Potter v. Martin , 122 Mich. 542 ( 1899 )

Hooker, J.

This is a bill to quiet title to land. The parties complainant and defendant derive title to the locus in quo from a common source, viz., Benjamin C. Hoyt, complainant’s father. The defendants’ title is prior in point of time, being derived through an assignee in bankruptcy, under federal law, by deed dated January 10, 1881. The complainant’s title consists of a quitclaim deed from her father, dated April 16, 1891; and this deed undoubtedly conveyed to her whatever interest he had at that time, and no more. Her right to relief must therefore depend on — First, proof of her possession when the bill was filed; second, the invalidity of the defendants’ alleged title. The learned circuit judge who heard the case decided against her upon both points. In the matter of possession, we think that she has failed to show the requisite occupancy. The defendants fenced the lot, and used it for such purposes as vacant lots are used for several years. She sought to show an interruption of this, and that she took and retained possession for a time before filing her bill. "We are of the opinion that her acts amounted to no more than a trespass, and that she cannot be said to have been in possession.

Benjamin C. Hoyt and his son were made defendants in bankruptcy proceedings upon .the application of one Whittlesey, a creditor, filed October 10, 1873. Benjamin O. Hoyt, the survivor, was duly adjudicated bankrupt on June 1, 1874, and this was recognized by the Supreme Court of the United States in Chapman v. Brewer, 114 U. S. 158. The land in controversy was deeded to the defendants’ grantor by the assignee under an order of the court. Three points are made against the validity of this deed:

1. That the assignee did not acquire title, for the reason that, before the court acquired jurisdiction of the lands, Hoyt deeded them to one Collins.

2. That the sale and deed were made by the assignee some six years after the order of sale.

3. That the sale was never confirmed.

We will examine these claims in their order.

Hoyt and his son were in partnership, and, finding themselves in failing circumstances, had negotiations with some of their creditors, with a view to avoiding proceedings in a court of bankruptcy. Whittlesey, one of their creditors, appears to have preferred judicial proceedings; for on October 10,1873, he filed his petition in bankruptcy in the district court at Grand Rapids. Subsequently, and on January 20, 1874, Hoyt deeded the land to Collins in trust, to be applied to the payment of debts in conformity to the mode pointed out by the federal bankruptcy law. Soon after, and on January 29, 1874, another creditor, Moynahan, filed another petition in bankruptcy. Exceptions were filed on behalf of Hoyt & Son to the Whittlesey petition. The date that these were filed does not appear, but it does appear that on February 24, 1874, it was adjudicated that the exceptions were well taken, and 15 days were given to the petitioner within which to amend the petition; and it was further ordered that whereas Hannah Moynahan had filed a further petition of like character, to which the respondents had appeared and filed denial, and demanded trial by jury, the case should be adjourned into term for hearing. March 5, 1874, Whittlesey filed an amended petition. June 1, 1874, Enoch C. Hoyt, the son and partner, having died, and his death having been suggested upon the record, Benjamin C. Hoyt withdrew his denial, and there was an adjudication in bankruptcy against him, and a reference to the register in bankruptcy. October 1, 1874, the register made the ordinary general assignment to Brewer, the assignee. November 4, 1874, the court made an order of sale. December 5, 1874, Brewer filed an inventory; and on December 10, 1878, a nunc pro tunc order was made, by consent, that the record, which showed that the adjudication was upon the petition of Moynahan, should be changed and made to “ appear, as was the fact, that it was upon the petition of Whittlesey. December 31,1880, Collins made an ordinary quitclaim deed to Brewer, as assignee in bankruptcy, of the property which had been deeded to him in trust. January 5, 1881, Brewer, claiming to act under the order of sale, .sold at public sale, and on January 10th deeded to John Martin, the land in controversy in this suit, and the deed was recorded on January 18,1881. Brewer died in March, 1889.

