Court Opinion

ID: 7185612
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:52:08.268275+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:16:03.704664
License: Public Domain

Spoefobd, J.,
dissenting. A re-hearing was granted in this cause three years *385ago, for the purpose of more fully investigating tne question whether Article 3366 of the Oivil Code, limiting such an opposition as this to ten days from the service of the order of seizure upon the third possessor had been repealed.
The question has been thoroughly discussed, but the discussion has failed to satisfy my mind that there has been a repeal either express or implied.
It is urged that the Code of Practice, adopted subsequently to the Civil Code, of itself abrogated the provision in question, because Article 138 of the former Code declares, that “ the debtor, against whom this order of seizure shall have been rendered, may obtain an injunction to suspend the sale if, before the time of sale, he files in the court issuing the order his opposition in writing alleging some of the reasons contained in the following Article, and of which he shall swear to the truth.” The argument assumes that the third possessor is included under the expression “ the debtor ” in this article. But this inference is repelled, not only by the obvious meaning of the term debtor, but by the subsequent Articles of the Code of Practice itself, which proceed to draw a marked distinction between the debtor and the third possessor. Article 144 declares, that “ the executory process in matters of privilege and mortgage may be pursued, not only against the debtor or his heirs, but also against the third possessors of the things subjected to it, according to the forms prescribed in the third paragraph, 2d section, 3d chapter of the 1st part of this Code.” i. e. Arts. 61 et seq. These forms (as to the third possessor) are laid down in Articles 68, 69,10, 11, 12,13 and 14 Now the question occurs, is there anything in these Articles inconsistent with Article 3366 of the Civil Code? For if they can stand together as parts of one statute, there is no express repeal. And it seems to me clear that they can stand together. Article 11 authorises the third possessor (not personally bound for the debt) to oppose the sale, by the plea of discussion. But it says nothing about the time within which this opposition must be made. That matter is left, therefore where it stood before, regulated by Article 3366 of the Civil Code, which requires the opposition to be within ten days from the service of the order of seizure. In Article 14 a time is limited for another purpose, but not for the filing of oppositions. “ Third possessors of property which has been seized, owing to their failure of discharging the hypothecary debt within ten days after having been notified that payment has been demanded of the hypothecary debt, may, until the very day of the sale, retain possession of the hypothecated property, by paying the debt with interest and all costs incurred in the suit.” We cannot suppose that the framers of the Code of Practice were ignorant of Article 3366 of the Civil Code or of the judicial interpretation given to the corresponding Article of the old Code. And their silence in regard to the limitation of the ojqjositions filed by third possessors, whilst treating of the hypothecary action, indicates that they had no intention to change the law in that respect. Thus much for the alleged repeal by implication, a species of repeal, we may remark, not favored in law.
Again, it is contended that the provision of which we speak was expreesl-y repealed by the 25th section of the Act of March 25th, 1828, wherein it was declared, “that all tho rules of proceeding which existed in this State before the promulgation of the Code of Practice, except those relative to juries, recusation of judges and other officers, and with respect to the competency of the latter, bo and are hereby abrogated.” Is the limitation of an opposition by a third possessor to ten days from the service of the order of seizure upon him, “ a rule of proceeding” in the sense of this statute ? No more, it would seem, than the proscription of various actions laid down in the Civil Code and other statutes. An *386Act of 181V (¡3.136), for instance, provided, that if after the appointment of syndics, any of the creditors of the insolvent should deem it necessary to oppose it on the ground of fraud in the insolvent debtor, or of the a23pointmont having been illegally made, he shall, within ten days next following the appointment of said syndics lay before the court his opposition, stating the facts regarding the nullity of said appointment, or the fraud by him alleged against the insolvent debtor. It would hardly bo contended that this limitation of an O23position to ten days was pealed by the Act of 1828, on the ground that it was “ a rule of proceeding ” contenrplated thereby. And it has been held to be a perenrptory rule. And so of numerous incidental matters in the Civil Oode. The Act of 1828 had relation to such statutes as were qsreviously in force having rules of practice for their main object, and did not repeal any thing in the Civil Code which could harmonize with the Code of practice.
Thus much upon the question of the repeal of Article 3366 of the Civil Oode, a question upon which I am compelled to differ from two of my colleagues.
But the only point upon which a majority of the court have exqsressed an opinion which leads to a reversal of the former judgment, and, therefore, the only points established as the doctrine of this case, is a point not raised by counsel either in the original argument, or in the argument upon the re-hearing. It was evidently not in the mind of the court when the re-hearing was granted, for the attention of counsel was only called, by our order, to the effect of the repealing Act of March 25th, 1828. •
That point is, that Article 3366 of the Oivil Code does not touch this case, even if in force : 1st. Because it relates to oppositions, not injunctions, and 2dly, because if it could be considered as relating to injunctions, the delay is directory merely, and not peremptory, and what is ordered to be done within a given time may, in some cases, be done later.
