Burford v. Steele , 80 Ala. 147 ( 1885 )

CLOPTON, J.

The general rule relating to multifariousness, forbids that several and distinct matters, wholly unconnected, or that defendants against whom the complainant asserts separate demands, the case of each defendant being entirely distinct in its subject-matter from that of -his co-defendants, shall be joined in the same bill. The application of the general rule to a particular bill must be regulated in exercising a discretion necessarily allowed to the courts, by the purposes, — to avoid a multiplicity of suits on the one hand, and involving a party in oppressive and expensive litigation, in which he has no interest, on the other. The complainant, having obtained a decree against his guardian on a settlement of his accounts, brings the bill to recover the amount of the decree from the sureties on his official bond. The decree was rendered March 13, 1884. On the next day, McDowell, one of the sureties, executed to Pritchett a mortgage on all his real estate to secure a recited debt of $7,000.00; and on the succeeding day, he executed another mortgage on the same real estate to his wife to secure a recited debt of $6,674.28. Both mortgages are assailed as fraudulent, and the mortgagor, and both mortgagees are made defendants. To join as defendants, in bills of this character, persons claiming different portions of the debtor’s property under- separate conveyances, is a common practice, sanctioned by the courts in the interest of convenience, and of doing complete justice. A bill by a creditor, to vacate and set aside several conveyances as fraudulent, was held not to be multifarious, though the conveyances were to different parts of the debtor’s property, executed to different persons and at different times. — Russell v. Garrett, 75 Ala. 348; Lehman v. Meyer, 67 Ala. 396. Also, where lands were sold in different lots under a decree of the Probate Court, and purchased by different persons, it was held, that all the purchasers may be made defendants to a bill, seeking to declare a trust in the entire lands. — Holt v. Wilson, 75 Ala. 58. The bill has a single purpose — the satisfaction of the decree from the property of the sureties. The equitable right of action arises from the necessity to the consummation of this purpose, of setting aside the mortgages, and removing them as a cloud on the title, and an obstruction to an adequate sale of the lands. If the titles of the mortgagees be regarded as separate, they only constitute separate interests in the questions growing out of the subject-matter of the suit, and single object of the bill. In such case, the complainant will not be compelled to resort to two suits to determine his right to have the property sold, unincumbered by either or both mortgages, in satisfaction of his decree.

It is further contended, that the bill is multifarious, for the reason that the administratrix of Burford, one of the sureties, is joined as a defendant with the other surety and his mortgagees. The suit, is brought to enforce a joint and several liability. The sureties have a community of interest in the subject-matter of the suit. Each is interested in defeating the claims of complainant, and if unable to defeat it, in the other surety being required to pay his proportion of the liability, thus saving the trouble and expense of a new suit for contribution. If it be conceded, that the demand against the estate of the deceased surety is a legal demand, his personal representative is a proper party to a suit in equity on the bond, and the court having rightfully obtained jurisdiction, founded on an equitable right of action against tbe other surety, will proceed and determine the rights, equities and liabilities of all the parties connected with the joint claim asserted by complaiuant. Under snch circumstances, the case of either defendant is not entirely separate and independent of that of the other defendants in respect to the subject-matter.

The statutory requirement, that claims against the estate of a deceased person must be presented within eighteen months after the same have accrued, or after the grant of letters of administration, does not apply to minors, who are allowed eighteen months after the removal of the disability to present the claim. Code, § 2598. The fact that the minor has a .guardian does not exclude the claim from the benefit of the exception. Moore v. Wallis, 18 Ala. 458. The exception would be nugatory in many cases, if the failure of a guardian to present a claim, arising from his devastavit, against the estate of a deceased surety on his official bond, operated to bar the claim. The claim was presented in less than eighteen months after complainant attained his majority.

The bill alleges, substantially, that McDowell did not and does not owe the mortgagees,, as recited in their respective mortgages; that they were made for the purpose of hindering, delaying or defrauding complainant, and to screen and protect the mortgagor from the payment of the decree; and that all the parties “ were each and all alike cognizant of all the facts, and the true situation in the premises” when the mortgages were made. It may bo that the facts, out of which the conclusion of fraud is supposed to arise, might have been more directly and fully alleged. But the allegations are sufficient to notify the defendants, that the Iona fides of the indebtedness is assailed, and to put in issue the validity of the mortgages. While the general charge of fraud is insufficient, the rule of certainty in pleadings in equity does not require that the facts and circumstances shall be minutely alleged. ' General averments of facts, from which, unexplained, a conclusion of fraud arises, are sufficient. — Pickett v Pipkin, 64 Ala. 520.

While the bill states the facts relating to the note made by the deceased surety, payable to the guardian, and its presentment against his estate, complainant asserts no claim to the note and asks no relief respecting it. — Juzan v. Toulmin, 9 Ala. 662.

Affirmed.