Hawkinson v. Banaghan

203 Mass. 591 | Mass. | 1909

Knowlton, C. J.

This is a bill to enforce the plaintiff’s rights under a mortgage against the defendant as mortgagor. The plaintiff made an open and peaceable entry upon the premises for the purpose of foreclosing the mortgage for a breach of the condition thereof, and the defendant interfered with the plaintiff’s collection of rents from the tenants in occupation. The bill was brought to enjoin the defendant from collecting the rents or interfering with the plaintiff in his collection of them. A cross bill to redeem was afterwards filed by the defendant, and an appeal was taken from the final decree protecting the plaintiff in his rights and giving the defendant a right to redeem upon the terms therein stated. The questions that arise upon the appeal relate to the defendant’s attempt to redeem under the cross bilk

From the report of facts filed by the judge under the R. L. c. 159, § 23, it appears that there was a breach of the condition of the mortgage in the failure to make certain payments that were due, and the plaintiff thereupon made an entry to foreclose, and advertised the property for sale under a power contained in the mortgage. The mortgage debt was payable by instalments, most of which had not become due. The defendant contended that he was entitled to redeem, and have the sale enjoined and be reinstated in his former possession, upon payment of the sums which had become payable. The plaintiff contended that he could redeem only by paying the whole amount covered by the mortgage. Upon this contention the judge ruled in favor of the plaintiff, and this ruling presents the only question before us.

The rights of the parties in this particular depend upon their contract. When there is no language in the mortgage touching the subject other than the statement of the time when the instalments become payable, and when the only breach of condition is a failure to pay an early instalment before others have become due, we are inclined to hold, notwithstanding the language at the end of c. 187, § 27, of the Revised Laws,' that a mortgagor in default may be relieved of the consequences of his neglect and be restored to his former rights upon payment of the amount then due and payable, with the costs that have accrued. Courts of equity have general jurisdiction of the redemption of mortgages, and to relieve from forfeitures. R. L. c. 159, §§ 1, 2; c. 187, § 22. McCombs v. Elmes, 197 Mass. 19. Mactier v. Osborn, 146 Mass. 399. Gordon v. Richardson, 185 Mass. 492. Generally in suits for redemption, the whole amount payable under the mortgage is paid, as one of the terms of relief. But if the mortgagee declines to receive payments before they are due, the court, upon payment of the instalments that have accrued, will make a special decree to stop foreclosure and protect the rights of the parties. Saunders v. Frost, 5 Pick. 259. Adams v. Brown, 7 Cush. 220, 223. The same principle ought to apply in a case where the mortgagor is unable or unwilling to make payments before they are due. It has been applied by other courts. Caufman v. Sayre, 2 B. Mon. 202. Peyton v. Ayres, 2 Md. Ch. 64, 67. Wylie v. McMakin, 2 Md. Ch. 413, 417. Lansing v. Capron, 1 Johns. Ch. 617, 619. Campbell v. Macomb, 4 Johns. Ch. 534, 536. Holden v. Gilbert, 7 Paige, 208. Under a mortgage in the common form, without a power of sale, such a decree would leave the mortgagee in possession, with a right to' receive the rents and profits. But if there is a provision, such as appears in this mortgage, leaving the mortgagor in possession of the premises until default in the performance of the condition, the decree for redemption will protect him in the exercise of that right. The language is as follows: “ It is agreed that, . . . until default in the performance or observance of the condition of this deed, I and my heirs and assigns may hold and enjoy the granted premises and receive the rents and profits thereof.” We are of opinion that this provision applies to a case where there has been a default, and afterwards a redemption from the effect of the default, so that the mortgagee is put in the same condition as if there had been no default. Upon such redemption the mortgagor should be restored to his original rights.

In mortgages with a power of sale it is not unusual to provide that, upon default in the performance of the condition, the whole amount secured by the mortgage shall immediately become payable. Such a provision is legal and binding. Jones on Mortgages, (6th ed.) § 1180. Pope v. Durant, 26 Iowa, 233, 239. Richards v. Holmes, 18 How. 143. In this mortgage there is no agreement in these terms, but there is language which the mortgagee contends is the same in legal effect, as follows: “ Upon any default. . . the grantee . . . may sell the granted premises, . . . and out of money arising from such sale the grantee or his representatives shall be entitled to retain all sums then secured by this deed, whether then or thereafter payable, including all costs, . .. rendering the surplus, if any, to me or to my heirs or assigns.” This presents the question whether the parties intended by this provision to give the mortgagee an absolute right, upon default of the mortgagor, to have the whole amount of his debt by the sale of the property, if it would bring enough to pay the debt, unless the mortgagor prevented the sale by a redemption and a payment of the whole amount, so that, after a default and a redemption before the sale, the mortgagee would be in the same position as to the payment as if the sale had taken place ; or whether it is a provision which may be rendered inoperative by the payment of the amount which is then due and payable, thus putting the mortgagee in the same position as if there had been no default. We think it is more consistent with the principles of equity jurisprudence, and especially with the doctrine of equitable relief from forfeitures, to give the language the construction last stated, and to hold that the provision for the retention of the whole amount secured by the mortgage was intended to have no effect except in the case of an actual sale. If the provision is construed strictly, it relates only to conditions after a sale has taken place. It does not purport to change the rules of law that determine when and on what terms such a sale can be prevented by a payment. The language can be given full effect by treating it as expressly providing for the disposition of the proceeds when a sale has taken place before the whole amount secured is payable. Without such a provision it might at least be doubtful whether any instalments could be paid from the proceeds of the sale before the time prescribed for their payment, and whether the mortgagee, after satisfying himself for an overdue instalment, would not be obliged to hold the balance of the money as security for the other instalments. We are of opinion that this language is not equivalent to an agreement that, upon default in the payment of any instalment, the other instalments shall immediately become payable.

It follows that the plaintiff in the cross bill is entitled to have the property redeemed from the effect of the default, and to be restored to his right of possession under the mortgage, upon .payment of the amount already due and payable, with such costs as may be allowed in the Superior Court, due credit being given for rents and profits received by the mortgagee. If the parties fail to agree upon the amount to be paid an account must . be taken before a master.

Decree reversed.