63 Mich. 215 | Mich. | 1886
In the fall of 1883 the original bill in this ■ease was filed against Black and wife as mortgagors, and Ball and Watters as subsequent purchasers. A decree of foreclosure was made, which not only ordered a sale of the
“ Grand Rapids, Oct. 25, 1882.
“Wesley Vaughan, Esq. — Sir: Yours of the twenty-fourth at. hand, and we would say that as soon as possible, which wilL be inside of two weeks, one of us will be in your place, and pay you the interest on your mortgage. Would be there' sooner if we could get away. We don’t want the mortgage foreclosed, but will take care of it.
“Respectfully yours, etc.,
“Ball & Watters.”
The note secured by the mortgage was for 8500, with interest at 10 per cent., payable October 6, 1882, “with the' privilege of extending the time of payment of said principal to October 6, 1884; interest payable annually, at JO percent., according to a mortgage bearing even date.” Under the mortgage the right to make the principal as well as-interest payable could only have been after thirty days’ default, which had not expired when this letter was written.
A subpoena was served, of which the underwriting left in blank the names of the defendants against whom a personal decree was to be sought, and containing the usual conclusion applicable where no such decree is sought, — “and the bill is filed to reach interests in property, and not to obtain further relief against the remainder of the defendants.”
When the decree was obtained it was on default, and the-proof of service went no further than the original subpcena.. It makes no reference to the underwriting as being served,, and the petition for a rehearing shows that the underwriting upon the copy bore no signature. This might have been important, if the case were not otherwise defective.
A sale was made, resulting in a deficiency. In January, 1885, a hearing was had on a petition for execution for
It is objected, as a preliminary objection, that this application is too late. As the rule leaves this matter open to discretion, we do not think the objection should prevail where gross injustice would follow.
So far as any personal decree is concerned, it cannot be regarded as operative effectively until the order of January 19, 1885, and the application was strictly within the rule.
Had the service of subpoena been such as to notify Ball and Watters that a personal decree would be sought against them, we have no doubt that the bill made out no cause of action. Under the statute, and the decisions under it,
The 'letter above quoted is not shown by the bill to have been accepted by any notice, and, if it had been, it contains no promise to pay the mortgage debt at all, unless possibly the interest. Under the note and mortgage a payment of interest at that time would extend the principal' two years. That interest is not included in the deficiency, and its amount would have been trifling. Upon the facts now developed, it appears plainly that Watters never authorized any obligation, and had no title in the land, and that the deed of the land to Ball did not obligate him to pay the mortgage.
But the failure to serve a proper underwriting left the defendants to understand that no personal decree would be sought against them, and that they need not defend unless they desired to save the land. The object of the present rule changing the form of subpoena was to prevent the necessity of defendants looking into the 'record (.which would usually involve the employment of counsel), unless notified that specific relief would be sought against them. Parties complaining must see to it that defendants are not misled, and must be responsible for the correctness of their process.
As the petition filed was broad enough to call for the immediate rescission of the order for execution, and as it is impossible on any ground to sustain it, the' court should have set it aside; and as we on appeal may do the same thing, we shall, in reversing the order of the circuit court refusing the prayer of the petition, at the same time vacate
As tbe original decree cannot, of itself, furnish any personal relief against the present petitioners, no review is necessary to protect them. They will recover costs below and here, of the present proceedings, including the petition for execution, and proceedings thereon. The execution will be set aside, also, as a necessary consequence.
Chancery rule 101 provides that no bill of review shall be filed, either on the discovery of new matter, or otherwise, without special leave of the court first obtained, nor unless the same is brought within the time allowed for an appeal, except upon newly-discovered facts or evidence, unless upon reasons satisfactory to the court.
See Shelden v. Warner Estate, 59 Mich. 444-5.
See chancery rule 122.
A pro confesso decree made for leant of the defendant’s appearance may be vacated by the court after enrollment, upon petition or motion; but the rule is otherwise where an appearance has been entered. In such case a re-examination of the case can be had only on bill of review. Low v. Mills, 61 Mich. 35 (head-note 2).