Syndics of Bermudez v. Ibanez
Syndics of Bermudez v. Ibanez
Opinion of the Court
In this case, the respective, rights of the original parties (Bermudez and Iba-nez) to the lot of ground in dispute, have been settled by the decree of a Court from whose decisions there is no appeal.
The determination of the present suit depends, therefore, on ascertaining which of the said parties was recognized by that decree, as the owner of the contested land.
It appears that while F. X. Bermudez, once the undisputed proprietor of the lot in question,
Posterior to that decree, the claim of Ibanez was settled by the referees to the sum of six thousand, six hundred and six dollars and seventy five cents; and on Bermudez’ having failed to pay it within the fixed time, the sale of the land was decreed to be made by the sheriff. Previous, however; to the sale, Bermudez called a meeting of his creditors^ and an order issued from a competent Court, staying all proceedings against' him; notwithstanding which order, the sale was
The situation of the parties in this case is, indeed, a novel one. But however ambiguous their rights may appear at first, one point, at least, is very clear—and that is the non-existence of any real title in Ibanez. His right to the land was not even that which is acquired by purchase subject to redemption ; for, in such case, the purchaser may become the absolute owner, in the event of the vendor’s suffering the stipulated delay to elapse without redeeming, while here in defect of payment the property was to be sold. A property, which was to be sold to pay Ibanez’ claim, surely could not be considered as his property : the idea is repugnant to common sense. A right to be paid out of the proceeds of a sale, far from bearing any resemblance to a right of property in the creditor, implies the very reverse; for it is a right to be exercised against the property of another.
It being ascertained that Ibanez was not the owner of the land in dispute, it remains to enquire what kind of right he had on that land. His right was not that of a mortgagee, nor that of a purchase! under a claim, of redemption ; nor can it
Upon the whole, the Court are of opinion that Bermudez was, at the time of his failure, the true owner of the lot of land in contest; that the decree ordering a stay of proceedings against him, ought to have stopped the judicial sale of that land, and that the sale made in contravention to it was illegal and void. It is therefore ordered, that the said lot be surrendered to the syndics of the creditors of Bermudez, for the purpose of selling it within the usual delay of judicial sales, payable, to wit, the sum of six thousand, six hundred and six dollars and seventy five cents in cash, to satisfy die claim of Ibanez, and the remainder at such
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SYNDICS OF BERMUDEZ v. IBANEZ & MILNE
- Status
- Published