Womach v. Harding

The complaint in this action states that the American State Bank had legal title deducible from the United States of the real estate involved, and by good and sufficient deed, in June, 1922, conveyed all its right, title and interest to appellants; that respondents claimed some right, title, estate, lien or interest in and to the premises which is unknown to appellants, and prayed that respondents be required to set forth their claim.

The real estate is the same as that involved in a former case before us, Womach v. Harding, 129 Wn. 247, 224 P. 384. In that case it was found by the lower court, and affirmed by this court, that appellant was not an innocent purchaser in good faith and for value. There are no differential facts in this case which would distinguish this case from that on that question.

Counsel for appellants, in his opening statement, stated to the trial court that this action is a suit under § 809 of the code [P.C. § 7534]. Later he contended that it was a suit under the statute; the only other statute to which it might be referable being § 785, Rem. Comp. Stat. [P.C. § 7517].

Section 809, Rem. Comp. Stat., supra, authorizes an action on behalf of any person in possession by himself or his tenant of any real property against any person or persons claiming any interest in the real property, or any part thereof, or any right thereto adverse to him, them or it, for the purpose of determining such claim, estate or interest.

There was no showing on the part of appellants that they were in possession of the real estate involved, either by themselves or by tenants. They did attempt to show that their grantor, the American State Bank, had given a lease to one Sullivan.

We agree with the trial court that the Sullivan pretended lease was a nullity, for the reason that the American State Bank, grantor of appellants, had no legal title to the real estate involved. At most, all they had was a mortgage interest in the real estate, and a mortgagee is not a landlord and cannot give a lease.

Section 785, Rem. Comp. Stat., provides that "any person having a valid subsisting interest in real property, and a right to the possession thereof, may recover the same by action in the superior court of the proper county, to be brought against the tenant in possession; if there is no such tenant, then against the person claiming the title or some interest therein, and may have a judgment in such action quieting or removing a cloud from plaintiff's title; . . ."

This section is of no assistance to appellants, as it has been held that they had no valid subsisting interest in the real property, nor, as a necessary corollary, the right of possession thereof as against respondents. Womach v. Harding, supra.

Appellants contend that, even if not entitled to maintain an action under the foregoing section, they are entitled to foreclose the deed given by respondents' decedent to the American State Bank as a mortgage, although the bank had twice instituted action to foreclose the deed as a mortgage, and both times voluntarily abandoned and nonsuited its action, and although there was no pleading on their part whatever praying for the foreclosure of the deed as a mortgage.

Appellants contend, and cite decisions of this court to the effect, that the form of the action is immaterial if the facts entitle the plaintiff to any relief; that there is but one form of action and that the manner or form of alleging, or of the prayer of the complaint, is without weight; citing Meeker v. Gilbert, 3 Wn. Terr. 369, 19 P. 18; Watson v. Glover, 21 Wn. 677, 59 P. 516; Dunlap v.Rauch, 24 Wn. 620, 64 P. 807; Browder v. Phinney, 30 Wn. 74,70 P. 264.

There is no decision that we know of, under our code or any other code of civil procedure, that allows one to bring an action to quiet title, or in ejectment, and obtain the relief by foreclosure of a mortgage.

Another statute, § 804, Rem. Comp. Stat. [P.C. § 7530], governs this situation, which reads:

"A mortgage of real property shall not be deemed a conveyance so as to enable the owner of the mortgage to recover possession of the real property, without the foreclosure and sale according to law."

Other sections (§ 1116 et seq., Rem. Comp. Stat.) [P.C. § 8201 et seq.], provide the procedure for foreclosure and selling of mortgaged property. See Fields v. Cobbey, 22 Utah 415,62 P. 1020; Chase v. Cameron, 133 Cal. 231, 65 P. 460.

The case was properly disposed of by the trial court, and the judgment is affirmed.

MAIN, C.J., MACKINTOSH, FULLERTON, and MITCHELL, JJ., concur.