Dorman v. McFarlan
Dorman v. McFarlan
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The appellee filed a bill to enjoin the appellant as trustee from foreclosing a deed of trust given by one Klump to secure a certain indebtedness given by Klump to Kapland, which indebtedness was secured by a note and deed of trust, which was recorded in the county where the land
“In consideration of the sum of five thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars cash in hand paid me, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and the assumption by the hereinafter named grantee of my indebtedness to Max Kapland as evidenced by two notes of even date herewith) each for the sum of five thousand eight hundred dollars and each of said notes bearing interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum from date until paid, Avith interest thereon being due and payable on December 1, 1918, and annually thereafter, said notes being due and payable December 1, 1918 and 1919, respectively; said notes being-secured by a deed of trust of record in Sunflower county, Mississippi; and for the further consideration of the making and delivery to me by the hereinafter named grantee of his three promissory notes of CA'en date hereAvith each for the sum of five thousand eight hundred dollars,” etc.
The said land Avas conveyed by the said deed to McFarlan. When the first note became due to Kapland McFarlan did not pay the note, but merely paid the interest thereon, and had some understanding with Kapland to defer the payment of the principal. But Klump Avas not released by. said agreement betAveen Kapland and McFarlan.
When the second note was about to become due, Kapland notified Klump that the notes AArere due and unpaid, and demanded payment. When this notice was received Klump made a demand of McFarland to pay off said notes,
Klump proceeded to Greenwood, and turned the notes over to the appellant as. an attorney for collection, with the instruction that if they were not paid to foreclose. The attorney sent a demand to McFarlan for the principal and interest, plus an attorney’s fee of ten per cent. On receipt of this notice Manning sent a personal check or draft for the principal and interest, but declined to send the attorney’s fee, claiming that he was due no attorney’s fee.
On the evening that Klump turned the notes over to the attorney, and prior to the time of turning the notes over, McFarlan rang up the attorney, who ivas also trustee,, and stated over the phone that he was ready to pay the notes. A second notice was sent, returning the drafts sent in the first letter by McFarlan, which had indorsed on them “Refuse to accept,” and insisting upon an attorney’s fee and threatened foreclosure if the amount was not paid promptly. When this letter was received McFarland’s attorney sent another draft for the principal and interest, but without attorney’s fees, urging the acceptance of the money, but stating that if it were not accepted they- would enjoin. This draft was returned with letter refusing to accept it in full, and also declining- it specifically upon the ground that it was not money. Thereupon the trustee, the appellant, proceeded to advertise the land embraced in the deed of trust for sale, and thereupon the appellee, McFarlan, sued out an injunction enjoining the sale. A motion was filed by the appellant to dissolve the injunction and claimed attorney’s fees for collecting the note and attorney’s fees for defending the injunction suit as damages, as well as the principal and interest to the date of the decree. The chancellor refused, to dissolve the in
' Two questions are presented by this record for decision: First, was the offer of McFarlan to pay under the circumstances stated a legal tender; and, second, was the appellant entitled to attorney’s fees in addition to the principal and interest under the facts of this case.
It will be seen from the above statment that the plaintiff did not actually tender money on the train on the day in question, nor did.he state that he was then and there ready to pay the amount. The proof shows on the contrary that he could not have immediately paid the money had Klump been willing then to' receive it. The money had not been actually turned over to McFarlan, and there was no money to his credit at the bank with which to make the payment. H?is ability to make the payment depended upon Manning’s giving him a check on the bank and the bank’s honoring the check so given. McFarlan had stated on the very morning that he was unable to pay it, and Klump had made several trips to induce him to pay it without avail. We do not think that the proposition made on the train, accepting McFarlan’s version of it, warranted the chancellor in holding that' it was a legal tender of the money, and it was error to so hold.
On the second, proposition we do not think under the facts disclosed by this record that the appellant was entitled to collect an attorney’s fee. The agreement of Mc-Farlan was to pay the indebtedness to Kapland, or the assignee of Kapland, for immediate payment, neither had they placed the note in the hands of an attorney for collection. On the contrary, they were willing to extend to McFarlan additional time without waiver of their rights. Klump had not paid out any attorney’s fee when he repurchased the paper which was his own paper. McFarlan had not signed the paper nor become a party to the paper any further than to assume it in the language of the deed
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
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- 1. Mortgages. Arrangements to have third party pay indebtedness at, bank held insufficient as legal tender. AVhere a party seeks an injunction against a foreclosure under a deed of trust on the ground that he has made a legal tender of the amount due, proof showing that he had stated to the owner Qf the indebtedness that he was ready to pay it if the owner would go to a named bank and wait,until the following morning, and the proof further showing that he did not have the money in the bank in his name, but had merely arranged with a third party to get the money, is insufficient to constitute a legal tender. In order to make a valid legal tender, the party must be ready then and there to pay the money if his offer is accepted. 2. Bills axd Notes. Maker reacquiring note not entitled to attorney’s fee as against third person assuming payment. Where a party executed a promissory note providing for the payment of an attorney’s fee in case the note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection, and afterwards makes a contract with another person to pay the indebtedness evidenced by such note, the agreement to assume being silent as to attorney’s fee; and where the party at maturity of said notes arranges for delay in the payment with the holder; and where the original maker in order to protect his own interest reacquires his notes and demanded payment, which is not made, and places the notes in the hand of an attorney for collection, which attorney refuses ta accept payment of principal and interest unless an attorney’s fee is also paid — the owner cannot, under the circumstances stated in the opinion, recover an attorney’s fee on said note.