Peterson v. Wilson

There are two appeals, both from the judgment and decree in favor of plaintiff Helen Peterson, in a

The complaint is in three counts. The first count is in the usual form of a quiet-title action against all defendants. The second and third counts are against defendants Ainsworth and McNally respectively, for alleged abuse of process in causing executions to be issued and levied, and sales to be made of John Wilson’s interest in the property involved, when, it is claimed, said defendants knew it belonged to plaintiff and that Wilson had no interest therein. Defendant McNally filed a disclaimer, so it is necessary to consider only the first two causes of action.

John and Constance Wilson filed an answer and a cross-complaint against plaintiff, in which they alleged that John Wilson was the owner of the equitable title to the property ; that a confidential relationship existed between John and his sister, the plaintiff, until March 31, 1945, on which date plaintiff breached an agreement made between them on March 15, 1944, under which John caused the legal title to be conveyed to her, and she agreed to hold it for him, in trust, and to account for the proceeds therefrom. The Wilsons asked that the court declare that .the title to the property is held by plaintiff in trust for John.

Defendant Ainsworth filed an answer and a cross-complaint against plaintiff, defendant John Wilson, and also brought in the defendants Gridley. The cross-complaint alleged in effect that when plaintiff acquired the legal title, John Wilson was the beneficial owner; that the conveyance to her was made in anticipation of an adverse judgment in favor of Ainsworth and against John in an action then pending between the two, and at a time when John was insolvent; that the conveyance was made without consideration and with the intent to hinder, delay and defraud Ainsworth as a creditor. The sale under execution is then set forth and it is claimed that Ainsworth is the owner of the property, subject only to John’s right to redeem. The second count of 'the cross-complaint sets up that the conveyance to plaintiff was made in trust for John. The defendants Gridley are joined because they are alleged to be in possession of the property under an agreement of sale with plaintiff, made with full knowledge of Ainsworth’s rights. (At the trial it was stipulated that the Gridleys had full knowledge of a prior action by Ainsworth to

Ainsworth Appeal

The transcript is lengthy—approximately 800 pages. Ainsworth claims that plaintiff, the principal witness for her side, was evasive, contradictory, and not worthy of belief. Plaintiff, on the other hand, makes the same claim about her brother John, who was the chief witness for Ainsworth. John apparently was not too credible a witness. He even denied that he was in default to the bank, when the evidence plainly shows the contrary. As the court evidently believed plaintiff’s version, our duty is to determine whether there is substantial evidence to support the court’s findings, and whether, as contended by Ainsworth, the documentary evidence is so conclusive and clear as to admit of no explanation contrary to the interpretation he places upon it.

Taking the testimony in favor of plaintiff and the reasonable inferences therefrom, which we are required to do, it shows the following situation. A brief résumé of the background of the case is that John and his sister, the plaintiff, enjoyed a confidential relationship until the time of this controversy. John drank considerably and spent his money freely. John was the promoter type, always working on big deals, who said he was not content to work steadily or on a $200 a month salary. In 1940, John was broke. The brothers and sisters (there were eight children in the Wilson family) living in

