Amaranth Land Co. v. Corey

LENNON, J.

This is an action .by an assignee of a vendor of land to compel the vendee to pay overdue installments on the purchase price and also to compel the payment of future installments by virtue of a clause in the contract of sale giving the vendor the right to declare the entire purchase price due and payable upon the vendee’s default in any of the payments. The court gave judgment for the overdue installments, but found that the right to declare the entire purchase price presently due and payable had been waived.

Defendants contend that inasmuch as the vendor retained the legal title the action is essentially one in equity to compel specific performance and that the findings are insufficient for the reason that they 'do not show that the consideration was fair and adequate. This contention is answered by the case of

Sparks

v.

Hess,

15 Cal. 186, where, at page 194, it is said: “. . . the vendors have retained the legal title, and evidently as security for the purchase money. Their position is, in some respects, similar to what it would have been had they executed a conveyance to the vendee and taken from him a mortgage upon the property. A mortgage is in form a conveyance of the legal title, though intended only as security for the debt. Here the title is retained by the vendors for a similar purpose of security. A mortgagee may pursue his remedy at law, or proceed in equity for a sale of the premises. A vendor retaining the title may in like manner sue at law for the balance of the purchase money, or file his bill in equity for the specific performance of the contract. ...”

[1]

The rule, thus early declared in this state, that a vendor retaining legal title to land sold may waive his security and bring an action at law for the debt, is reiterated in and supported by subsequent decisions of this court.

(Samuel

v.

Allen,

98 Cal. 406, [33 Pac. 273];

Longmaid

v.

Coulter,

123 Cal. 208, [55 Pac. 791];

North Stockton Town