Russell v. Todd
Russell v. Todd
Opinion of the Court
Todd filed a bill in equity against Russell, alleging that the complainant was seised and possessed of certain real estate, which he sold and conveyed to the defendant; that a part of the purchase-money only was paid down ; that for the balance the defendant executed his note to the complainant which remained ‘ unpaid; that the com
It is contended by the plaintiff in error that the bill cannot be sustained, because it shows upon its face that the complainant had a remedy at law by the process of foreign attachment. This objection is groundless. The complainant is not seeking, in the character of a general creditor, to collect a debt. He is seeking the enforcement of an equitable lien. Such a lien he holds, as the vendor of the land, to the amount of the purchase-money not paid. He was not bound to resort to an attachment; and had he done so, he might, in a great measure, have lost the benefit of his lien. Under an attachment, all the creditors of the defendant might have filed their demands, and shared, pro rata, with the complainant, the avails of the land. The demurrer to the bill was correctly overruled.
— The decree is affirmed with costs.
Reference
- Status
- Published