Greenwood Loan & Guarantee Ass'n v. Williams
Greenwood Loan & Guarantee Ass'n v. Williams
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
On May 3d, 1900, the defendant, Hattie Williams, executed bond to- plaintiff, and mortgage to secure same, on a lot in Greenwood, S. C. On March 4th, 1901, Hattie Williams conveyed, the mortgaged lot to defendant, Rhoda Chiles, which deed was recorded May 28th, 1901. Several days previous to the recording of said deed, i. e., May 22d, 1901, plaintiff brought action against Hattie Williams to foreclose said mortgage, without making Rhoda Chiles a party thereto. Lis pendens was not filed until July 8th, 1901. Hattie Williams, being a non-resident, was served with summons by publication, but she made no- answer or appearance, and judgment of foreclosure was rendered at August term, 1901, the land sold thereunder for $250 to- plaintiff and deed ivas executed by the master.
The plaintiff thereafter brought action against Rhoda Chiles to recover the possession of the lot, and procured an order appointing a receiver of rents and profits pendente lite, from which an appeal was taken. Upon the facts stated, this Court reversed said order, holding that Rhoda Chiles, having the legal title, was á necessary party in an action to foreclose said mortgage. Association v. Chiles, 67 S. C., 251. The action by plaintiff to- recover the land of Rhoda Chiles was discontinued, and plaintiff, upon application to the Court, without notice to Hattie Williams or Rhoda Chiles, obtained an order vacating said judgment of foreclosure and giving plaintiff leave to amend by making- Rhoda Chiles a party defendant. The summons and complaint were amended in conformity'with the order of Judg'e Dantzler, on August 26th, 1903; the amended summons and complaint were served upon Rhoda Chiles and she appeared and made answer to the merits. The Circuit Court, Hon Leroy F. Youmans, special Judge, presiding, overruled all defenses and gave judgment of foreclosure for $306.93, which included $50, as a reasonable attorney fee.
The first three exceptions in behalf of appellant, Rhoda *424 Chiles, question the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court: (1) in making her a party to this action without notice and supporting affidavit; (2) because the Court had never acquired jurisdiction of Hattie Williams, and, therefore, there was no action pending and no- authority to- add another defendant ; (3) the plaintiff should have proceeded by supplemental complaint. These objections to the jurisdiction cannot avail.
(3) If proceedings by supplemental complaint were necessary in this case because of the transfer of interest in the mortgaged premises by Hattie Williams to' Rhoda Chiles, previous to the commencement of the action, but discovered b)'’ plaintiff after its commencement, the complaint, as amended by order of the Court and served upon the appellant, with the summons, may well be treated as a supplemental summons and complaint by leave of the Court.
Furthermore, the Court having undoubted jurisdiction of the subject of the. action, even if appellant had not been served with summons and complaint in this case, her general appearance and answer to- the merits would be. a wáiver of all objections to jurisdiction over her person. Sentell v. So. Ry. Co., 67 S. C., 231, 45 S. E., 155.
The fourth, fifth and sixth exceptions seek to raise the question of usury. The Circuit Court has found, as a matter of fact, that there was no usury, and we see no ground for disturbing’ that conclusion.
The judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed.
Reference
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- . 1. Practice — Rule—Parties.—Where the Court has determined that one is a necessary party to an action of foreclosure, there is no occasion to issue a rule to show cause with supporting affidavit to bring him in, but the service of the amended summons and complaint is sufficient. 2. Jurisdiction — Mortgages—Non-resident—Attachment—Lis Pen-dens. — The Court acquires jurisdiction of the subject matter in foreclosure of mortgage on land within its jurisdiction by filing of lis pendens and service of non-resident mortgagor by publication of summons without attachment of the land, judgment in such action may be vacated on ex parte motion, summons and complaint may be amended by adding a new party in possession of the land, and action continued against such party alone, provided no personal judgment is sought against mortgagor. 3. Supplemental Pleadings — Waiver — Jurisdiction. — If supplemental complaint be necessary in foreclosure where mortgagor conveyed premises before suit, mortgagee having no notice of conveyance until suit commenced, service of amended summons and complaint by leave of the Court making purchaser a party may be treated as a supplemental complaint by leave of the Court. And where defendant so served makes a general appearance, he waives the right to insist that Court has no jurisdiction of his person. 4. Attorney's Fee. — The Court may decide the amount of fee for an attorney foreclosing a mortgage from the record in the case. 5. Mortgages. — The Rule oe Caveat Emptor does, not apply to foreclosure sales, and the bid of a purchaser at a foreclosure sale, afterward vacated, should not be credited on the mortgage debt.