Provost v. Rebman

21 Iowa 419 | Iowa | 1866

Cole, J.

„ 1, Mortgage: mistake0/1 01 redemption. This action is, brought by the plaintiff to correct a mistake in the mortgage made by the defendant to him, and to perfect his title to the mortgaged property. So far as the fact of mistake -g concerne(]j the defendant admits it, and by his answer, which is made a cross petition, asks to have the mortgage reformed or corrected. There can, then, be no doubt or controversy as to the right of the plaintiff to have the mortgage reformed by correcting the mistake in the description of the mortgaged property, as claimed by the plaintiff and admitted by the defendant.

The next question is as to the right of the plaintiff to have the title perfected in him, to the property described in the mortgage as corrected. This right is controverted by the defendant on the ground that the mortgage as corrected has not been foreclosed, and hence there is in him, as the mortgagor, a right of redemption, which has not been barred or cut off.

If the rights of the parties rested alone on the decree of foreclosure, it' might be conceded that the defendant’s right of redemption, by reason of reforming the mortgage, should still exist. Hollster v. Dillon et al., 4 Ohio State, 197; Davenport v. Sovil, 6 Id., 459; Blodgett v. Hobart et al., 18 Vt., 414; Calkins v. Calkins, 3 Barb. S. C., 306; Calkins v. Isbell, 20 N. Y., 148. And this right of redemption might arise and exist on the ground that by reforming the mortgage so as to make it include property not before described in it, is, in effect, creating a mortgage as to such property at least; and to hold that the prior decree of foreclosure barred the right of redemption, would be to create a mprtgage and cut of the equity of redemption at a single stroke. This a court of equity would not do.

But in this case the proof is quite satisfactory that the decree of foreclosure was entered upon the agreement of the parties, and with a stipulation giving to the defendant three years’ stay of execution ; and that shortly thereafter .it was agreed between the parties thereto that the plaintiff should take the property in satisfaction of his debt, interest and costs ; and that to perfect the title in him it should be sold under the decree. The defendant waived the stay, an execution was issue?! and the property was sold to the plaintiff thereunder at the ampunt agreed, and the defendant surrendered possession to' the plaintiff accordingly.

This transfer to and perfection of the legal title in the plaintiff, was accomplished pursuant to the coutract and agreement of the parties, although the instrumentalities of the execution, levy and sale were resorted to as the means whereby to effectuate that agreement, and it will be borne in mind also, that according to the admission of the pleadings, both parties supposed all the time that they were contracting about, and that the mortgage included ■the property specified in it as it is sought to. be reformed.

If the defendant had conveyed the property to the plaintiff by deed, but had therein made the same mistake as in the mortgage, no one could question the right of the plaintiff to have the same corrected. So, also, if the title had been held by a trustee, who had, with like mistake, conveyed on direction from the defendant. The fact that the defendant used the officers and process of the law to attain the same result, does not affect the rights of the parties or change their liabilities. It follows, therefore, that the plaintiff has the right to have -the'title to the mortgaged property, as reformed, perfected in him.

.The judgment of the District .Court, on the appeal of the plaintiff is reversed, on the appeal of defendant Rebinan,-is affirmed without prejudice,*as to the rights of defendant Bradley in any regard.

Reversed.