Central Kansas Motor Co. v. Kline
Central Kansas Motor Co. v. Kline
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The plaintiff appeals from a judgment in favor of the defendant in an action to replevin an automobile under a recorded title note.
E. C. Powell owned an automobile which he desired to exchange with the plaintiff for a new one, and went with the defendant to Salina on April 13, 1917, for the purpose of making
The jury answered special questions as follows:
“1. Was G. M. Jones the owner of the automobile sued for at the time he executed and delivered the mortgage note attached to the plaintiff’s petition? Ans. No.
“2. Did the Central Kansas Motor Company trade and deliver to E. C. Powell the automobile sued for in this action? Ans. Yes.
“3. Did G. M. Jones trade and deliver to E. C. Powell the automobile sued for in this action? Ans. No. . . .
“5. Did E. C. Powell agree to take the automobile sued for subject to a lien thereon? Ans. No.
“6. Did E. C. Powell authorize G. M. Jones to execute and deliver to the Central Kansas Motor Company a title note' of the car sued for in this action? Ans. No.
“7. When G. M. Jones executed and delivered to plaintiff the title note attached to plaintiff’s petition, was he acting for himself and in his*229 own right, or was he acting as the agent of E. C. Powell? Ans. No evidence.
“8. At the time he' acquired the car from E. C. Powell, did the defendant have any actual knowledge that the plaintiff had a lien thereon. Ans. No.
“9. Did the defendant intend to acquire said auto from E. C. Powell free and clear from any and all incumbrances? Ans. Yes.
“10. Did the defendant, in reliance upon the clear title he' believed he was acquiring, expend money in having said auto repaired and get the same into his possession? Ans. Yes.”
“As has already been stated in the previous instructions given you in this case; the question which you are called upon to decide is whether,*230 under the terms of the note attached to plaintiff’s petition, the Central Kansas Motor Company was entitled to possession of the automobile in question, at the time this suit was commenced.
“For your information, however, you are instructed that if a recovery is awarded to the plaintiff in this case, it will be entitled to possession of the automobile, and must sell the same for the purpose of paying the amount, if any, due to it upon the note attached to-plaintiff’s petition; and should the car fail to bring enough at such sale to fully satisfy the amount due plaintiff on said note, together with costs of such sale, then the plaintiff would have the right to collect from the defendant the deficiency, or the difference between the proceeds' of the sale and the amount of the principal and interest due on said note, with costs of sale. On the other hand, should the proceeds of such sale exceed the amount due on said note and costs of sale, the defendant Kline would be entitled to whatever such excess might be.”
There was no evidence to show that the defendant was liable on the note — his name did not appear on it, and there was no evidence to show that he had agreed to pay it. The instruction was erroneous and should not have been given; the defendant cannot be compelled to pay the note or any part of it. The inquiry of the jury indicated that it thought the question material, and a correct instruction should have been given.
At present the automobile is probably of little value, and its return will not compensate the plaintiff. If the plaintiff had a lien on the automobile, he was entitled to its possession, and should have judgment for - its return or for its value at the time the defendant took possession of it with interest from that time until judgment is rendered, unless the amount of the two would exceed the amount of the note and interest. In replevin actions damages are recoverable for depreciation in the value of property wrongfully detained. (Russell v. Smith, 14 Kan. 366; Fair v. Bank, 69 Kan. 353, 76 Pac. 847; 34 Cyc. 1564; Note, 69 L. R. A. 286; Note, 30 L. R. A., n. s., 371.) If the automobile is- returned, and it has depreciated in value since it was wrecked, judgment should be rendered against the defendant for the amount of its value immediately after it was wrecked and interest thereon less its value at the time it is returned. In no event should the judgment in favor of the plaintiff exceed the amount of the note and interest.
The judgment is reversed, and a new trial is directed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The Central Kansas Motor Company v. H. F. Kline
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- SYLLABUS BY THE COURT. 1. Sale of Automobile — Title Note Given — Title Note Must Be Signed by Purchaser. A title note given for the purchase of personal property, to constitute a valid lien thereon as against subsequent innocent third parties, must be executed by the purchaser, not by a third party who is not a purchaser. 2. Same — Title Note on Record — Liability of One Who Obtains Possession of the Automobile. A purchaser, or one who obtains possession, of personal property on which there is a lien evidenced by a duly recorded title' note, is not personally liable on the note where his name does not appear thereon, and he has not in any way agreed to pay it. 3. Same — Junior Lienholder — Paying for Repairs — No Subrogation. A junior lienholder who, without the knowledge of prior lienholders takes possession of a wrecked automobile and causes it to be repaired and pays for the repairs, is not entitled to be subrogated to the repairman’s lien rights.