Carter v. Kaikainahaole

14 Haw. 515 | Haw. | 1902

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

PERRY, J.

This is a hill in equity wherein the complainant avers that at a foreclosure sale ordered and had by the mortgagee in a certain mortgage under the power of sale contained therein and of the statutes applicable in such cases, he became the purchaser of the mortgaged premises, that all the requirements of the mortgage and of the law (detailing1; these- to a certain extent) were complied with, that the title to the mortgaged premises was duly perfected in him, that he is entitled to possession and made demand for the same upon the respondent, who- is the administratrix of the estate of the deceased mortgagor, and that the respondent refused to surrender possession. The prayer is for an order to' remove respondent and all persons claiming under her from the premises and for a writ of possession. To this drill the respondent demurred on the ground, among others, that the complainant has a plain, complete and adequate remedy at law and that a court of equity has no jurisdiction to grant the relief prayed for. The demurrer was by the lower court sustained upon the ground just mentioned and the bill was dismissed. From that decree the cause comes by appeal to this court.

It seems clear that if the mortgage had been foreclosed by proceedings in equity and the sale ordered by the court and completed, equity would have jurisdiction, even on a subsequent and independent bill, to issue a writ of possession to remove the mortgagor or those holding under him and to put. the purchaser in possession; and from this it is argued for the complainant that the same relief will be granted in equity where the foreclosure sale- was, as in this case, not under a judicial decree, but under the power contained in the mortgage. We think otherwise. In the class of cases in which equity does issue writs of possession, the reason is that having already assumed jurisdiction for the purpose of foreclosing the mortgage it will retain jurisdiction to do complete justice between the parties, or, where an independent proceeding is brought, that it will make its former order effective and not compel the purchaser to resort to another and different court to secure a compliance with the decree. In this case, however, neither of these reasons can be invoked. Equity has not at any time had jurisdiction of the main subject nor has. it made any decree which it is now sought to enforce. The case presented by the. bill is simply that of a complainant who has the title to and right of possession of certain land and from whom possession is unlawfully withheld by another. For this wrong he has the ordinary remedy at law of an action of ejectment. The mere fact that his title and right of possession can be traced back through a mortgage and a foreclosure sale thereunder is not sufficient to give equity jurisdiction. The remedy at law is certainly plain and complete.

It is contended, however, that such remedy is not speedy and not adequate because, — and of this the court is asked to take judicial knowledge — there is a large accumulation of law cases undisposed of in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit and consequently an action of ejectment, if now instituted by this complainant, would not be heard for a long period of time, perhaps two V'ears. There Is no doubt that, upon the case being reached, the trial and tbe subsequent proceedings can be speedily disposed of and that the remedy, by enforcement of the judgment, will be complete and adequate. Tbe delay due to the present condition of the calendar in tbe First Circuit, — assuming tbe facts to be as stated by tbe appellant, — does not of itself render the remedy slow or inadequate within tbe meaning of tbe rule or principle in question. If the contention of complainant were permitted to prevail, tbe assumption or denial of jurisdiction by equity would become a matter of great uncertainty, based upon an ever-varying state of circumstances. It is to be observed, moreover, that no real or permanent improvement in conditions would follow from the adoption of the view, if such were otherwise possible, that equity could take jurisdiction whenever a trial could thus be reached at an earlier date. Tbe result would simply be to reverse conditions and to unduly encumber tbe calendar of equity cases.

Kinney, Ballou & MaGlanahan for complainant. G. W. Ashford for respondent.

Tbe decree appealed from is affirmed.