Sando v. Burke
Sando v. Burke
Opinion of the Court
Statement.
This is an action to foreclose a chattel mortgage. Defendant has appealed from a judgment of foreclosure. The facts, necessary to be stated, are: On April 5th, 1919, at Minot, North Dakota, defendant purchased from plaintiff a Fordson tractor, for a consideration of $950. Defendant paid $300 in cash and gave his note for $650 due October 1st, 1919, secured by a chattel .mortgage upon the tractor. At the same time, plaintiff made to defendant a bill of sale of the tractor. This bill of sale was not filed. On the same day, de-
Pursuant to defendant’s testimony, he was farming, in the season of 1919, approximately one-half section of farm lands. He intended to use the tractor on this land. He had deeded this half section to his wife as a wedding present; but he was farming it. Plaintiff knew that the tractor was to be given to his wife. In fact, the bill of sale was drawn in the name of his wife; defendant’s name was substituted through objections made by plaintiff involving the fact that the mortgage was executed by defendant. Defendant received the tractor on April 23, 1919. He did work during that summer with the tractor.
Further, pursuant to defendant’s testimony, plaintiff represented that this was a 1919 tractor whereas it was a 1918 tractor; the plaintiff promised to give to defendant any drop in the price that would be effective in 1919; there was a drop in the price of the Fordson tractors to the extent of $200 in 1919; by reason of the delay that defendant suffered in not securing possession of the tractor between April 5th and April 23d and being compelled to hire work done on the farm he suffered damages in the sum of $513.50; the tractor was defective; he was compelled to expend moneys in the claim and delivery action; his total damages, consequently, amounted to $1,060.95.
In the summer of 1919 plaintiff placed this note and mortgage as collateral security to indebtedness at a bank in Berthold, North Dakota. On October 5th, 1919, defendant herein secured an injunctional order restraining such bank in Berthold and the plaintiff herein from interfering with plaintiff’s possession of the tractor and restraining any foreclosure proceedings excepting by proper action. On October 17th, 1919, this action was started to foreclose the mortgage. Theretofore plaintiff had become repossessed of the note and mortgage. In this action a warrant of seizure was issued and the tractor was taken into possession of the sheriff through defendant receipting for the possession thereof.
In this action, defendant in its answer has set up various counterclaims for damages through failure to secure possession of the tractor,
Upon findings the trial court ordered judgment against the defendant upon the note and for foreclosure of the chattel mortgage.
Opinion.
The proceedings and evidence adduced by the parties have been set forth somewhat at length. These proceedings, in connection with the evidence, determine, upon fundamental grounds, this law suit. Defendant’s wife is not a party nor has she sought to intervene in this action so far as the record discloses.
On April 5th, 1919, defendant transferred by bill of sale all interest that he possessed in the tractor to his wife. Ever since that time she has possessed, through defendant’s own acts, all possessory rights and title in the tractor, tíince that time, defendant has no right, title, nor interest in the tractor. Manifestly, he cannot complain of deprivation of possessory rights nor of any damages occasioned thereto after the transfer to his wife. The counterclaims and evidence in support thereof establish no cause of action whatsoever against the plaintiff. With respect to the alleged agreement to reduce the price of the tractor, we find the evidence insufficient to establish any such agreement. The judgment of the trial court is accordingly affirmed with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- O. T. SANDO v. J. E. BURKE
- Status
- Published