Case ID: nj-eq_52/html/0288-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Reed, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Lena Harms, appellant, v. Thomas R. Hughes, respondent.
    Tlie sum to be paid by a mortgagee seeking to redeem a tax title is fixed! by the charter of the Town of Union- (P. L. of 1864 p■ 568), and where a decree was made fixing the sum upon a different basis, upon an appeal taken by the holder of the tax title, no appeal having been taken by the mortgagee, it appearing that the sum allowed was at least as much as would have been-allowed if the charter provision for compensation had been adopted — Held, that there appears no ground for reversal. •
    
      On appeal from a decree advised by Vice-Chancellor Pitney in Hughes v. Harms.
    
    
      ' Messrs. Collins & Corbin, for the appellant.
    
      Messrs. Randolph, Condiet & Black, for the respondent.
   The opinion of the court was delivered by

Reed, J.

The bill was filed by a mortgagee to redeem the mortgaged premises from a tax title held by Lena Harms by assignment from the Town of Union.

A decree was made fixing the amount of money which the mortgagee was to pay to the assignee of the tax title upon such redemption.

The appeal is taken by Lena Harms for the reason that, in fixing the amount of her compensation, she has been improperly charged with rent while she was in possession under the tax title, and that she has not been allowed a sufficient sum for improvements put upon the property.

The grounds of appeal display the considerations which underlie the method of ascertaining compensation adopted in the court of chancery.

The charter of the Town of Union (P. L. of 1864 p. 568),. however, fixes the terms upon which a redemption of titles, purchased at tax sales made by the municipality, can be obtained. The condition imposed is the repayment of the purchase-money paid, together with any other sum paid for tax or assessment, with fifteen per cent, interest.

This express provision seems to exclude all consideration of the matter of rents or improvements in arriving at the amount of money which the mortgagee is to pay.

The mortgagee, however, has taken no appeal from the decree, so he is not in a position to complain.

The appeal is taken by the owner of the tax title, and is grounded upon the insistence that she has not been allowed as much as she should have been allowed under the rule for ascertaining such amount which was adopted. But it appears that she was allowed at least as much as she would have been permitted to receive under the statutory rule of compensation. She, therefore, has no ground of complaint.

Decree affirmed.

For affirmance — The Chief-Justice, Abbett, Depue, Dixon, Garrison, Lippincott, Magie, Reed, Van Syckel, Bogert, Brown, Smith — 12.

For reversal — None.