First Trust Joint Stock Land Bank v. Corydon State Bank
First Trust Joint Stock Land Bank v. Corydon State Bank
Opinion of the Court
This is an action to foreclose a real estate mortgage and for the appointment of a receiver. The action was commenced in the district court of Wayne county, Iowa, August 10, 1931. Decree was entered November 6, 1931, and the question as to the appointment of a receiver was continued until after the execulion sale. The execution sale resulted in a deficiency judgment of $600. The Corydon State Bank was made a defendant in the foreclosure action and claims the rents for the years 1931 and 1932, under an assignment of leases and rent notes from the title holder prior to the commencement of the foreclosure proceedings. The controversy now presented is wholly between the plaintiff-appellant and the Corydon State Bank, defendant-appellee, and the sole question is one of fact, as to whether the Corydon Bank was in fact the
There is a question raised by the appellee that one of the principal defendants liable for the payment of the deficiency judgment was not insolvent, and that the deficiency could have been collected from her; and that by reason thereof the plaintiff is not entitled to the appointment of a receiver. The facts in reference to this are very much.involved and in dispute, and in view of the fact that the determination of the other question, that is, as to the validity of the assignment of the leases and rent notes to the Corydon Bank, will be determinative of this appeal, we refrain from further comment upon or decision of the insolvency question.
On the question as to the assignment of the leases and rent notes it appears from the evidence that C. C. Clark, the principal defendant and title holder of the mortgaged real estate, had, immediately prior to the instance which we will detail later, entered into leases with tenants involving other lands owned by him in which mortgage foreclosure proceedings were imminent, and assigned such leases as collateral security to other indebtedness, and that he was familiar with such procedure and had knowledge that such procedure would defeat the mortgagee in efforts to appropriate rents and profits in the event of foreclosure. The evidence discloses that one T. W. Miles, an attorney and director in the Corydon State Bank, had talked to the said C. C. Clark on several occasions about leasing the land and assigning the leases to the Corydon State Bank as security for his (Clark’s) indebtedness to said bank approximating some $3,500. Miles, as a witness, testified that he probably had had a dozen such conversations with the mortgagor, C. C. Clark, in reference to the matter. That following these conversations Clark came to the office of’Miles and the leases and notes in controversy were prepared and signed by Mr. Clark. Clark then took them out in the country and obtained the signatures of the lessees, and then
Under the facts as disclosed by the foregoing, which is practically all of the testimony pertinent to the issue, we are constrained to hold that the. trial court was right in its finding that the leases and notes in controversy were the property of the Corydon State Bank, and that the plaintiff was not entitled to the appointment of a receiver nor to the rents and profits accruing under the leases assigned' to and held by the Corydon Bank. This conclusion is supported by the testimony of Mr. Miles, and by the other facts and circumstances shown in the record. It is supported by the fact that Clark had full knowledge that the leases and notes involved were held by the bank as collateral security, and that he made no claim that the bank was not entitled thereto; that he made no demand at any time, either upon the bank or Mr. Miles for the delivery to him of the leases and notes. It is further supported by the fact that he made no reference as to his ownership of the leases and notes in his bankruptcy schedule filed at a time when he knew the leases and notes were in the possession of the Corydon Bank. A written indorsement or assignment of the notes and leases by Clark was not necessary, if they were delivered with such intention, and, under this record, we hold that the leases and notes in question were procured, executed, and delivered to the Corydon Bank with the understanding and intention that such delivery should constitute an assignment, and that the Corydon Bank should hold the same as collateral security to the indebtedness of C. C. Clark to the said bank. We see no reason for disturbing the finding and judgment of the trial court, and such finding and judgment is therefore affirmed.— Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- First Trust Joint Stock Land Bank of Chicago v. Corydon State Bank
- Status
- Published