Richards v. Pierce , 52 Me. 560 ( 1864 )

The opinion of the Court was drawn by

Davis, J.

The premises in controversy were mortgaged by Stephen M. Richards, one of the defendants, to James H. Baker, August 30, 1850, to secure the sum of six hundred dollars, ($600.) April 25, 1859, this mortgage was assigned by Baker to Pierce, the other defendant. But, before that time, Eeb. 5, 1858, the plaintiff had recovered a judgment against the mortgager, and had caused his right of redemption to be sold upon the execution. This right was purchased by Elias Lunt, who transferred it to the plaintiff; and he, thereupon, tendered the amount supposed to be due, and commenced this suit to redeem the pi’emises from the mortgage.

The money tendered has not been brought into Court. Whether the same rule applies to cases in which the plaintiff must make a tender before commencing a suit, as to those cases in which the defendant makes a tender in a suit already commenced, may be doubtful. But it will not be necessary for us to express any opinion in regard to the sufficiency of the tender in this respect.

For the plaintiff alleges in his bill that the defendant Richards, March 20, 1855, gave to Pierce, the other defendant, another mortgage, to secure a pretended claim of twenty-three hundred dollars, ($2300;) that Pierce had no such claim; and that the mortgage, so given, was designed to defraud the creditors of said Richards, of whom the plaintiff was one. And the prayer of this part of the bill is, that that mortgage be declared void, and that Pierce be required to cancel and discharge it.

Both of the defendants have demurred to the bill, on the ground that it is multifarious, and that there is a misjoinder of parties.

When a bill contains a joint claim against several defendants, and also a separate and distinct claim against one of the defendants only, it is multifarious, and will be dismissed on demurrer. Boyd v. Hoyt, 5 Paige, 65; Swift v. Eckford, 6 Paige, 22. But, if either of the claims, upon its own allegations, is insufficient to entitle the plaintiff to relief, then, upon demurrer, there being but one sufficient claim, that will not fail because another, which is insufficient, is joined with it. Pleasants v. Glasscock, 1 Sm. & Marsh., 17. And one claim, for one and the same subject matter, may be made against several parties, though their interests are distinct and different. Bugbee v. Sargent, 23 Maine, 269; Fellows v. Fellows, 4 Cow., 682.

In the case at bar, the plaintiff seeks to have the second mortgage cancelled, on the ground that, as to him, it is fraudulent and void. If the first mortgage had been paid and discharged, he might contest the validity of the second in an action at law. But until then, his only remedy is in equity. And his suit is well brought against both of the parties to the alleged fraud.

He also seeks, in the same bill, to redeem the premises from the first mortgage. Such distinct claims may be joined, if the parties interested are all the same. Has the defendant Richards any interest in this claim to redeem, so that he was properly made a party ?

If the plaintiff’s claim is good, then he holds the entire right of redemption, and the defendant Eichards has no interest whatever in the premises. But if he had not been made a party, he would not have been concluded by a decree for redemption. As it is, notwithstanding his demurrer, he denies in argument the plaintiff’s title to the equity, under the officer’s sale of it. It is often the case, in equity, that one is made a party defendant, .with good reason, simply for the purpose of barring any subsequent claim of title. Where one claims under an officer’s sale, in invitum, though not bound to do it, he is certainly justified, in asserting his right against other persons, in making the execution debtor a party. If, in his answer, he disclaims all right and interest, and he has made no such claim since the sale, then, while he is bound by the decree against the others, he will be entitled to a decree in his favor for costs. But the bill will not be dismissed for the reason that he is a party; nor will it be held multifarious if there is another claim in which he admits that he has an interest with the other defendants. The defendant Eichards was properly made' a party to the bill, in both of the claims embraced in it.

Eichards has made no answer to the bill. But Pierce has answered; and the case is presented upon the testimony.

Both of the defendants testify that the amount purporting to be secured by the second mortgage was actually due to Pierce when it was given. This, with the explanation of the items, is the substance of the evidence on one side.

On the other side there is testimony that Pierce had declared that the amount was not due. And it appears that Eichards, the other defendant, subsequently used the mortgage for his own benefit, with the assignment of Pierce for that purpose. These facts throw some doubt upon the good faith of the transaction. But the burden of proof is upon the plaintiff; and we cannot say that the evidence is sufficient to overcome the testimony of the defendants. The circumstances lead us to suspect fraud; but, aside from the declarations of Pierce, they are not necessarily inconsistent with good faith. And the evidence of declarations is too uncertain in its nature to be entirely satisfactory. We must therefore dismiss the bill, with single costs for the defendants.

Appleton, C. J., Cutting, Walton, Dickerson and Barrows, JJ., concurred.