Warren v. Stoddart
Warren v. Stoddart
Opinion of the Court
— This action was brought to foreclose a mortgage upon six hundred and forty acres of land situated in Canyon county. The defendants Walling and Davis are merely nominal parties. It is alleged in the complaint that the defendant Stoddart, who is the appellant here, executed and delivered to the Boise City and Nampa Irrigation, Land and Lumber Company, a corporation, on the sixteenth day of September, 1892, a certain promissory note for $6,400, with a mortgage securing the same; that on April 19, 1894, said corporation assigned said note and mortgage to one Simmons, who thereafter assigned them to the plaintiff — and prays for a decree of foreclosure, and for $1,000 attorney’s fees, and costs. The answer denies both of said assignments, and that either of said assignees were ever holders of, or lawfully in possession of, the said note or mortgage, and denies that any greater sum than $300 is a reasonable attorney’s fee. And for a further defense the answer avers a total failure of consideration, in that the note and mortgage were given as the purchase price of a certain water right described in the mortgage, and for no other consideration; that said water right was never conveyed to defendant Stoddart, although he received a certain deed of conveyance purporting to convey said water right to him; that said deed was void because the officers executing it were not authorized to do so, which fact appellant did not learn until March 25, 1899; that the grantor in said pretended deed did not deliver to appellant possession of any property pursuant thereto; and that appellant
Counsel for respondent cite several eases wherein it is held that a statement on motion for a new trial must specify the particular errors relied on, or it will be disregarded. Those authorities are in accord with subdivision 3, section 4441, of the Revised Statutes, which provides, inter alia, that the statement on motion for a new trial shall specify the particular errors upon which the party relies, and, if it does not, such statement ■shall be disregarded on the hearing of the motion. That provision and the authorities cited do not apply in this case, as no statement on motion for a new trial is involved. Dnder our statute (sections 4426 to 4433, inclusive, which treat of exceptions and bills of exceptions) there is no requirement that a bill of exceptions shall contain a specification of errors relied on, except when the exception is to the verdict or decision upon the grounds of the insufficiency of the evidence to sustain it, in which case the bill must contain a specification of the particulars in which the evidence is alleged to be insufficient. (See Rev. Stats., sec. 4428.) In no other case is a specification of errors expressly required to be put into a bill of exceptions. It, no doubt, is a good practice to specify the particular errors relied on in a bill of exceptions prepared after trial for the
It is also contended by counsel for respondent that the order striking out said paragraphs of the answer is not designated in the notice of appeal. There is nothing in that contention, as said order was made before judgment, and may be reviewed on an appeal from the judgment. Orders of a court from which the statute makes no specific provision for an appeal may be reviewed on appeal from the judgment or order denying or granting a new trial, and need not be specified in the notice of appeal. (Gates v. Walker, 35 Cal. 289.)
It is also contended that the paragraphs of the answer which were stricken out cannot be reviewed on appeal unless they
The court allowed $1,000 attorney’s fee, and that is assigned as error. The mortgage provides that in case of foreclosure the court may allow a reasonable attorney’s fee therefor, and the complaint alleges that $1,000 is a reasonable fee. To prove said allegation the plaintiff introduced the testimony of two witnesses. After testifying that they were practicing attorneys, they were both asked what would be a reasonable attorney’s fee for the foreclosure of said mortgage, and they each replied $1,000. Each of said attorneys also testified that, so far as he knew, the plaintiff had incurred no expense in the matter of attorney’s fees. There is no evidence in the record showing that the plaintiff had paid or agreed to pay his attorneys any sum whatever for the foreclosure of said mortgage, or that he was to receive any compensation therefor. It is the established rule in this state that a stipulation in a mortgage for an allowance for attorney’s fee in case of foreclosure is valid, but
The most important question in the case is whether the court erred in striking out paragraphs 6 to 12, inclusive, of the answer. If those paragraphs constituted a defense to the cause of action alleged in the complaint, then the striking of them out was prejudicial error. The plaintiff alleges title to the promissory note and mortgage sued on by assignment, and not by indorsement. He claims only to be an assignee, and not an innocent purchaser, and his rights are subject to any defense which the maker had against the original payee at the time of the assignment. He stands, in that respect, in the shoes of his
We conclude that the court erred in striking out paragraphs 6 to 12, inclusive, of appellant’s amended answer. Appellant should have been given an opportunity to prove the two defenses set up therein, to wit, total failure or want of consideration, and breach of covenant against encumbrances. The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings in accord with the views herein expressed. Costs of this appeal are awarded to the appellants.
070rehearing
PETITION EOR REHEARING.
— We have examined the petition for a rehearing in this case. It is simply a reargument of the case already presented, and considered and passed upon by the court, and we cannot find therein any grounds for a rehearing. It was not, for the purpose of deciding the case before us, necessary that we should pass upon the question of the allowance of attorney’s fees, except for the rule of the statute, that, when a case is remanded to the lower court for further proceedings, we are required to decide all questions of law presented by the record. The decision embodies the law upon that question as we understand it. Rehearing denied.
Reference
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- WARREN v. STODDART
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- Syllabus
- Bills op Exception's — Specification's of Error — Under the provisions of sections 4426, 4428 and 4430 of the Revised Statutes, a hill of exceptions is not required to contain a specification of the errors relied on, unless the exception is to the verdict or decision upon the ground of the insufficiency of the evidence to sustain it. In that case, the bill of exceptions must specify the particulars in which the evidence is not sufficient. Statement on Motion for a New Trial. — Under the provisions of subdivision 3, section 4441, of the Revised Statutes, a statement on motion for a new trial must specify the particular errors relied on. What Bill of Exceptions Must Contain. — Under the provisions of section 4427 of the Revised Statutes an order striking out a portion of a pleading is deemed excepted to and when- such order, and the papers upon which it is made, are a part of the records and files in the action; it need not be embodied in a bill of exceptions, but may be reviewed on appeal as tbougb settled in a bill of exceptions. Attorney’s Fees. — A stipulation, in a mortgage for an attorney fee, in ease of suit brought, is valid, but should be enforced only for a reasonable fee. Same — How Court to Determine What is a Seasonable Fee.— The court, in determining what fee is reasonable, may take into consideration the amount actually paid or agreed to be paid, if any such agreement was entered into, also should take into consideration the importance of the suit, the amount involved, the nature and extent of the work and labor in the preparation and trial of the action and any other facts that would assist the court in arriving at a right conclusion as to what would be a reasonable fee. Same — When Fee not Allowed. — No judgment should be allowed for attorney’s fees, unless the attorney has or is entitled to receive it himself. No fee should be allowed of which the plaintiff is to receive a part. Defenses. — Seld, that the answer set up two separate defenses and that it was error to strike such defenses out. Same — Transferee—Assignor.—Where a promissory note payable “to order” is transferred without indorsement, the transferee acquires only the equitable title and can only recover subject to the defenses that were available against his assignors. Covenants in Deed. — The word “grant” when used in a conveyance by which an estate of inheritance is to be passed, is a covenant that the estate so conveyed is at the time of the execution thereof, free from encumbrances done, made or suffered by the grantor or any person claiming under him. Breach of Covenants Against Encumbrance. — There is a clear distinction between breaches of covenants of “warranty” and “quiet and peaceable enjoyment” and breaches of covenants against encumbrances. Same — Remedy.—In cases of this kind the vendee .may pay off the encumbrance and recoup the sum so paid against the amount due on the purchase price, but that is not his only remedy, as a defense on the ground of breach of covenant of encumbrance is sufficient to defeat an action for the recovery of the purchase price until such encumbrance be removed. (Syllabus by the court.)