Moran v. Otoe County National Bank
Moran v. Otoe County National Bank
Opinion of the Court
This involves two equity suits in which plaintiff sought injunctions. The cases were consolidated and tried together in the district court. From decrees against him, the plaintiff appeals. The cases were argued and submitted together here. The appellant here was plaintiff below and will be referred to as plaintiff. The appellees will be referred to as defendants.
Plaintiff owns half a lot in Nebraska City on which was located a building erected for business purposes. In 1925 it was remodeled by the owner for use as a gas filling station and leased in writing for three years from June 1, 1925, to A. K. McPherson and H. A. Risk at a rental of $100 a month, payable monthly in advance. The lessees were partners. When they were let into possession, the necessary pumps, tanks and filling station equipment were placed on the property for their use by W. L. Peterson, an agent for an oil company, from whom the lessees purchased supplies. In November, 1925, the lessees sold their business and equipment to Peterson and he entered and operated the business until the restraining order was served. The evidence shows that plaintiff was asked by McPherson and Risk to give a lease to Peterson, and orally assented, but such lease was never given; that Peterson, however, paid the rental thereafter, but plaintiff made out
On February 4, 1926, to secure his indebtedness to the bank, Peterson gave to Otoe County National Bank a $3,000 chattel mortgage, which was duly recorded, covering the fixtures installed by him and the personal property he had previously purchased from McPherson and Risk, all being in the filling station then and at the time of the trial. The last of the debt secured was due August 4, 1926, and has not been paid. On October 7, 1926, the chattel mortgage was sold and assigned to the defendant Stocker, in whose behalf his written demand for the possession of the mortgaged items for the purpose of foreclosure was made on Peterson at the filling station. Peterson gave his consent, McPherson and Risk expressly consented to the entry, possession was taken and, it being impracticable to remove the items that day, the station was temporarily closed. This action was brought by plaintiff the next day to enjoin the defendant from removing the fixtures and from interfering with plaintiff’s use and enjoyment of the premises. Issues were joined and the trial resulted in favor of defendant Stocker and in a dismissal of all other defendants. On October 11, 1926, another suit was filed by plaintiff against defendant Stocker only. The pleadings are substantially the same, and, on trial of both cases together, this also resulted in a decree against plaintiff and in favor of defendant John D. Stocker.
Plaintiff properly states the questions to be decided: (1) Were the fixtures and equipment on plaintiff’s premises and sought to be removed by the defendant Stocker removable fixtures, or were they a part of the realty? (2) Has the defendant Stocker a valid chattel mortgage upon said property?
We find that not only the weight of authority generally but our own decisions specifically conclude us on the question ; and that wheré fixtures are erected upon or attached to leased real property, by a tenant or other person rightfully there, for a specific use concerned with the occupancy during the leasehold term, and without any contrary agreement expressed or implied, they may be removed by the tenant, or by those lawfully claiming under him, during his term, provided the severance can be accomplished without injury to the freehold of the landlord.
As to whether the items involved can be removed without damage to the owner’s estate, we find, on reading the evidence, which it would serve no useful purpose to recapitulate, that the property described includes many articles not affixed to the land at all; and that the testimony of practical and expert witnesses leads to the inevitable conclusion upon which the trial court based the decrees, namely, that the storage tanks, pumps and other attached fixtures were so installed that they may be removed without damage to appellant’s real estate.
The remaining contention of appellant involves his claims that the defendant Stocker has not shown that he has a valid chattel mortgage, because he failed to prove an assignment to him of the notes secured thereby, and because he failed to prove that no proceedings at law to collect the debt were had before starting foreclosure.
Really, these are questions which appellant is not in a position to raise, for, as we have decided, he has no legal interest in the removable fixtures and, therefore, is not concerned as to the validity of the chattel mortgage covering them. The evidence shows that Peterson, the owner and mortgagor of the fixtures, acceded to the written demand of John D. Stocker, as assignee of the mortgage, for possession of the chattels for the purpose of foreclosure and in writing gave him express permission to remove them for'
We conclude that the several findings of fact, conclusions of law and decrees of the trial court were right. They should be, and are,
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Andrew P. Moran v. Otoe County National Bank, appellees Andrew P. Moran v. John D. Stocker
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published