Merrill v. Fremont Abstract Co. , 39 Idaho 238 ( 1924 )

This action was brought by respondents to recover damages from appellant on account of its alleged negligence in the preparation of an abstract of title to certain real property whereby an instrument was omitted from the same. The amended complaint, which is unverified, alleges that on October 29, 1917, appellant made, compiled and delivered to one, J.F. Burnham, at his request, an abstract of title covering certain property in Fremont county, certified to date, and through mistake and fraud omitted therefrom a mortgage upon such property given by J.F. Burnham and wife to the Consolidated Wagon Machine Company, which on August 30, 1920, amounted to $495.15 and which was duly recorded in Fremont county on April 19, 1915. On March 4, 1918, respondents purchased the property covered by the said abstract, relying thereon. Subsequently, by warranty deed they conveyed the property to one H.E. Bowman. Thereafter and under the terms of the warranty deed to Bowman respondents were compelled to and did pay and satisfy the said mortgage. Demand was thereupon made upon appellant for reimbursement, which was refused. Whereupon this action was brought to recover from appellant the amount expended in satisfaction of the mortgage. A general and special demurrer was filed to the amended complaint but the record fails to disclose the action taken by the court thereon. To the amended complaint appellant answered denying each and every allegation contained therein. Upon the issues thus framed the cause was tried to the court sitting without a jury. No findings of fact or conclusions of law appear in the record and it will be presumed that the same were waived. Judgment was rendered in favor of respondents in the sum of $544.21, with interest and costs, from which judgment this appeal is taken.

Appellant specifies as error the action of the court in overruling its demurrer to the amended complaint. The record is silent as to the action of the court upon the demurrer. In the case of Glavin v. Salmon River Canal Co.,Ltd., ante., p. 3, 226 P. 739, this court held: "Where the record is silent as to the action of the court upon a demurrer, the demurrer will be deemed to have been waived."

To the same effect see Diamand Coal Co. v. Cook, 6 Cal. Unrep. 446, 61 P. 578; Burns v. Stolze, 111 Wash. 392,191 P. 642. It therefore follows that this assignment of error is not properly here for consideration, but since both parties, in their briefs, have treated the demurrer as though overruled, we have concluded to dispose of the question of the sufficiency of the complaint. It is the contention of appellant that the complaint fails to state a cause of action in that it affirmatively appears therefrom that the abstract of title was furnished at the request of Burnham, the original owner of the property and that the abstracter's liability, if any, for damages arising from his negligence or want of due care in making, compiling and certifying to the abstract of title is contractual and therefore binding only on the parties to the contract, that there was no privity of contract between respondents and appellant, neither can the action be converted into an action in tort since the duty to make the abstract correctly was created solely by contract and its breach is therefore merely a breach of contract. The general rule would seem to be that the liability of an abstracter in the absence of statute depends upon the privity of contract so that the abstracter furnishing an abstract to one person is not held liable to another using the same, for omissions or negligence, where the abstracter had no notice or knowledge that the abstract was for anyone other than the person ordering it. Unless, therefore, there is a statutory liability and the rule of the common law has been abrogated, respondents were without a remedy against appellant. The precise question presented by the demurrer has never been before this court so far as we are informed or have been able to ascertain from such investigation as we have been able to make.

C. S., sec. 2262, provides that:

"It shall be a misdemeanor for any person or persons to engage in the business of compiling abstracts of title to real estate, in the state of Idaho, and demand and receive pay for the same, without first filing in the office of the probate judge of the county in which such business is conducted, a bond to the state of Idaho, in the penal sum of $10,000, with not less than three sureties, residents of the county, conditioned for the payment by such abstracters of any or all damages that may accrue to any party or parties, by reason of any error, deficiency or mistake, in any abstract or certificate of title, made and issued by such person or persons."

Under the authorities the rule would seem to be that under statutes requiring abstracters to give bond for payment of any damages to any party through error made by the abstracter the latter is liable to a purchaser of the premises, the abstract of title to which is prepared by the abstracter and such abstract certified to as including all conveyances, liens, encumbrances and judgments covering the property which are of record in the county where the land is situated, without regard to who paid for the abstract or ordered it but who suffered injury by reason of the omissions, errors or mistakes made by the abstracter therein. It is well settled that an abstracter is liable for damages resulting from errors or defects in an abstract furnished by him, which are attributable to a lack of proper care or skill in the performance of his duties but he is not liable as a guarantor or insurer. (1 Corpus Juris, p. 368, sec. 11.) It will be noticed from the provisions of C. S., sec. 2262, supra, that any abstracter who demands and receives pay for an abstract shall file a bond in the sum of $10,000 with not less than three sureties conditioned for the payment by such abstractor of any or all damages that may accrue to any party or parties by reason of any error, deficiency or mistake. While it is true in the instant case that this action is not brought upon the bond required under the provisions of C. S., sec. 2262, supra, the right of recovery as against the abstracter would not be defeated by reason of the fact that it failed to give the bond. There is nothing in the record to show whether a bond was given or not. The party injured may waive his right to sue upon the bond and bring his action directly against the abstracter. His right of action upon the bond is not exclusive but cumulative. The rule stated in the case of Gate City Abstract Co. v. Post, 55 Neb. 742,76 N.W. 471, correctly states the principle of law that should be invoked under the facts of this case, to wit:

"One who purchases real estate on the faith of a certificate of title furnished to his vendor by a bonded abstracter may maintain an action for damages grounded on the failure of the abstracter to make the proper search and true certificate."

