Warren v. . Susman , 168 N.C. 457 ( 1915 )

Walker, J.,

after stating the case: The mortgagee had no power of sale as to the mules, and when the defendant seized and sold them to a third party, it amounted to a conversion and rendered them liable to the plaintiff for their real value. Otherwise if the defendant had sold them regularly under a decree of court or under some authority given to that end. Bird v. Davis, 14 N. J. Eq., 467. The jury have found that the mules did not bring á fair price at the sale made by the defendant, but, on the contrary, were worth more than twice the amount they brought at the sale. The defendant is also liable for the value of any use of the mules by it.

As to the land, defendant bought it for itself, though it acted indirectly by an agent. It is the same in equity as if it had bought in its own name. Whitehead v Helen, 76 N. C., 99. The plaintiff could elect to have tbe sale set aside and tbe property returned to tbe trust fund, or •recover of tbe defendant, wbo bad sold and bought at tbe same time, in breach of bis trust, tbe value of tbe land where tbe trustee insists on tbe validity of tbe sale and bis right to retain tbe property, and has conveyed it to a third person, whose title be also insists is unassailable; otherwise tbe trustee would be allowed to speculate upon bis trust and make an unfair profit out of it, which will not be tolerated by a court of equity. This is held to be tbe rule in Froneberger v. Lewis, 79 N. C., 426, where tbe subject is fully discussed. Huston v. Cassidy, 1 McCarter (N. J. Eq.), 320; Smith v. Drake, 23 N. J. Eq. (2 Beasley), 302. Tbe cestui que trust, in making bis election, is not required, in such circumstances, to take tbe property upon bis trustee’s terms, or at a price fixed by him;, but equity requires that if tbe trustee elects to stand upon bis right as purchaser, instead of surrendering tbe property to tbe beneficiary, be must pay tbe reasonable value of tbe land or a fair compensation for tbe breach of bis trust; and this, with greater reason, is true where the trustee has himself subsequently conveyed tbe land to a bona fide purchaser for value and without notice. Sprinkle v. Wellborn, 140 N. C., 163; Froneberger v. Lewis, supra. When Froneberger v. Lewis was before this Court tbe first time, 70 N. C., 456, tbe Court said: “It is against tbe policy of tbe law to allow an administrator to buy at bis own sale; and when be does so, those interested have their election to treat tbe sale as a nullity — in this case, to have tbe sale set aside and a new sale ordered — or to let tbe sale stand and demand a full price,” citing Ryden v. Jones, 8 N. C., 497; and tbe trustee was charged accordingly in that case, even though tbe cestui que trust was present at tbe .sale and assented to it.

This suit was beard in tbe court below upon tbe theory that tbe plaintiff bad elected to take tbe value of tbe land as compensation for tbe breach of trust by tbe trustee in buying tbe land for himself at tbe sale, and afterwards disposing of it, and it was so submitted to tbe jury without apparent objection to tbe issues. Tbe trustee, according to tbe record, is now insisting that tbe sale was valid and that be has conveyed to an innocent purchaser, Felix Lee, as be excepted to tbe court’s intimation that be was not such, and also moved to nonsuit tbe plaintiff. Tbe court expressly states that tbe plaintiff has elected to take tbe value of tbe land. Although Felix Lee was made a party, be filed no answer and no issue was submitted concerning bis rights as a bona fide purchaser for value and without notice. His Honor told tbe jury, it is true, that be would submit an issue and to answer it “No,” but it was not, in fact, submitted'and answered. Besides, as plaintiff takes tbe value of tbe land in tbe place of tbe land itself, Felix Lee cannot be prejudiced by tbe judgment, as be has a deed for the land from tbe defendant, wbo purchased it at tbe sale.

We observe that no issue wgs tendered and no request for instructions made upon the theory that defendants were entitled to have the same set aside and return the land to the plaintiff. Their whole defense proceeds upon quite a contrary basis, namely, that they have a right to hold the land against the plaintiff, having acquired it under a valid sale, and for this reason they moved for a nonsuit, which could not be based upon any other notion.

Another'exception taken by defendant was that the proceeds from the sale of the mules were not sufficient to pay the mortgage debt, and therefore it had the right to sell the land and to purchase at the sale. This proved not to be true; but even if it had been, it did not justify the defendant in buying the land at its own sale and afterwards resisting the claim of the plaintiff by denying that he had any right in or to the land, or any equity to have the sale set aside. The case of Tayloe v. Tayloe, 108 N. C., 69, where the trustee bought property at his own sale, seems to be directly in point. The court there said that the trustee had dealt with the property unlawfully and sold it for a sum of money greatly less than its value, to appellee’s injury, and having failed to dispose of it as the law directed, he was clearly liable for its value.