In July of 1943, Evelyn and John were divorced and a- property settlement agreement entered into by them which was filed with the title company before the conveyance to plaintiff was made. On March 13, 1944, both Evelyn and John signed an authorization to the title company to transfer the title to plaintiff. The effect of this transfer is the most important question in the case. John and Ainsworth contend it was in trust for John, and in any event, that there was no consideration for the transfer. Plaintiff contends, and the court found, that it was in consideration of plaintiff’s assuming the indebtedness against the property and at the bank’s insistence. Meyer testified that at the time the bank brought suit on the $186,000 note and deed of trust there were delinquent installments in the sum of over $11,000 and over $1,900 in taxes which the bank had had to pay; that on February 7, 1944, John called to see Meyer and stated that he was sick and tired of handling the properties and was going to abandon them, and might go to Hawaii for a job. Notice of default was recorded and the suit was filed February 14, and a receiver placed in possession of the properties. John then stated to his sister: “Why don’t you go down [to Meyer at the bank] and make a deal for this? You might as well have it as the wolves on Montgomery Street.” On March 17, agreements were entered into between the bank and plaintiff wherein the bank agreed to have the property transferred to plaintiff upon condition that she assume and agree to pay the obligations against the property, and that out of the sale price of her Jefferson Street property if, as, and when sold, she would pay the bank $10,000 in reduction of the principal of the $186,000, to all of which she agreed. The bank required these agreements as a condition to removing the receiver, dismissing the suit, and consenting to the transfer of the title. The bank’s attorneys prepared an authorization to the title company, to be signed by the Wilsons, instructing it to transfer the title to plaintiff. John told plaintiff where she could find Evelyn, from whom he was then separated. Plaintiff took the authorization to Evelyn, who required plaintiff to give her' a promissory note payable to her for $1,500 before she would sign. Plaintiff executed such a note and Evelyn then signed the authorization. John signed it in the office of the bank’s attorneys.

The court found that at no time did John have any interest in the properties, even during the period of the holding agreement and prior thereto, when the title was in his wife, Evelyn. This finding is bitterly attacked. It is contended, too, that the court prejudically erred in refusing to admit into evidence on this question the property settlement agreement, which it is contended expressly modified the holding agreement by providing that the title company should thereafter hold the title for John rather than Evelyn. This question becomes of no importance as to John, for, as pointed out before, John authorized the conveyance to plaintiff, and thereby lost any interest in the property which he might have had.

However, as to Ainsworth, the question is important. If John at that time had an interest in the property and was insolvent (and the evidence clearly shows that he was), then the conveyance to plaintiff would have been in fraud of Ainsworth, as a creditor of John, if there was no consideration moving to John for it. John, as far as he himself was concerned, could give the property to plaintiff, or abandon it to plaintiff, by his authorization to the title company to convey it to her, and the transaction would be valid without any con

This brings us to the question, assuming that John at the time had an interest in the property: did the assumption by plaintiff of the indebtedness on the property constitute consideration in law f Ainsworth takes the position that because the bank did not expressly agree to release John of his liability on the note and deed of trust, the assumption of the debt by plaintiff did not constitute consideration. Much point, too, is made of the fact that the deed from the title company to plaintiff is dated March 15, 1944, while the assumption of thé indebtedness by plaintiff and agreement to pay the $10,000 are dated March 17. However, Meyer testified that the understanding that these be given was had before the date of the deed and were a condition of the transfer of title to plaintiff, and the court so found.

Upon the execution of these agreements the bank had the receiver discharged, the suit dismissed, and proceeded no further with the foreclosure under the deed of trust. There is no evidence in the record that the bank made any agreement with John to forebear in the action then pending or to relieve him from any liability to the bank, although the court found that the bank agreed to release John and his wife therefrom.

As said in Mix v. Yoakum, 138 Cal.App. 290 , 294 [ 31 P.2d 1071 ] : “A conveyance, in consideration of the assumption of a mortgage on the property, is based on a valid consideration. There is authority for the proposition that where the property conveyed is of value in excess of the mortgage, an agreement on the part of the grantee to pay the same is not a valuable consideration as against the grantor’s creditors. It has been held in this state that the disparity between the value of the property and the encumbrance must be such _as to show gross inadequacy of consideration. (Hasenjeager v. Voth, 91 Cal.App. 398 [ 267 P. 146 ].) Fraud is never presumed, and the burden is on the creditor who seeks to avoid the transfer to both allege and prove inadequacy of the consideration. Conversely, the grantee is not required to either allege or prove the adequacy of the consideration. The views here expressed find support in the further cases of Manning v. App Con. Gold Min. Co., 171 Cal 610 [ 154 P. 301 ]; Saunderson v. Broadwell, 82 Cal. 133 [ 23 P. 36 ] ; Gladwin v. Gladwin, 13 Cal. 332 ; Greenwalt v. Mueller, 126

