Stern v. Epstin
Stern v. Epstin
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
It does not appear how David Epstin and Philip Epstin became tenants in common. There is an Act of 1718, (3 Stat. 708,) which authorizes partition to be made in the Court of Common Pleas, between partners, joint tenants, or tenants in common, and an Act of 1786, (i Stat. 712,) concerning admeasurement of dower, contains directions which are referred to by the Act of 1791, (5 Stat. 163, § 7,) concerning intestates’ estates. But, as shown in the case of Pell vs. Ball, (1 Rich. Eq. 388,) the Court of equity, in executing its power of making partition, usually conforms, in all cases of joint tenancy, and tenancy in common, to the Act of 1791. When an actual division cannot be made without injury to one or more of the parties, the
It is not suggested that in this case the discretion of the Chancellor was not properly exercised, as to the credit and the terms; but Nathan Zemansky having become a party ior the purpose of preserving his lien upon the moiety of his debtor, Philip Epstin, now says that as a judgment creditor he is entitled to immediate payment in money; that he is not bound to accept bonds, and should not be compelled to await the expiration of the credit which has been directed, nor to give to Philip Epstin the gain which would thence result to him ; that at the sale two equal bonds may be taken for each of the three instalments, upon which credit is to be given, and of those bonds, Philip Epstin’s half should be sold by the Master, (the market value of good bonds being now about 60 per cent.,) and for the money thus obtained, the judgment of Zemansky vs. Epstin and another, be paid, the remainder, if any being left, for Woolf, another creditor of Philip Epstin, and Philip Epstin, himself.
The sale of bonds, taken under an order of Court, is a proceeding which, if not beyond the power of the Court, is not justified by any precedent now in mind. Eor the as-signment of the bonds, when they shall have come into the possession of the Court, suitable orders, upon the proper application may be made; or the Master, having been authorized to collect, may, under directions, pay from the proceeds, the judgment of Nathan Zemansky, with the interest which shall have accrued thereon. Nathan Zemansky is a party who has come in for his own benefit; being, to the extent of his lien, substituted for Philip Epstin, he can have no higher right than Philip Epstin had; he must
If, as has been suggested, a defect in the title of the complainant, Stern, to the moiety claimed by him, might involve Zemansky in the consequences of an available defence made by the purchaser at the sale for partition to actions on the bonds, these defendants, in such event, would have to blame themselves, for it was their right and duty to resist partition, at the instance of a person not entitled to have it. (Dorn vs. Beasly, 6 Rich. E. 429; 7 Rich. E. 94.) It is said, however, that Nathan Zemansky might sell, or have sold Philip Epstin’s moiety, under the execution founded on his judgment, and thus obtain immediate payment. A prior judgment, without sale thereunder, might not in this case, perhaps, any more than in cases of the partition of intestate’s estates, affect the title of a purchaser, at the sale for partition. (Keckley vs. Moore, 2 Strob Eq. 21; Barry vs. Goode, 5 Rich. 6.) The sale of Philip Ep
It will thus be seen that Nathan Zemansky is bound by the decree, and has no higher right to special orders in his favor than Philip Epstin has ; moreover, that he is in no
The decree is affirmed, and tbe motion dismissed.
Appeal dismissed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.