"We do not mean to intimate that a mortgagee may not, sometimes, buy in property at his own sale to prevent a sacrifice of it by a sale to a third party below its value, as such a course may be necessary in order to prevent a loss to himself and the mortgagor. But he must do so in good faith, and in recognition of the mortgagor’s right to avoid the sale if he elects so to do. Instead of pursuing this course, defendant company, at the very outset, denied plaintiffs’ right to anything, out and out, and prayed for judgment that they take nothing by their action, but be taxed with the costs. They seized and sold the mules unlawfully, and after becoming responsible, by reason of the conversion, for their full value, which was sufficient to pay the debt, they nevertheless sold the land under the power contained in the mortgage, bought it in for themselves, asserted their right to hold it free from any interest or claim of plaintiffs, and conveyed it to a third party, and, as they alleged and maintained in the trial below, for value and without notice, if there was any defect in its title, which was denied. There is nothing in the record by way of prayers for instructions, exceptions to issues, instructions of the court, or assignment of errors, that raises the question properly as to the defendant’s nonliability for the value of the land. The issue as to the value of the land was submitted without objection, and it was raised by the pleadings, as plaintiffs, by their amendment to the complaint, asked that the value of the land be determined and that they have judgment for it, and the injury was confined to this phase of the case without any .objection. The effect of an amendment of a complaint, as superseding the original pleadings, was stated ¿it the last term in Zagier v. Zagier, 167 N. C., 616, and in Warren v. R. R., 156 N. C., 591. It is sufficient to say, though, that the case was tried below on the issues as to the value of the property with defendant’s full acquiescence, and we hear the case here according to the theory upon which it was tried in the court below. Allen v. R. R., 119 N. C., 710; Hendon v. R. R., 127 N. C., 110; Graves v. Barrett, 126 N. C., 267; S. v. McWhirter, 141 N. C., 809. The whole theory of the defense below is wholly inconsistent with the present contention that plaintiffs should be required to take the land. It is too late to set up this claim, and it does not meet with the favor of the Court, and especially since defendant has complicated the matter by other conveyances.

It is suggested, though, with much confidence, that plaintiff made a binding and irrevocable election in the original complaint, and, therefore, the amendment, which is inconsistent with and repugnant to it, cannot be considered; but no such objection was taken to the pleading by motion to strike out, demurrer, or in any other regular way, which is necessary to raise such a question; and, too, defendant, by not objecting, consented to the amendment and agreed to the submission of the issue as to the value of the land. In Scott v. Turley, 9 Lea (Tenn.), 631, where a conclusive election or ratification was relied on at first, and an amended or supplemental bill afterwards filed, which was repugnant to it, and presented “the anomaly of antagonistic rights being prosecuted in the same suit,” the Court held (as the headnote of the case shows) that when the plaintiff “brought the agent before the court, repudiating his act and seeking to hold him individually liable for the debt, while insisting at the same time upon the relief sought in the original bill, and the agent answered to the merits, without objecting to the form of suit or setting up the defense of ratification by reason of the course pursued, the principal will be entitled to relief under the bill repudiating the act of the agent.' The amended and supplemental bill filed under such circumstances is, in substance, an original bill upon a different cause of» action, and if the defendant, without objection, goes to trial on the merits, must be treated as such.” That defendant has waived the benefit of the election by not availing itself of it by proper pleading, is also held in Davis v. Terry, 114 N. C.,. 29 ; Hawkins v. Hughes, 87 N. C., 115. A party cannot take advantage of a defense, which he has- ignored or foregone during the entire course of the trial, including the judgment. It is too late, after an adverse verdict and judgment, to take a position which is foreclosed by them, because not presented at an earlier stage of the case in the orderly course of pleading. The authorities clearly show that the objection may be waived by answering to the merits or taking issue thereon.