The Ainsworth cross-complaint alleges that at the time of the conveyance to plaintiff, the properties were a valuable asset. This is not denied. However, there was no proof, or attempted proof, of disparity between the value of the properties and the encumbrance. The burden of proof in showing disparity is on the creditor. (Hasenjeager v. Voth, 91 Cal.App. 398 [ 267 P. 146 ].) Ainsworth attempts to distinguish our case from the principle of the Mix case, by claiming that here there was no agreement by the grantee to assume and pay the debt of the grantor, that the grantee, plaintiff, merely took the property subject to the deed of trust. He thereby, however, overlooks the document “Plaintiff’s Exhibit 10” which, while a guarantee in form, under the circumstances constitutes an agreement to pay. Moreover, it was held in Everts v. Matteson, 21 Cal.2d 437 , at page 447 [ 132 P.2d 476 ] : “. . . it is well established both in California and elsewhere, that a grantee of real property subject to a mortgage or trust deed who agrees to pay such indebtedness, becomes, as to the mortgagor or trustor, the principal debtor of the mortgagee or beneficiary and the mortgagor or trustor occupies the relation of surety.” There is also plaintiff’s Exhibit 9, which is a promise to reduce the principal by the payment of $10,000 out of the sale price of other property, if and when sold. Thus, assuming John to have been the beneficial owner of the property, there was adequate consideration for the conveyance from him, through the title company, to plaintiff.

While there is evidence which would have supported a contrary finding, had the court so held, there is substantial evidence to support the court’s finding that the conveyance was not made with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud the creditor Ainsworth, even though the evidence shows that plaintiff knew of the pending suit, and hence cases cited by Ainsworth such as Cioli v. Kenourgios, 59 Cal.App. 690 [ 211 P. 838 ], and Vogel v. Sheridan, 4 Cal.App.2d 298 [ 40 P.2d 946 ], which hold that even though there be consideration a conveyance made with the intent to delay, hinder or defeat creditors, is void, are not in point. Nor are cases such as Wight v. Rohlffs, 48 Cal.App.2d 696 [ 121 P.2d 76 ], and Frankish v. Federal Mortgage Co., 30 Cal.App.2d 700 [ 87 P.2d 90 ], which hold that where there is no consideration for

Under the holding agreement, John had an interest at least to the extent that he could direct the title company to convey to whomsoever he desired, “ without the approval of Evelyn,” upon the payment of $2,500 for her account (later reduced to $1,250). Under the property settlement agreement, which the court permitted in evidence for the limited purpose of showing knowledge of it by the title company, the holding agreement was amended to provide that the title company should hold the title in trust no longer for Evelyn, but for John. The Ainsworth cross-complaint alleged that on or about the 15th of March, 1944, and at the time of the conveyance to plaintiff by the title company, John was the owner of the property, and that the legal title was held by the title company for the sole benefit of John. In her answer to this cross-complaint, plaintiff did not deny these allegations, although she did allege that at all times mentioned in the cross-complaint, and for a long time prior ■thereto, she was the owner. However, in spite of this admission by failure to deny, the parties considered the question in issue as though it were denied. (Sehroeder v. Pissis, 128 Cal. 209 , 212 [ 60 P. 758 ].) It appears from the holding agreement and the property settlement agreement that John did have an interest in the property. As the title company’s right to convey depended upon the holding agreement, and as the holding agreement was modified by the property settlement agreement, which was filed with the title company, plaintiff was put on notice as to John’s interest in the property. Actually, the letter to the title company, which is the title company’s authority to make the transfer to plaintiff, refers to the property settlement agreement. Hence, plaintiff cannot question it. John authorized the conveyance to plaintiff, so that as to him the erroneous finding by the court that he had no interest in the property is unimportant. Also as to Ainsworth it does not change the situation, for throughout this opinion we have treated the case as though the court had found that John was the beneficial owner at the time of the conveyance to plaintiff.