It suffices for me to say, that both these arguments were considered and passed for naught in the parallel case of Babin v. Lainé, 4 N. S. 64. I cannot better close this dissenting opinion than by quoting the language of Mr. Justice Matthews in that case, language whose weight is not impaired by the lapse of time, nor, so far as I have been able to ascertain uj) to the present case, by any countervailing authority. After stating that the order of seizure and sale in that case “ was regularly served on the qilaintiffs, who made an opposition to the proceeding within the ten days allowed to them, by law for that purpose ; but when the Sheriff was about to proceed to sell the property seized, they 23resented a petition to the judge a quo for an injunction to stay proceedings, which was granted, and afterwards dissolved on hearing’ of the cause ; and from this decree of dissolution they a23pealed.” The court then proceeded to give the following reasons for affirming the judgment which dissolved the third ]30ssessor’s injunction :
“ The right of a mortgage creditor to cause things mortgaged to be seized and sold, to satisfy the debts for which they were hypothecated, notwithstanding they may have changed owners and possessors, is legally clear and absolute. Third possessors of mortgaged property have, by law, the choice of either paying the debt for which it is mortgaged, or surrendering it to be sold, etc. If they do neither, then they must be proceeded against by what is termed an action of mortgage, etc. The law allows to them ton days after notification of the order of seizure and sale; within which they arc bound to pay the debt for which the property is hypothecated, or make opposition to the legality of the mortgage and proceedings thereon. C. 0. p. 462.”
*387“ It is true, that no negative expressions are found in the law denying the exercise of this right after the expiration of ten days ; but we are of opinion that the negative is so strongly implied, as to show the intention of the legislature ivas, to fix that period limited, within which alone such opposition may be made. Any other interpretation of the law on this subject would entirely destroy the facility granted to the collection of debts secured by mortgage, and would produce the same delays in that mode of pursuit, now called summary and prompt, which exist in the ordinary manner of proceeding, and which are so injurious to the credit of our fellow citizens who reside in the country.”
Still entertaining these views, I think the judgment heretofore rendered by this court should remain undisturbed.
OVERRULED OPINION.
Spofford, J.
We think the plaintiff is a third possessor in the sense of tho law.
“The third possessor, who is not personally liable for the debt, may, notwithstanding, within ten days from his being seized with an order of seizure, oppose the sale of the property mortgaged, which.is in his possession, if he has good causo to show in support of such opposition : as that the mortgage has not hoen registered, or other plea, or if there is other property mortgaged for the same debt within tho possession of the principal debtor or debtors, in which last case the possessor may demand that his property be previously discussed in the form directed under the title of suretyship, and during tho discussion, the salo of the property mortgaged and in the possession of tho third person shall bo suspended.” C. C. 3366.
This article is copied from Art. 44, sec. 2, ch. HI, tit. XIX, (p, 462,) of the Code of 1808, with hut a slight change, which is one merely of style.
That Article received judicial interpretation in the case of Babin v. Laine, 4 N. S. 611, when it was hold that if the third possessor failed to make his opposition within tho ten days, ho was debarred from making it afterwards. Tho court said: “ It is true, that no negative expressions are found in the law denying the exercise of this right aftor the expiration of ton days ; hut we are of opinion that tho negativo is so strongly implied as to show the intention of the Legislature was, to fix that period limited, within which alone such opposition may he made. Any other interpretation of tho law on this subject would entirely destroy the facility granted to tho collection of debts secured by mortgage, and would produce the same delays in that mode of pursuit, now called summary and prompt, which exist in tho ordinary manner of proceeding, and which are so injurious to the credit of our fellow citizens who reside in the country.”
No authority has been referred to which clashes with this decision.
Tho phrase “good cause to show in support of such opposition,” is very broad, and the instance given, “as that themortgago lias not been registered,” is not exclusive. If that is such a causo as must be shown within ton days, there is no reason why tho defence that the land has been purged of the mortgage by a probate sale, (the plea set up in this case) should not he interposed within the same limited time. Indeed, the Article of the Code would seem to imply that all pleas known, or which might he known, to the third possessor at tho time of tho service of the order of seizuro and salo, should ho interposod before tho expiration of ton clays.
In this case the plaintiff in injunction appears to ¡/have been served with tbe order of seizuro on the 18th June, 1852 •, he sued out his injunction, and filed his opposition on tho 2d August, 1852.
The defendant in injunction (plaintiff in the order of seizure and sale) excepted in limine, that tho third possessor had not mado liis opposition in time to he heard. Tho district judge being of this opinion, dissolved tho injunction and ordered tho salo to proceed.
Under the authorities cited, we cannot say that this decision was erroneous.
The judgment is, therefore, affirmed, with costs.