Case ID: neb_54/html/0472-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Sullivan, J.'", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Locke, Huleatt & Company v. George W. Shreck et al.
    Filed April 8, 1898.
    No. 7995.
    1. Attachment: Sale of Mortgaged Chattels. Where a subsequent mortgagee is without actual possession of the mortgaged property or the right of immediate possession, an officer, under writs of attachment, may lawfully seize the property and by a sale in gross dispose of the mortgagor’s reversionary interest therein.
    2. Conversion: Possession. To maintain an action for conversion of chattels a'par ty must have actual possession of the property or the right of immediate, possession.
    3. Chattel Mortgages: Rights of Mortgagee. A subsequent mortgagee has an interest in the mortgaged property which the law will protect in an appropriate action.
    4. Conversion: Liability of Sheriff. An officer who seizes mortgaged chattels on mesne or final process against the mortgagor is not liable in an action by .the mortgagee if he does nothing to place the property beyond the reach of the mortgagee or to prevent him from taking possession of it when his right of possession accrues.
    5. Instructions: Harmless Error. Where the verdict returned by the jury is the only one authorized by the pleadings and proof, the giving of an erroneous instruction is not prejudicial error.
    Error from the district court of York county. Tried below before Bates, J.
    
      Affirmed.
    
    
      George B. France, for plaintiffs in error.
    
      F. G. Power, contra. .
    
   Sullivan, J.'

On December 26, 1891, Morris Alexander, being the owner, and in possession, of a stock of general merchandise in the city of York, mortgaged the same to J. Rosenbaum to secure an indebtedness of $1,347. The mortgagee took immediate possession. Three days later a second mortgage covering the same property was executed by Alexander to the-plaintiffs, Locke, Huleatt & Co., to secure the sum of $416.81 due for merchandise previously purchased of them. Both mortgages were duly filed in the proper office and their validity appears oh the record unquestioned. Afterwards, D. B. Fisk & Co., a corporation, commenced two actions against Alexander in the district court of York county and caused wilts of attachment to be issued therein. These wilts were placed in the hands'of the defendant George W. Shreek, as sheriff, and acting under their authority he seized and took into his possession the whole of the mortgaged property. Thereupon a verified schedule of Alexander’^ entire personal estate was presented to Shreek and a demand made upon him to cause the same to be appraised in accordance with the provisions of section 522 of the Code of Civil Procedure. In obedience to this demand, freeholders were called, an appraisement made, and $500 worth of mortgaged merchandise turned over to Alexander as exempt, he being a resident of the state, the head of a family, and having neither lands, town lots, nor houses exempt as a homestead. Before this was done, however, the plaintiffs were notified by the sheriff that the exempt property was about to be surrendered, and that they might, if they wished to do so, take it from Alexander by virtue of their mortgage; but no action Avas taken by them and the property was removed out of the state. This suit was brought by the plaintiffs to recover damages for the conversion of the stock of goods. The Awrdict and judgment were in favor of the defendants and the plaintiffs prosecute error here.

Among other alleged errors they complain of the giving of the seventh instruction, which is as follows: “One who is not a general owner of personal property, but claims to own an especial interest therein, cannot maintain an action for the conversion of the property, unless he was in the actual possession of the property at the time of the conversion. Therefore in this action, although you should find that the plaintiff had a valid chattel mortgage on the property in question, still, unless you.further find that the plaintiff, by himself or his agent, had the actual possession of the property at the time of the levy by the sheriff, you must find for the defendants.” Considered as an abstract legal proposition the instruction is incorrect; but, in view of the conclusively established facts of this case, it did not prejudice plaintiffs’ rights. Plaintiffs were subsequent mortgagees without actual possession or right of immediate possession when the writs of attachment were levied. No condition of their mortgage had been broken. The sheriff might, therefore, lawfully seize the property and by a sale fn gross dispose of Alexander’s reversionary interest therein. (Burnham v. Doolittle, 14 Neb. 214; Chicago Lumber Co. v. Fisher, 18 Neb. 334.) A sale of mortgaged chattels in bulk to a single purchaser and subject to existing mortgage liens is lawful whether made by the mortgagor himself or by the sheriff or other officer on execution against him. If nothing is done to place the property beyond reach of the mortgagee to prevent him from taking possession of it Avhen his right of possession accrues, he is not injured and has no just cause of complaint. (Burnham v. Doolittle, 14 Neb. 214; Chicago Lumber Co. v. Fisher, 18 Neb. 334.)

There is another reason why the mere attachment of the goods did not give plaintiffs a cause "of action for conversion. To maintain that action a party must have actual possession of the property or the light of present possession. A right to take possession at some future day is not sufficient. (Holmes v. Bailey, 16 Neb. 300; Hill v. Campbell Commission Co., 54 Neb. 59; Kennett v. Peters, 54 Kan. 119; Ring v. Neale, 114 Mass., 111; Clark v. Draper, 19 N. H. 419; Cooley, Torts [1st ed.] 445; Raymond v. Miller, 50 Neb. 507.)

Plaintiffs had, however, an interest in the property, for the protection of which the law affords an adequate remedy. At common law injuries to reversionary and like interests were redressed by a special action on the case; but in.this state, of course, the appropriate procedure is an ordinary action for damages grounded on the facts showing the wrong and the resulting injury. Plaintiffs have, in general terms, charged a conversion of the property and, assuming this allegation to be sufficient to entitle them to recover any damages proven, we proceed to consider the case on the evidence. The sheriff did not remove the attached property from the store where it was when the levy was made. Consequently it suffered no physical injury or diminution in value while in his possession. Neither was the surrender of the exempt property to Alexander an injury of which plaintiffs can complain. They had not asserted nor attempted to assert their right of possession as against Alexander. They were notified that the chattels claimed under the exemption law had been set apart in the store and were invited to take possession of them under their mortgage. This they declined to do; and the property was consequently lost to them by reason of their own inaction. After the removal of the exempt chattels, the value of the remainder was less than the amount due on the Rosenbaum mortgage, to which the plaintiffs’ mortgage was subject. Therefore, plaintiffs’ equity of redemption was valueless and the subsequent sale and dispersion' of the property .inflicted no actual injury upon ‘them. So, notwithstanding errors committed at the trial, the verdict was the only one which could rightfully have been found by the jury. The court might properly have directed a verdict for the defendants, and, indeed, that was the legal effect of the instruction quoted. The judgment of the district court is

Affibmjsd.