If there is one rule settled-by the courts, it is that a party will not be permitted to have two chances, one on a favorable verdict and another on some supposed defect or irregularity, or even a defense, preceding it. Defendant could not take a chance on a low assessment of value, and, when disappointed by the verdict, fall back upon an inconsistent position. It was also required to elect, and must abide by its choice, freely and intelligently made. Besides, the doctrine of election does not apply. It is only enforced when the facts are ascertained and known; but here, by its .answer, defendant raised an issue as to the validity of the sale, asserting strenuously that it acquired an unassailable title, and that it had conveyed a valid title to the land by its deed to a purchaser for valué and without notice. How could the plaintiff be made to elect, unless he was required to take the risk of an adverse verdict as to the latter defense? If he had chosen to take the land, and his choice was irrevocable, the jury might have found that Felix Lee was a purchaser for value and without notice, which would have deprived plaintiff of the land. The law will not subject him to this quandary and eventual loss by the happening of some event which could not be foreseen. The rule must operate fairly and equitably or not at all. The very authority relied on to fasten the election upon plaintiff so says: “If, in attempting and designing to make an election, one puts forth an act or commences an action in ignorance of substantial facts which proffer an alternate remedy, and the knowledge of which is essential to an intelligent choice of procedure, his act or action is not binding. He may, when informed, adopt a different remedy.” Enc. of PI. and Pr., p. 366. The plaintiff made his election as to the value when he discovered the tme situation, and the defense, from the answer. It may also be said that the authorities are about evenly divided in number as to whether the mere bringing of a suit is to be considered as a conclusive election, the weight of reason being against it, when no one is prejudiced by the change in the form of relief afterwards prayed, the doctrine of election being founded on the idea of an estoppel. In Trimble v. Bank, 71 Mo. App., 467, it was held that “an election is in the nature of an estoppel, and unless it is shown by the record of a final judgment or contains the elements of an estoppel in pais, owing to intervening rights, it will not conclude the party against whom it is invoked,” citing Johnson v. R. R., 120 Mo., 344, and other cases, among them Wiggins Ferry Co. v. R. R., 142 U. S., 396; Balton Mines Co. v. Stokes, 82 Ind., 50. See, also, H. B. L. R. Co. v. Corpening, 97 Ala., 681; McCoy v. Stockman, 146 Ind., 668; J. B. Com. Co. v. K. C. Cont. Bank, 116 Mo., 558; Spurr v. C. U. Assur. Co., 40 Minn., 428; Spurr v. Home Ins. Co., ibid.., 424; Norcross v. Cambridge, 166 Mass., 508; Moore v. Sanford, 151 Mass., 285; R. U. P. R. Co. v. N. Y., etc., R. Co., 95 Va., 386; N. Y. Bank v. Tyndale, 179 Mass., 390; Hagadine, etc., Co. v. Warden, 150 Mo., 578; Matter of McLaughlin, 76 N. Y. App. Div., 75. In Kehoe v. Patton, 21 R. I., 223, the Court said: “We do not think, however, that the mere bringing of the suit in equity, it not having proceeded to final decree, amounts to an election (Jenks v. Smith, 14 R. I., 634; Quidnick Co. v. Chafee, 13 R. I., 367, 369), and therefore we are of opinion that the plea is not sufficient. The defendant’s remedy is by motion to require the plaintiff to elect whether he will proceed in the suit in equity or by the present action.” Referring to an amendment inconsistent with the original bill, the Court, in McDougald v. Williford, 14 Ga., 665, said: “In courts of justice, equity, and common law, the time will come, and now is, when misplead-ing will never be allowed to prejudice any party, but every case will be ultimately tried upon its real and substantial merits.” The Court added that it does not follow, because the original and amended bills are contradictory, that the amendment will be rejected, but amendments will be liberally allowed to change the nature of the bill and rectify mistakes. Our present Code system was adopted for the very purpose here indicated, and is liberal in its allowance of amendments. Rev., secs. 507, 508, and 509. It is said to modify the doctrine of election of remedies (7 Enc. of PL and Pr., p. 368), and to require the trial of cases to proceed according to right and justice, rejecting antiquated and refined technicalities. In a case similar to- the one at bar, this Court held that •the proper course was to amend and substitute the last allegation for the first, the two remedies sought being inconsistent. Milton v. Hogue, 39 N. C., 416.

The question asked the witness, as to the controversy about the title, was not answered, and counsel did not indicate what they expected to prove or that the answer would probably be favorable to them. It, therefore, comes within the rule so often announced by this and other courts, that unless we can know certainly what is the nature of the evidence proposed to be elicited, we cannot decide as to its competency, and especially as to its relevancy. S. v. Leak, 156 N. C., 643; S. v. Lane, 166 N. C., 333, and cases cited at p. 377; In re Smith’s Will, 163 N. C., 464; Dickerson v. Dail, 159 N. C., 541; Lumber Co. v. Childerhose, 167 N. C., 34; A. L. W. Co. v. C. B. and T. Corporation, 138 Ga., 618; Wadley v. Southern Railway, 137 Ga., 497; Manning v. Webb, 72 S. E., 401; Cutchin v. City of Roanoke, 74 S. E. (Va.), 403. In Leak’s case, supra, Justice Allen says: “The exception to the refusal to permit the witness to say whether or not the defendant was considered bright or had the reputation of not having a strong mind, are without merit. There is nothing to indicate what was expected to be proved, or what answer would have been given to_the question, and so far as we can see, the witness would have answered both questions in the negative.” As far as we can see from the record, if there was any error, it was harmless. The witness, if permitted to answer the question, might have stated that there was no such controversy, or that he knew nothing about it, and it is very probable that he would have so answered.

The other exceptions are without any merit.

No error.