Case Name: Richard Lathers, App'lt, v. Jacob H. Hunt, Resp't
Court: New York Court of Common Pleas
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1890-04-07
Citations: 30 N.Y. St. Rep. 432
Docket Number: 
Parties: Richard Lathers, App’lt, v. Jacob H. Hunt, Resp’t.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 30
Pages: 432–433

Head Matter:
Richard Lathers, App’lt, v. Jacob H. Hunt, Resp’t.
(New York Common Pleas,
General Term,
Filed April 7, 1890.)
Chattel mortgage—Possession by mortgagee does not prevent action EOR THE DEBT.
In the absence of proof of a conversion, possession of mortgaged chattels by the mortgagee does not operate as a satisfaction of the mortgage debt, and the mortgagee may maintain an action therefor without applying or offering to return the chattels.
Appeal from eleventh district court.
Action by mortgagee of chattels in possession to recover upon the mortgage debt.
Joseph Walmsley, for app’lt; L. B. Bunnell, for resp’t.

Opinion:
Bischoff, J.
Defendant being indebted to plaintiff in the sum of $150 for rent of a flat at 179 Bast Finety-third street, in the city of Few York, and intending to secure the payment thereof,, executed and delivered to the plaintiff a mortgage upon certain household furniture and carpets contained in the premises. The mortgaged chattels having been abandoned by defendant, plaintiff assumed possession thereof, and while still in such possession brought this action to recover from the defendant the amount of arrears of rent to secure the payment of which the mortgage was given. Upon the trial the defendant contended that the possession of the mortgaged chattels by the mortgagee operated as a satisfaction of the mortgage debt, and the trial justice sustaining defendant's contention rendered judgment in his favor.
At common law possession of the mortgaged chattels by the mortgagee was essential to the validity of the mortgage. This is, still the law of this state in the case of mortgages not filed as prescribed by statute, such filing being allowed only as a substitute for possession by the mortgagee, and there is nothing in the statute which prevents the mortgagee from filing his mortgage and hav ing possession of the mortgaged chattels as well. See Laws of 1838, chap. 279 ; R. S., vol. 3, p. 2249, § 1, Banks Bros., 7th ed.
So also at common law, which remains unchanged, the mortgagee of chattels could proceed in three distinct methods to recover the mortgage debt. He could bring an action at law for the amount, and sell the mortgaged chattels under the judgment obtained therein, or he could bring an action to foreclose the mortgage or sell the chattels under a power of sale expressly conferred by the terms of the mortgage. Herman on Chattel Mortgages, 484, § 206 and 207 ; Freeman on Chattel Mortgages, 488; Elder v. Rouse, 15 Wend., 218; Sterling v. Rogers et al., 25 id., 658.
" A mortgagor does not lose his right to the mortgaged property by obtaining judgment on the mortgage note and then seizing it on execution. The property is pledged as security for the debt, and is not taken in liquidation of it, and a judgment, while it may be a merger of the note so that no other action can be maintained on it, will not extinguish the security; that remains as security for the debt, no matter what form it takes, until the debt itself is extinguished." Herman on Chattel Mortgage, 487, § 207.
And the principle governing the relative rights - and obligations of mortgagor and mortgagee in this respect are not distinguishable from those governing the rights of pledgor and. pledgee, and the latter can maintain an action on the debt without offering to return the collateral. James v. Hamilton, 63 N. Y., 616.
Defendant having conceded his indebtedness to the plaintiff in the amount claimed, it follows from the foregoing that plaintiff should have judgment.
Judgment reversed, with costs, and new trial ordered.
Daly, J.
It is undoubtedly true that a conversion by the mortgagee of mortgaged property entitles the mortgagor to a credit upon the debt to the extent of the value of the property so converted. Small v. Herkimer Mf. Co., 2 N. Y., 339. But there is no proof of conversion in this case. If the allegations of the answer are taken as averments of conversion, still no evidence was offered that sustains them. There was no conversion of the furniture when the tenant moved out, leaving it in the flat and in the possession of Mrs. Bryan to whom he gave express permission to use it while she occupied the premises. After she moved away in July, 1888, the plaintiff took possession of it and placed it in other flats, sending the carpets to be cleaned. He had a light to possession and his act in taking possession did not satisfy the debt, as Judge Bischoff has pointed out. There is no proof that the furniture was subsequently let with any other apartment, or used by the plaintiff, or by any person with his consent.
I concur that the judgment should be reversed, with costs, and a new trial ordered.
Larremore, Oh. J., concurs.