Newark Trust Co. v. Talbot Bank
Newark Trust Co. v. Talbot Bank
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This appeal is from a decree of the Circuit Court for Talbot County, passed on June 28, 1957, directing Sherman Edgell and his wife to execute a release of a duly recorded chattel mortgage executed to them by William M. Blakeney, Jr. and wife, to secure the sum of $5,000. The bill of complaint was filed on July 30, 1956, by the Talbot Bank of Easton against the Edgells for the specific performance of an alleged oral agreement to execute a release, which was admitted in the
On October 23, 1956, the Talbot Bank filed a petition for leave of court to file an amended bill of complaint, and to make the Newark Trust Company an additional party defendant. Leave was granted. The amended bill alleged that on or about June 27, 1955, the Newark Trust Company, a Delaware corporation, filed a bill of complaint against the Edgells alleging that it had obtained a judgment in the Circuit Court for Talbot County against the Blakeneys on July 23, 1954, in the amount of $2,500, and praying that the lien of its judgment be declared to be superior to the lien of the Edgells’ second mortgage on the Blakeneys’ real estate, or, in the alternative, that the Edgells be required to resort to the security of their second chattel mortgage on the fixtures before resorting to the security of their second mortgage on the real estate. The amended bill further alleged that a demurrer to the bill of complaint filed by the Newark Trust
A copy of the amended bill was served upon the Newark Trust Company, and it filed a demurrer on the ground that it was not a necessary or proper party. The demurrer was sustained, whereupon a second amended bill was filed, and a demurrer filed by the Newark Trust Company on the same ground was overruled. Newark then filed an answer setting forth that it was not a party to, and had no knowledge of, any of the transactions referred to in the original bill which took place after its judgment was obtained. It admitted the allegations as to its bill of complaint against the Edgells, which, it alleged, became moot on account of the foreclosure proceeding, and admitted the allegations as to the exceptions filed to the audit in the foreclosure case. The Edgells answered, admitting the allegations of the second amended bill, and consenting to the entry of such decree as might be just and proper. There was a further stipulation of facts, and the matter was set for hearing. Through its counsel, Newark informed the court that it did not desire to be present to cross-examine witnesses produced by the other parties, but
The first question presented is whether Newark, the appellant, was a necessary or proper party. Of course, the appeal from the final decree brings up the correctness of the ruling on demurrer. Rule 809, Maryland Rules; Kikas v. Baltimore County, 200 Md. 360, 363. See also Rule 373 c and Buckner v. Jones, 157 Md. 239, 248. Any right which Newark might have to insist upon marshaling of assets in the foreclosure proceeding, and we express no opinion on that point, depends upon the continued existence of the lien of the second chattel mortgage held by the Edgells. The release of the first chattel mortgage by the Talbot Bank, without a release by the Edgells, made the Edgells’ lien on the fixtures superior to that of the Talbot Bank from Howell and Lord. The release sought by the second amended bill would have the effect of relegating the Edgells to their claim against the excess proceeds of sale in the foreclosure proceeding, and destroy the whole basis for the point as to marshaling raised by Newark in the foreclosure proceeding.
•Rule 313 d 1 of the Maryland Rules provides that “Separate claims involving different plaintiffs or defendants or both may be joined in one action whenever any substantial question of law or fact common to all the claims will arise in the action or for any other reason the claims may conveniently be disposed of in the same proceeding; the claims joined may be joint, several, or in the alternative, as to plaintiffs or defendants or both.” Rule 313 d 3 provides: “Any person may be joined as a defendant against whom any relief is demanded on any claim, and he need not be interested in defending against the other claims or all the relief demanded.” We think the claim of Newark in the foreclosure proceeding, the basis for which will disappear if the action of the Chancellor in the instant case is sustained, can be conveniently disposed of in the instant case. It is true that no specific relief is sought against Newark. Since it was not a party to the contract to release, we may assume it could not be required to perform the contract because of the lack of privity. Cf. Worthington v. Lee, 61 Md. 530; Lanford v. Moore, 145
The appellant asserted below, and asserts here, a pecuniary interest in the continuance of the lien whose release is sought. It is stated in Pomeroy, Equity Jurisprudence (5th ed.) sec. 114, that “all persons who are so interested, although indirectly, in the subject-matter and the relief granted, that their rights or duties might be affected by the decree, although no substantial recovery can be obtained either for or against them, shall be made parties to the suit; * * To the same effect, see also Pomeroy, Specific Performance of Contracts, (3d ed.) sec. 483, cited with approval in Buckner v. Jones, supra (p. 246) and Keigwin, Cases in Equity Pleading (2d Ed.) p. 26. On general equitable principles, such as the avoidance of a multiplicity of suits and the convenience of settling all controversies in one proceeding, we think the joinder was proper.
