Court Opinion

ID: 4010781
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 11:13:02.609697+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:44:43.733229
License: Public Domain

This case was here upon an appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Walworth county, reported in Kalb v.Feuerstein (1939), 231 Wis. 185, 285 N.W. 431.  The judgment of the circuit court for Walworth county having been affirmed by this court, the cause was removed to the supreme court of the United States.  In that court the judgment of this court was reversed, Kalb v. Feuerstein (1940),308 U.S. 433, 60 Sup. Ct. 343, 84 L.Ed. ___.  The mandate of the supreme court of the United States having been received in this court and judgment of reversal entered pursuant thereto, upon motion of the defendants, the cause was retained in this court for the purpose of passing upon questions raised by the demurrer other than those considered on the first appeal, Kalb v. Feuerstein (1938), 228 Wis. 525,279 N.W. 687, 280 N.W. 726.  Other facts will be stated in the opinion.
The facts briefly stated are as follows: On March 7, 1933, in the county court of Walworth *Page 508 
county the defendants Feuerstein began a foreclosure on the farm of Kalb, the plaintiff.  On April 21, 1933, judgment of foreclosure was entered.  On October 2, 1934, the plaintiff filed a petition under the Frazier-Lemke Act.  On June 27, 1935, Kalb's petition was dismissed in the federal court. On July 20, 1935, the sheriff sold the premises in foreclosure. On August 2, 1935, sheriff's deed was delivered to the purchaser.  On August 28, 1935, congress passed the second Frazier-Lemke Act.  On September 6, 1935, plaintiff's petition in the bankruptcy court was reinstated, and the June 27, 1935, order was vacated.  On September 9, 1935, a certified copy of this order was filed with the clerk of the county court.  On September 16, 1935, the sheriff's sale was on due notice confirmed.  On December 16, 1935, the county court on application of the Feuersteins issued a writ of assistance which was executed by George O'Brien as sheriff and under which the Feuersteins were put in possession of the premises.
This action was begun by the plaintiffs to recover possession of their premises on the ground that the confirmation of sale made September 16, 1935, and the writ of assistance which was issued December 16, 1935, were void and of no effect.  That contention of the plaintiffs has been upheld by the supreme court of the United States.  Under the decision of this court in Allen v. Elderkin (1885), 62 Wis. 627,22 N.W. 842, and Gerhardt v. Ellis (1908), 134 Wis. 191,114 N.W. 495, it is held that the rights of the defendants in the foreclosure proceeding are those of a purchaser at a foreclosure sale before confirmation of the sale, and that the defendants were therefore not entitled to the possession of the premises until the sale was duly confirmed.  As of the date when this action was begun it does not appear from the complaint that a valid confirmation has ever been had.  It must be held therefore that the complaint states a cause of action and that the trial court was in error in sustaining the demurrer. *Page 509
By the Court — The judgment of the circuit court dismissing the plaintiffs' action is reversed in accordance with the mandate of the supreme court of the United States. Likewise the order of the circuit court sustaining the demurrer of the defendants to the complaint is reversed, and the cause is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings according to law.