Case Title: Princeton Realty Corp. v. Kalman

Citation: 159 S.E.2d 193, 272 N.C. 201

Docket Number: 

State: north-carolina

Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

Date: 1967-12-13T00:00:00Z

Document:
159 S.E.2d 193 (1967) 272 N.C. 201 PRINCETON REALTY CORP., a North Carolina Corporation v. Robert KALMAN, individually; Robert Kalman as an officer of Statesville Knitting Mills, Inc., and Iredell Knitting Mills, Inc., and Positive Knitting Mills, Inc.; and Statesville Knitting Mills, Inc., Iredell Knitting Mills, Inc., and Positive Knitting Mills, Inc., in their corporate entities all being North Carolina corporations; and A. B. Raymer, Trustee. No. 455. Supreme Court of North Carolina. December 13, 1967. *195 Collier, Harris & Collier, Statesville and Edward T. Cook, for plaintiff-appellant. Raymer, Raymer & Lewis, Statesville, for defendant appellees. BRANCH, Justice. The sole question to be decided on this appeal is whether the lower court erred in dissolving the temporary restraining order prior to a final hearing on the merits. It is noted that the hearing judge in dissolving the order did not find facts, nor did appellant request that facts be found. Although the Supreme Court indulges the presumption that the findings of the hearing judge are correct and requires the applicant to assign and show error, nevertheless, on appeal from an order granting or refusing an interlocutory injunction it is not bound by the findings of fact of the hearing judge. The Court may review and weigh the evidence submitted to hearing judge and find the facts for itself. Charlotte City Coach Lines Inc., v. Brothhood of Railroad Trainmen, 254 N.C. 60, 118 S.E.2d 37; Lance v. Cogdill, 238 N.C. 500, 78 S.E.2d 319. The record in this case fails to show why a foreclosure was insisted upon and, further, fails to show whether the sums tendered to and refused by defendant Kalman were in the correct amount. We therefore deem it advisable to review the record. Upon such review we find that the pertinent facts may be summarized as follows: Plaintiff contends by its pleadings that it is correct in its payments on the notes secured by the instruments about to be foreclosed. Defendant Kalman by his pleadings and by introduction of exhibits squarely controverts this contention, by contending that notice was mailed to plaintiff *196 by registered mail and that plaintiff did not tender payment in time nor sufficient in amount to prevent default under the terms of the security instruments. We need not decide whether proof of due mailing of a letter raises a presumption as to date of receipt of the letter, since we do not now consider the ultimate issues raised by the pleadings. In order to decide the question presented for decision it becomes necessary that we review the applicable North Carolina cases. This Court in Delmar Studios of the Carolinas, Inc. v. Goldston, 249 N.C. 117, 105 S.E.2d 277, in affirming the continuance of a restraining order until final determination of the action on its merits, quoted from the landmark case of Cobb v. Clegg, 137 N.C. 153, 49 S.E. 80, as follows: See Boone v. Boone, 217 N.C. 722, 9 S.E.2d 383. The case of Sanders v. Rocky Mountain Insurance & Realty Co., 183 N.C. 66, 110 S.E. 597, was an action to enjoin the sale of lands upon a deed of trust. The facts were conflicting upon the question of whether the mortgage deed had been paid. The Court, holding that the injunction should be continued to the hearing to ascertain the facts involved, quoted from Marshall v. Comr's. of Stanly County, 89 N.C. 103, as follows: The Court further stated: Again considering the question whether a restraining order should be continued to the final hearing, in the case of Smith v. Bank of Pinehurst, 223 N.C. 249, 25 S.E.2d 859, which was a civil action to restrain foreclosure sale of lands under power contained in a trust deed, the hearing judge entered judgment vacating the temporary restraining order holding that the temporary restraining order should have been continued to the final hearing, this Court said: In Teeter v. Teeter, 205 N.C. 438, 171 S.E. 620, the plaintiffs brought action alleging that the defendants advertised their land for sale under deed of trust in breach of an agreement not to foreclose during the current year, and further, that defendants had failed to make certain credits upon the note which said deed of trust secured. Plaintiffs asked for an accounting and that the sale be restrained. A temporary restraining order was signed and, after a hearing upon affidavits, the court dissolved the restraining order. Holding that the restraining order should have been continued to the hearing, this Court stated: For a clear and concise statement of the rules governing the granting or refusing of interlocutory injunctions, see Huskins v. Yancey Hospital, Inc., 238 N.C. 357, 78 S.E.2d 116. Appellee contends that plaintiff's complaint was fatally defective in that it failed to show plaintiff was entitled to injunctive relief, and particularly because of its failure to allege insolvency, restraint, fraud, oppression or usury. G.S. § 45-21.34 provides: These contentions of appellee are not sustained when tested by the applicable rules as herein set out. Nor can we agree with appellee's contention that the allegation "that the plaintiff has heretofore made all the installment payments under each of said deed of trust and chattel trust indenture within the time allowed in same, including the installments due on April 1, 1967," is conclusory and does not raise an issue of fact. In 70 C.J.S. Payment § 85(a) (1), it is stated: "The general allegation of payment is ordinarily held sufficient as a plea of payment * * *. payment must be pleaded with sufficient certainty and particularity as to give plaintiff notice thereof." In this jurisdiction, where pleadings are construed liberally and in favor of the pleader, we hold that plaintiff sufficiently pleaded the ultimate fact of payment. This record raises a reasonable apprehension of irreparable injury to plaintiff if the temporary restraining order be dissolved and negatives any considerable injury to defendant Kalman if continued to the final hearing. Further, the record shows the existence of a bona fide controversy, and that there is some probability that the plaintiff may prevail at final hearing. Thus, there was error in the order vacating the temporary restraining order. It should be continued to final hearing. Reversed.