In the course of that opinion, the court, referring to one who purchases real estate on the faith of the certificate of title furnished by an abstracter, says:

"In adopting the act in question the legislative design comprehended protection to those who, in dealing with land titles, rely on the correctness of the abstracter's certificate. They stood most in need of legislation of this character, and, being fairly within the description of persons for whose benefit the law was enacted, we feel warranted in holding that they are within its terms."

In the case of Scott v. Jordan, 55 Okl. 712, 155 P. 499, the court said:

"Usually the purchaser or mortgagee relies upon the correctness of the abstract, and if he does so to his injury, the abstract company is liable to him, upon its bond, on account thereof, under said section. This statute widens the sphere of an abstracter from that of the common law, and his liability is likewise widened."

It would seem clear from a reading of C. S., sec. 2262, that it was evidently the intention of the legislature to include within its protection any person that might suffer damage by reason of the neglect or omission of the abstracter in making his abstract, and where it appears that there are errors, deficiencies or mistakes in any abstract of title, due to the carelessness or fraud of the abstracter and damages result therefrom, the person suffering such damage may recover the same from the abstracter furnishing such abstract. Appellate courts in states having similar statutory provisions to ours have so held. (Gate City Abstract Co. v. Post, supra;Goldberg v. Sisseton Loan Title Co., 24 S.D. 49, 140 Am. St. 775, 123 N.W. 266; Brown v. Sims, 22 Ind. App. 317, 72 Am. St. 308, 53 N.E. 779; Dickle v. Nashville Abstract Co., 89 Tenn. 431, 24 Am. St. 616, 14 S.W. 896.)

Appellant next assigns as error the action of the court in overruling its motion for nonsuit, which is based upon two grounds: First, that the proof wholly failed to show any liability on the part of the defendant; and second, that the action was instituted by Merrill Isenberg, a copartnership, and that the payment herein sued for was upon a guaranty contained in a deed given by the individual members of the partnership and their respective wives, and that the partnership was not liable under such guaranty and that it had no standing in court. As to the first ground, the same is too general inasmuch as the particular failure of proof is not set out in the motion:

"A motion for a nonsuit should be specific, and a motion stating that the evidence fails to show negligence or carelessness is too general to be considered." (Barlow v. SaltLake U. R. Co., 57 Utah, 312, 194 P. 665.)

"Motion for nonsuit, if in general terms, failing to specify any particular defect in the evidence, should be disregarded." (In re Soale, 31 Cal. App. 144, 159 P. 1065.)

"A motion for nonsuit on the ground 'that plaintiff has wholly failed to prove his case' is insufficient, as it does not call attention to the particular matters relied on." (Security Inv. Co. of San Bernardino v. Bartram, 54 Cal. App. 540,202 P. 337.)

To the same effect, see White v. Rio Grande W. Ry. Co.,22 Utah, 138, 61 P. 568; Lewis v. Silver King. Min. Co.,22 Utah, 51, 61 P. 860.

There is no merit in the second ground of the motion for the reason that at most it is but an immaterial variance between the allegations of the complaint and the proof offered in support thereof and does not constitute reversible error and appellant was not prejudiced in making its defense. C. S., sec. 6722, provides that:

"No variance between the allegation in a pleading and the proof is to be deemed material unless it has actually misled the adverse party to his prejudice in maintaining his action or defense upon the merits."

Appellant's last assignment of error specifies the insufficiency of the evidence to sustain the judgment but fails to set forth the particulars in which it is insufficient. This court has held on numerous occasions, without seeming effect, that an assignment of insufficiency of the evidence to support the judgment will only be considered provided a specification of the particulars in which the evidence is insufficient to sustain the judgment is made in appellant's brief filed with the supreme court. (C. S., sec. 6886; McDonald v. North RiverIns. Co., 36 Idaho 638, 213 P. 349; State v. Maguire, 31 Idaho 24,169 P. 175; Hurt v. Monumental Mercury Min. Co., 35 Idaho 295,206 P. 184; Citizens' Right of Way Co., Ltd., v. Ayers,32 Idaho 206, 179 P. 954; Weber v. Pend D'Oreille Mining Reduction Co., 35 Idaho 1, 203 P. 891.)

The judgment of the lower court should be affirmed, and it is so ordered. Costs are awarded to respondent.

McCarthy, C.J., and William A. Lee, J., concur.