Johnson v. Reed
Before: Harrison
Synopsis
Action to Vacate Fobs closure and Deed—Motion for New Trial—Presumption of Pendency.—In an action to vacate a decree of foreclosure, and a deed executed thereunder, and to be allowed to redeem, where the complaint shows that a motion for a new trial was made in the original action, in the absence ■of any averment to the contrary, it will be presumed that the motion is still pending and undetermined.
Id.—Abandonment of Motion by Codefendant.—An averment that one of the codefendants in the foreclosure suit had changed his attorneys and abandoned the motion, is insufficient to show that the plaintiff here was precluded from prosecuting his own motion, or from appealing from the judgment in the original action.
Id.—Independent Action—Grounds Available in Original Action.—The plaintiff in an independent action to vacate a judgment rendered in another action cannot avail himself of any grounds which were available to him in the original action, and which he has sought to have reviewed by motion for a new trial therein, and might have had reviewed upon appeal.
Id.—Insufficient Complaint—Pbematube Fobeclostjbe—Fbaud— Adjudication.—A complaint in an action to set aside a foreclosure decree and sale, which averred that one of the defendants to such action had fraudulently induced the premature commencement of the foreclosure suit, that he might obtain title under the sale, and that the answer therein showed that the time to commence the action had been extended, and that judgment was rendered for the plaintiff, shows on its face that the court must have found and adjudged that the action was not premature, and is insufficient to show any fraud, or any ground for relief.
HARRISON, J. It is alleged in the complaint herein that in an action brought to foreclose a mortgage executed by the plaintiff to the defendant Brooks, the defendants filed an answer setting up as a defense that the action was prematurely brought by reason of the fact that the time for the payment of the note secured by the mortgage had been extended to a date subsequent to the commencement of the action; that -the cause was tried and judgment rendered in favor of the plaintiff therein; that thereafter the plaintiff herein filed and served a notice of his intention to move for a new trial, and that a bill of exceptions based upon said notice had been settled, allowed and filed in said action, and that an affidavit to be used on said motion had also been filed; that under said judgment the property described in the mortgage had been sold to the mortgagee and a deed therefor executed to him; that the proceeds of said sale being insufficient to satisfy the judgment, a judgment for the deficiency had been docketed against the plaintiff herein, and that an execution had been issued upon said deficiency judgment, and certain personal property sold by virtue thereof to one of the defendants herein. The complaint further alleges that prior to the commencement of said action the defendant, Charles W. Reed, induced the mortgagee to violate his agreement for the extension of payment and to commence the ac[76]tion for foreclosure before the said period of extension had expired, and agree with him that the -said action should be prosecuted to final judgment and a sale thereunder, and that the property should be -thereafter sold and transferred to him, the said Reed; that the mortgaged property was of much greater value than the amount of the mortgage debt; but that it was also agreed between them that upon the sale under the judgment a deficiency should be left, and that an execution should be issued upon said deficiency judgment, and certain personal property of the plaintiff herein sold thereunder; that the said agreement was earned into effect, and that all of the proceedings were had with the fraudulent purpose and design of said Reed to defraud the plaintiff of his interest in the mortgaged property. Plaintiff therefore asks -a judgment vacating the judgment of foreclosure and canceling and annulling the deed issued under the sale upon said judgment, and allowing him to redeem the property, and setting aside the sale of the personal property and restoring him to the possession thereof. The defendant Brooks, who appears to be the only person served with the complaint, demurred thereto, and his demurrer having been sustained judgment was entered in his favor, from which the plaintiff has appealed.
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