Long v. Wade

70 Me. 358 | Me. | 1879

Appleton, C. J.

The plaintiff, being the owner of the equity of redemption of certain mortgaged premises of which a foreclosure had been commenced by publication, on February 17,1877, leased the same to the defendant for one year as tenant at will. On the first , of the following May the defendant paid the mortgagees the rent from February 17 to that date, the mortgagees having demanded the same. This action is for the rent accruing between those dates.

The plaintiff owning the equity, leased the mortgaged premises to the defendant, who entered into possession and occupied under him. Nothing shows or tends to show that the mortgagees were in possession or did any act claiming the rents and profits till the demand in May, when the rent in controversy was paid.

The plaintiff represents the mortgagor. The mortgagor, so long as he remains in possession, or until entry by the mortgagee, may receive the rents and profits to his own use and is not liable to answer for them to the mortgagee. Boston Bank v. Reed, 8 Pick. 459. He is not even liable for those accruing between the commencement of action tp foreclose and the time of taking possession upon execution. Mayo v. Fletcher, 14 Pick. 525. The purchaser of the equity stands in the place of the mortgagor, with a right to take the rents and profits to his own use until the mortgagee shall enter or do some equivalent act. Field v. Swan, 10 Met. 112. Here no entry nor any equivalent is shown earlier than May 1, for it is absurd to suppose that the plaintiff would have given, or the defendant have taken, the lease if the mortgagees had previously entered or were in possession, when the lease was given.

The entire weight of the authorities is in favor of the plaintiff’s right to recover. Noyes v. Rich, 52 Maine, 115. Wilder v. Houghton, 1 Pick. 87. Russel v. Allen, 2 Allen, 44.

Judgment for the plaintiff.

Walton, Barrows, Danforth and Symonds, JJ., concurred. Libbey, J., did not sit.