Court Opinion

ID: 6440793
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 12:16:50.142745+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:52:33.918364
License: Public Domain

Rugg, C.J.
This suit' in equity comes before us on appeal from a final decree dismissing the bill after the entry of an interlocutory decree sustaining a demurrer on the ground that the bill did not set forth any cause for equitable relief. Succinctly stated the allegations of the bill are that the plaintiff purchased from the defendant certain real estate subject to a first mortgage to a savings bank, and contemporaneously with the conveyance executed to the defendant a second mortgage containing this provision: “In event it will become necessary to replace a new first mortgage or to extend the present first mortgage, and an expense will be incurred by way of bonus or commission, then and then only, the mortgagee agrees to bear the expense thereof, but in nowise more than $100”; that subsequently the savings bank agreed with the plaintiff to extend the time of maturity of the first mortgage on condition that the plaintiff pay forthwith the sum of $600 on the principal and $250 each quarter thereafter; that the plaintiff at the time of this demand was embarrassed and unable to meet the requirements of the bank and was compelled to and did in fact pay a bonus of more than $100 to a third person for the loan of $600 to effectuate the extension of the first mortgage; that the plaintiff offered to comply with the terms of the second mortgage except that he demanded credit for the $100 expense incurred by the plaintiff on account of the extension of the first mortgage and the *188defendant refused to credit that sum on the mortgage; that there is a balance due on the mortgage of about $150; that the plaintiff thereupon delivered to the defendant and her representatives a check for $150 to be held in escrow until the controversy with respect to the claimed credit was determined; and that the defendant has commenced foreclosure of the second mortgage. The prayers of the bill are that the defendant be enjoined from foreclosing the mortgage; that the $100 be credited upon the second mortgage; that damages occasioned to the plaintiff be assessed; and for other relief.
The facts set out in the bill upon which the plaintiff relies for a credit of the $100 paid as bonus or commission do not fall within the terms of the mortgage already quoted. Plainly it was not necessary for the plaintiff to replace the then existing first mortgage by a new first mortgage or to extend that first mortgage; he simply was required to make a payment upon that first mortgage thereby reducing the principal. He was not obliged to incur any expense by way of bonus or commission to the first mortgagee. Being without funds, in order to meet the demands of the first mortgagee he borrowed of a third person money to satisfy that demand for payment and paid a bonus of more than $100 in that connection. These facts do not fall within the terms of the clause in the mortgage.
It follows from this interpretation of the contract between the parties that the plaintiff sets out no ground for relief in equity. The defendant has not filed an answer asking affirmative relief in her own behalf but has demurred. Therefore the plaintiff must stand on the allegations set out and relief prayed for in the bill. The offer of the plaintiff to redeem by itself alone does not afford basis for equitable relief. The decision in Rice v. Winslow, 182 Mass. 273, upon which the plaintiff relies, is distinguishable because there the plaintiff set out ground for equitable relief on the face of his bill. The plaintiff in the case at bar fails to do that.

Decree affirmed with costs.