April 16, 1891, the quitclaim deed was made to complainant. December 18, 1891, Benjamin C. Hoyt filed a petition alleging the previous existence of the partnership; its embarrassment; a meeting of creditors, at which nearly all signed releases, agreeing to make their claims under the deed to Collins, to avoid the loss by bankruptcy proceedings ; the giving of such deed; Whittlesey’s petition, erroneously alleged to have been filed after the Collins deed was made, and the allegation that said petition was void on its face; the removal of Benjamin C. Hoyt to Mississippi in the belief that Collins would be faithful to his trust; that in June, 1889, petitioner returned to Michigan, and had investigated the manner, extent, and result of the disposal of his estate, and that it appeared to- have been sold by Brewer as assignee, and that he executed •and delivered deeds that purport to convey only such title as petitioner had at the time of the assignment in bankruptcy, and that Collins still held title until after said sales and deeds were made, when he conveyed by quitclaim to the assignee; that the Collins deed was considered an- outstanding title by the purchasers, who were some of petitioner’s creditors. It prayed a review of the proceedings, and, in short, such relief as the inquiry might show petitioner entitled to, if it should appear that the petitioner’s estate was under the jurisdiction and control of the court.

On December 15, 1893, John F. Gard was appointed assignee in place of Brewer, deceased. March 12, 1895, an order was filed reciting a petition filed by Gard, assignee in bankruptcy, praying a confirmation of the sales by Brewer, an answer filed by Hoyt, and a replication, and directing proofs to be taken. On March 29, 1898, the clerk of said court, by a certificate, showed that the proceedings were still pending, and said order to take proofs was the last proceeding therein

The first question seems to be answered by the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case cited, which held that “the assignment, when made, related back to October 10, 1873, and vested title in the assignee as of that date,” and “that the adjudication was regular and valid, and refers to and was made on the first petition as amended by the second, and on a proceeding commenced when the first petition was filed.” This decision was upon a bill filed by the assignee against execution creditors, who attached the property before anything was done upon the first Whittlesey petition. The proceedings show that the Whittlesey petition first filed was not treated as void; being amended by leave of court, and made the foundation of the proceedings. Hoyt withdrew his denial, and Collins deeded to the assignee,— an unnecessary act, as the deed to him 'could not stand against the assignee.

We see no reason for saying that the sale by the assignee was invalid because not made at once after the order was made. As late as 1885 the proceedings were treated as valid by the appellate court, and in 1895 an application to confirm was filed, and order of bearing made. No authorities are cited in support of the proposition that mere inaction ousts such a court of its jurisdiction.

The learned circuit judge who heard this cause was of the opinion that no order of confirmation was essential. The case of In re O’Fallon, 2 Dill. 548, is cited as indicative of the existence of the practice of confirming such sales, but it is not clear that the case goes further than to vindicate the power of the court to order a resale for inadequacy of price. Section 4 of the bankruptcy act (18 U. S. Stat. at Large, chap. 390) provides that the court, on application of any party in interest, shall have complete supervisory power over such sales, including the power to set aside the same and to order a resale, etc. This would seem to imply that the sale should stand unless some interested party should move to vacate it. This may have been the practice followed in the O’Fallon Case, as it certainly was in the case of In re Troy Woolen Co., 8 Blatchf. 465. In Re Alden, 16 N. B. B. 39, the question was raised, and the court held that confirmation would not be made, but the purchaser would be left to establish his title when occasion should arise; citing Donnel’s Case, Fed. Cas. No. 3986a. We incline to the view taken by the circuit judge. But, as the record shows that the proceedings are yet pending upon a petition for confirmation, the complainant has no right to assert her title against that of the assignee or his grantee. If the deed did not vest the purchaser with title, the property is still in the control of the federal court. Oliver v. Sanborn, 60 Mich. 356.

If it could be held that the federal court has no longer jurisdiction, another answer to the complainant would he found in defendants’ possession, which, under subdivision 1, § 8698, 3 How. Stat., bars a right of entry, after the lapse of five years, against one occupying under a deed from a ministerial officer of a court of competent jurisdiction within this State. The district court of the United States for the Western district of Michigan is such a court, and an assignee in bankruptcy is such an officer. It is said that the answer does not raise this question. It is true that it does not in terms plead the particular statute, but that is unnecessary. The answer alleges facts which sustain its claim of possession.

The decree is affirmed, with costs.

The other Justices concurred.