The appellant relies heavily upon the statement in Miller, Equity Procedure, sec. 64, that “In cases of specific performance the general rule is that only those persons are proper parties who are parties to the contract or those who have been substituted in their place, as executors or heirs.” No doubt that is a correct statement of the law as applicable to a case involving a contract for the sale of land, where the courts are concerned with privity of title. But equity jurisdiction is not limited to cases of that character. “A court of equity will coerce the execution of a written contract which the parol evidence has shown was agreed upon”, even though it has no relation to real estate. Insurance Co. v. Ryland, 69 Md. 437, 446. Cf. Alexander et al. v. Ghiselin et al., 5 Gill 138, 182. The appellant in the instant case asserts a pecuniary interest in the maintenance of the lien which the appellee
If we assume, without deciding, that the appellant properly raised below any question other than the propriety of its joinder, we think the decision of the Chancellor was correct. The appellant does not contend that the contract to release was not made upon a full and adequate consideration, but argues that it should not be enforced as a matter of public policy, because it was in the nature of a secret dealing between creditors, changing their status and priorities, to the detriment of a judgment creditor. We think the argument is without merit. In agreeing to release their chattel mortgage, in order that a sale of the business might be effected, neither the Edgells nor the Talbot Bank were charged with notice of Newark’s judgment, which was a lien upon the real estate of the Blakeneys but not upon the fixtures. There is no evidence that they had actual notice of the judgment at the time of the agreement or that they did not act in good faith. Hence, there was nothing inequitable in the agreement, and if it had been performed when agreed, the judgment creditor would have had no just ground of complaint. Annan v. Hays, 85 Md. 505, 507, et seq. Since equity regards that as done which ought to have been done, the decree enforcing the agreement was proper, even though at that time the claim of a right to marshal had been asserted. Cf. Hammond v. Lyon Realty Co., 163 Md. 442, 475.
Decree affirmed, with costs.
Dissenting Opinion
Chief Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, specially assigned, filed the following dissenting opinion:
I cannot concur in the Court’s opinion and I feel the reasons for dissenting should be briefly stated.
I feel that in cases of specific performance it is only necessary to make those persons parties who were parties or privies to the contract. Miller, Equity Procedure, sec. 64; Crook v. Brown, 11 Md. 158; 81 C. J. S. sec. 118 (b). In the
The decree of the Chancellor did nothing more than require the Edgells to release their chattel mortgage. The Newark Trust Company was not required by the decree to do anything or to refrain from doing anything. As no decree was passed against the Newark Trust Company it has no standing to contest the decree. French v. Shoemaker, 81 U. S. 314, 20 L. Ed. 852; Preston v. Poe, 116 Md. 1, 81 A. 178; In re Buckler Trusts, 144 Md. 424, 125 A. 177.
The decree of the lower Court did not settle any dispute between the Newark Trust Company and the Edgells concerning the marshaling of assets (some $900.00 remaining in the hands of Charles E. Wheeler, Assignee, in No. 3411 Chancery, which proceedings are not before this Court), and I do not see how the affirmance by this Court of the decree of the Chancellor has determined the question.
Prior to the institution of the proceedings for specific performance, which is the case now before this Court, the Newark Trust Company instituted an action against the Edgells (No. 3393 Chancery) praying the mortgage of the Edgells on the Blakeney real estate be determined to be an inferior lien to the lien of the Newark Trust Company under its judgment. The question was not determined because the proceedings were abandoned upon the failure of the Newark Trust Company to amend after a demurrer had been sustained. Upon the failure to amend the bill could have been dismissed. McNiece v. Eliason, 78 Md. 168, 175, 27 A. 940; Alley v. Nott, 111 U. S. 472, 475, 4 S. Ct. 495, 28 L. Ed.
The opinion of the Court makes reference to “trade” •creditors. The Court apparently presumed that the sale to .Howell and Lord was done in compliance with the sales in bulk act (Article 83, sec. 97). As I read that section the vendor must give to the purchaser a written statement of all •of the creditors of the vendor. I do not understand that the vendor must give only a statement of his “trade” creditors. The Sales in Bulk Act does not limit the rights of creditors to those who have claims for merchandise accounts. Fidelity & Deposit Co. v. Thomas, 133 Md. 270, 105 A. 174. By the use of the word “trade” creditors I am apprehensive that some confusion might arise.
There is one other matter that occurs to me as not authorized by our practice or by law and that is the filing of the “further stipulation of fact.” It was considered by the Chancellor and also by the Court of Appeals. The Newark Trust Company informed the Court that it did not desire to be present to cross-examine witnesses produced by the other
It is my judgment that the demurrer to the second amended bill of complaint should have been sustained. In the second place, I do not find that the Newark Trust Company is bound by the decree and they had no right to appeal from the decree of the Chancellor.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The Newark Trust Company v. the Talbot Bank of Easton, Maryland
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- Published