Jefferson v. Rust

155 Iowa 133 | Iowa | 1912

Deemer, J.=

The proceeding grew out of the case of Jefferson v. Rust, which was heretofore in this court upon appeal; the opinion being found in 149 Iowa, 594. In that opinion, among other things, we said: “Defendant made some improvements upon the property and had paid taxes and other charges thereon, and has personally obligated himself to pay the mortgage now standing against it. These matters were not adjudicated by the trial court for the reason, we suppose, that plaintiff dismissed his action in so far as it involved an accounting for rents, profits, etc. We need not do more at this time than to say that defendant’s claims, if he had any, for improvements, taxes, etc., should not be regarded as determined in this suit. Neither should plaintiff’s rights to an accounting. These matters are, therefore, expressly reserved for further determination in a proper action.” The concluding part of the opinion was: “As thus modified, the decree will be affirmed, and the case will be remanded for this modification. Appellant, however, will pay the costs of this appeal. Modified and affirmed.” Pursxiant to this order, a procedendo issued to the district court in due course, in which reference was made to the modification, and the said court was directed to proceed as if no appeal had been taken. This was filed in the district court on March 27, 1911. The next term of the district court at Avoca where the original action had been brought commenced on April 11 of the same year, so that no order could be made on the procedendo until the sitting of that court for its April term. In the meantime, and on or about the -day of March, 1911, a special execution or writ for possession issued out of the district court at Avoca at plaintiff’s request, and the same was placed in the hands of defendant McOaffery as sheriff for service. Thereupon, and on April Y, 1911, defendant Eust filed his application for a restraining order, alleging the facts above recited, and also averring that he was entitled to be heard in the district court upon the question of improvement, and entitled to have the original decree modified or at least an accounting had for taxes and other charges against the land paid by him before final decree was entered in the district court. He also averred that he was about to file a petition under the occupying claimant’s act, and would do so in time to have the same considered at the April term, and he asked that the execution and writ for possession be recalled. A temporary restraining order was issued in vacation, 'and the matter was set down for hearing at the coming April term. On April 11th, defendant Eust filed a motion to continue the restraining order, to which plaintiff filed objections, and on the 12th of the same month defendant Eust filed his petition as an occupying claimant. Plaintiff filed a demurrer to defendant’s application for a restraining order, but made no attack upon the petition filed by Eust under the occupying- claimant’s act. Upon these pleadings, the whole matter was submitted to the district court resulting in an order denying Eust’s application to continue the restraining order and sustaining plaintiff's demurrer and motion' to discharge the temporary order recalling execution. The appeal is from these rulings.

*' icaSon of°dl" decree* cution: injunction. The record does not disclose that any order was ever made by the district court pursuant to the order of this court modifying the decree, and remanding the case on the original appeal, and no attack has as yet been made upon defendant Eust’s petition under the occupying claimant’s act. The special execution or writ of possession was issued upon the original decree from which the main appeal was taken before any modification was entered pursuant to the order of this court, n and, so far as shown, the modification has ' ' ^ not yet been entered of record in the district court. Notwithstanding these facts, plaintiff is proceeding as if the original decree had been affirmed without any modifications, and seeking to enforce an execution issued upon a decree which this court ordered modified to the extent hitherto stated. The effect of this modification was to supersede to that extent at least the original decree, and, until this modification was carried into effect pursuant to the order of this court, the decree originally entered by the district court was not a final one, and no execution should have been issued thereon. The district court did not enter the orders appealed from until after Eust had filed his petition under the occupying claimant’s act, and no attack had then been made on this petition. In many of its aspects this case is like Kelley v. Chicago, B. & Q. R. R., 154 Iowa, 87. Indeed, we think the principles there announced are controlling here. Until final decree in the district court modified as directed by this court on appeal, no execution should have issued. Defendant Eust was entitled to whatever advantage was given him by reason of the modification of the original decree, and no execution should have issued in advance of the final decree after remand to the district court. See, also, as somewhat in point, Miller v. Kramer, 154 Iowa, 523.

The question as to whether or not defendant Eust was entitled to file a petition under the occupying claimant’s act could not well be determined upon such proceedings as were here instituted, nor is there anything of record indicating that his right to do so was challenged. True, plaintiff’s counsel in argument suggest that Eust was not entitled to file such a petition; and for this reason that the orders made by the trial court from which this appeal was taken should be sustained. But we are not justified in so treating this matter. The difficulty with the orders made by the district court is deeper seated than this. Here an execution issued upon a decree which was not final, when the execution issued. The trial court was directed by this court to modify the original decree, and, until that modification was entered, no execution should have issued. The procedendo from this court was on file when the execution issued, but no order had been made thereon. The decree was in abeyance until the final order was entered. Before any final order was entered, defendant Rust had filed the petition hitherto indicated, and the case stood upon the order contained in the procedendo and the papers filed by Rust. Whether or not these were permissible is not before us for decision at this time. Had there been nothing filed by Rust, no execution should have issued until the - original decree became a finality by modification as ordered by this court. No decree was entered by this court. On the contrary, there was an express order of remand for a decree in the district court.

. 2. Same: occuants^ right1to be heard. Defendant Rust was entitled to have his petition as an occupying claimant considered and passed upon in the usual method before being put out of possession. It may well be doubted whether he could have filed his petition had he been'put out of possession xxn(jer †]16 execution. Lindt v. Uihlein, 116 Iowa, 49. That defendant Rust was entitled to have his claims considered in the regular way, see: Strabala v. Lewis; 80 Iowa, 510; Dunton v. McCook, 120 Iowa, 444. The views already expressed find ample support in Hogle v. Smith, 136 Iowa, 32; Miller v. Rosebrook, 144 Iowa, 158; Lindt v. Uihlein, supra.

Plaintiff’s main contention is that Rust was not entitled to file a petition as an occupying claimant. As already indicated, we do not think this question was before the district court; but, if it was, it was not presented in such a manner as that it should have been decided. The situation is just this: An execution was issued upon a decree which was not final, but which stood as if no decree had been entered, and at the time the rulings in question were entered, not only was there no final decree, but it also appears that there was then on file and unchallenged a petition under the occupying claimant’s act.

3. same: appeal-able orders. In our opinion the execution should have been recalled and enforcement thereof withheld until final decree was entered, and the petition under the occupying claimant’s act disposed of in the regular way. The ratjngg made by the district court were appealable. See Code, section 4101, par. 3, and cases cited.

The orders must be, and they are, each and all reversed, and the cause remanded for such rulings as accord with this opinion. — Reversed and remanded.