Defendants complain of the failure of the court to find in the language of the cross-complaint that plaintiff accepted the conveyance with knowledge that John directed it to be made to her in pursuance of a fraudulent scheme to delay and defraud Ainsworth and by such conveyance

Subsequent to the conveyance, there were a number of financial dealings between plaintiff and John in which she paid bills for him, and gave him sums of money, amounting in all to over $10,000. There was also defendant Ainsworth’s Exhibit X in which plaintiff told John that he had taken money “in excess” and he would be allowed $50 per month “from now on” and in which she said: “When and if, these Bldgs, are sold your attorney can represent you and any adjustment will be taken care of. I assure you I’ll not run and see him or be-little you in any way.” Had the court found that there was a secret trust between plaintiff and John, these matters would have supported such a finding. On the other hand, plaintiff explained that she was doing as she had done for many years, merely helping out an impecunious brother; that the statements above quoted in Exhibit X were simply a continuation of the financial aid she was giving her brother to keep him from going into bankruptcy and because he had recently been married and had a baby. Moreover, he was constantly threatening her with court action, bullying her and the tenants. The trial court saw the witnesses and believed her explanation. We cannot say as a matter of law that the court was wrong.

Ainsworth complains of the finding that he abused the process of the court, because he claims there was no showing of malice. In spite of the fact that Ainsworth had sued John for slander, the evidence shows that John went to Ainsworth to complain about his sister’s actions, and there is ample support for the court’s finding that Ainsworth knew at the time of the execution sale that John no longer had any interest in the property. That is sufficient to support the court’s finding. A finding of malice is not required.

As pointed out heretofore, the court should have admitted into evidence for all purposes the property settlement agreement,' which constituted a modification of the holding agreement, thereby providing that the title company held the property in trust for John. However, the failure to do so was error without prejudice, for the reason, also as heretofore set out, that John authorized the conveyance to plaintiff, for a consideration and not in trust. It is obvious from the testimony that while the bank did not expressly agree with John to relieve him from the suit and the indebtedness, they were accepting plaintiff’s assumption of the debt, and, so far as they were concerned, John was to be disregarded.

Was the Deed op Trust a Purchase Monet One?

In an endeavor to escape the effect of the cases which hold that the assumption of the indebtedness secured by a deed of trust constitutes consideration, Ainsworth contends that the deed of trust here was a purchase money one within the meaning of section 580 (b) of the Code'of Civil Procedure. If it were such, no deficiency judgment would lie after sale of the property covered by it and no personal judgment could be obtained against Wilson. Hence, it is contended, the assumption of such an indebtedness could not constitute consideration as against Wilson’s creditors. No authority is cited which considers the question of the effect on consideration of the assumption of a purchase money deed of. trust. However, it is not necessary for us to consider this question, as the deed of trust here was not a purchase money one. The property was acquired from the Realty Exchange Corporation in whose name the title stood, subject to a “good sized” deed of trust to the bank, and a second mortgage for $4,800, to whom, the record does not disclose. In order to obtain the property, the Wilsons executed a new deed of trust to the bank in the sum of $186,000, and the other deed of trust and mortgage were released. Thus the bank did not own the property when it was conveyed to the Wilsons, although, apparently, the bank was able to get the then owner to transfer the title for the amount of the indebtedness against the property. A case directly in point on this subject is Ladd & Tilton Bank v. Mitchell, 93 Ore. 668 [ 184 P. 282 , 6 A.L.R. 1420 ]. In Oregon there was a statute (Lord’s Oregon Laws, § 426) which provided that there could be no deficiency judgment on a mortgage “given ... to secure payment of the balance of the pur

Ainsworth has cited no cases which hold to the contrary. In Stockton Sav. & Loan Bank v. Massanet, 18 Cal.2d 200 [ 114 P.2d 592 ], the deed of trust in question was one given by the vendee to the vendor ‘ ‘ as the full purchase price of the property.” (P. 209.) In Winkleman v. Sides, 31 Cal.App.2d 387 [ 88 P.2d 147 ], neither the indebtedness nor the security therefor was for the purchase price of real property.

The judgment and decree are affirmed.

Peters, P. J., and Ward, J., concurred.

A petition for a rehearing was denied December 18, 1948, and appellants’ petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied January 13,1949.