it is as well that there- was not, since it appears that it was under-figured. The plaintiff in error contends that the verdict was excessive, because at the very end of
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.