Court Opinion

ID: 9677683
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:57:23.165156+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:57.604030
License: Public Domain

TODD, Justice
(dissenting in part)
I respectfully dissent from that portion of the majority opinion which refuses to apply equitable principles to the facts of this case. I agree entirely with the legal proposition contained in the majority opinion that size alone, and not value, determines the extent of the statutory homestead exemption.
However, principles of equity preclude granting relief to Agora Leases, Inc. The judgment sought to be enforced is against Angeline Mahmood, the former owner of the property. The Lugars purchased the property with notice of the judgment. They demanded that $14,000 of the purchase price be escrowed to protect themselves. Mahmood then brought an action against Agora Leases, Inc. to remove the judgment from the property. The trial court incorrectly determined that value, and not size, could be considered and exempted *886the property from the judgment. At this point Agora took no legal steps to prevent the entry of judgment or enjoin the release of escrowed funds pending appeal. As a result the monies placed in escrow by the Lugars was released. Agora is guilty of laches. If we do not so hold, the Lugars will be forced to pay an additional sum to free their own property after having taken every adequate step to prevent such a result. Equity and justice demands that we preclude Agora from being rewarded for their own neglectful conduct.
I would hold that the result reached in the trial is correct, although the reason given is incorrect.