Lengert v. Chaninel
Lengert v. Chaninel
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
In an action of scire facias on a mortgage, the plaintiff obtained. judgment, July 30, 1902, for 15,562.50, for want of a sufficient affidavit of defense. On August 15, the defendants appealed. The bail to make the appeal a supersedeas not being given, execution was issued, and on March 2, 1903, the mortgaged land was sold by the sheriff to the plaintiff for f500. On March 30, 1903, the judgment was reversed by the Supreme Court, with a procedendo: Lengert v. Chaninel, 205 Pa. 280. The defendants then, in the court below, obtained a rule to,set aside the sale, and another for a writ of restitution. On July 3, the former rule was discharged, and the latter made absolute, with the order: “ Let writ of restitution of the money or price for which the mortgaged lands were sold at the sheriff’s sale issue, returnable sec. leg.” From these orders, the defendants, on July 21, appealed to the Supreme Court, and the plaintiff, on July 23, appealed to this court. On the former appeal, on February 29, 1904, both orders were affirmed : Lengert v. Chaninel, 208 Pa. 229. The latter appeal is now before us for determination.
The judgment on which the land was sold was not void because of the error through which it was entered; it was voidable only at the instance of the defendants. Until reversed, however, it had all the qualities and incidents of a judgment free from error, and was valid for all purposes, including execution : Sweeney v. Girolo, 154 Pa. 609; Ogle v. Baker, 137 Pa. 378. When the mortgaged land was sold, the judgment stood unreversed, and unaffected by the appeal. As to restitution, upon reversal of judgment after a sale of land, the act of January 12, 1705, 1 Sm. L. 57, provides that lands sold on a judgment that warrant execution shall not be restored, or the sale avoided, upon subsequent reversal of the judgment, but that restitution shall be made “ only of the money or price for which the lands were sold.” Under this act, and the decision of the Supreme Court in Lengert v. Chaninel, 208 Pa. 229, the first and second specifications must be overruled.
The appellee has moved to quash the appeal, on the ground that all the questions involved in it have been adjudicated by the Supreme Court on his own appeal, in the case last cited. This must be determined by the record. In the case referred
The order of restitution is silent as to the disposition to be made of the money which it requires the plaintiff to restore. This disposition, however, is fixed by law. Since the sale was valid, the proceeds are to be distributed as on any valid sale, except that the defendant is to be substituted for the plaintiff as a party entitled to share in the fund In such distribution, the costs of sale, and liens discharged by the sale, are first payable. This, being a payment of the defendant’s indebtedness charged on the land, is in effect restitution to him. Any residue, which without an order of restitution would be distributed to the plaintiff, is by such order to be distributed to the defendant. Restitution, in accordance with the statute, is thus made complete.
The third specification is sustained, and it is ordered that the money or price for which the land was sold be paid into court and distributed in accordance with this opinion.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.