Pearce v. . Mason , 78 N.C. 37 ( 1878 )

This is a case which has been so obscured by bad pleading and careless procedure, on both sides, as to make it extremely difficult to be dealt with, without danger of doing injustice to one or the other of the parties. A simple question of fact, which appears to be the only question about which the parties really differ, has been unnecessarily complicated with a perplexing question of practice. In such a case, where there are no decisive precedents or rules, and the equity of neither party clearly appears, all that we can do is so to order that, as far as we can effect it, no injustice shall be done to either party; and if we happen to fail in this purpose, the blame must fall, not upon us, whom the parties have united to mystify and befog, but on the parties whose neglect of the rules of pleading and procedure has produced the difficulty.

The motion is to arrest or set aside the judgment on the ground that it is not warranted by the complaint. The complaint states that Mrs. Chadwick agreed to sell to defendant a certain piece of land, and took his notes for the price, and that she afterwards conveyed the land to the plaintiff. It does not say that she assigned the notes to the plaintiff, yet it demands a judgment for the amount of the notes. The complaint was demurrable, and would not authorize the judgment demanded or that which was given.

The defendant, however, answers and carefully alleges that the notes were assigned to the plaintiff, thus supplying the plaintiff's omission and giving him a good cause of action. The defendant also says he has paid the notes, and in a schedule attached to his answer states many partial payments. In the schedule of payments is the following: "For use of part of the premises by Levi Guion, placed in possession by the plaintiff, and who occupied the same for three years, $400." More will be said of this claim presently. (40)

The plaintiff, apparently not being willing to accept the defendant's aid in making out his case, and not being satisfied to rely upon the replication implied by C. C. P., except as to a counterclaim, replies and carefully denies each allegation of the answer, including that which alleged that the notes had been assigned to him. Such being the pleadings, issues were submitted to a jury:

1. Was the plaintiff the owner of the notes?

2. How much has been paid on them?

The jury found in favor of the plaintiff, that he was the owner of the notes on which he asked judgment, and that $650 had been paid on them. On this verdict the judge gave judgment against defendant for the unpaid residue of the debt, being nearly $1,400, and ordered the land to be sold, etc. It does not appear that either party asked that any issue should be submitted touching the possession of a part of the land by Guion under the authority of the plaintiff. If the defendant meant to rely on his claim arising out of this possession, it was negligence in him not to have asked that an issue upon it should be submitted. He complains in this Court that injustice has been done him, in that this sum was not allowed him as a payment, or as a recoupment. We take it to be law, that if a mortgagee (and that was substantially the character of the plaintiff) take possession of any part of the mortgage property, the rents or profits received by him must go in diminution of the mortgage debt. If the fact be as the defendant alleges, his right is clear. His difficulty is that he did not make this defense on the trial, when it was open to him. The general rule is unquestionable, that a party must present his defense in apt time. To omit presenting a defense when it is known to a defendant must be held on every principle (41) of legal policy and of equity a waiver of it; and such a negligent omission furnishes no ground for an application for a new trial. The policy and the general rule of the law are, that there should be an end of litigation, and that judgment must be final. We should not hesitate to apply that rule in this case if the complaint were one on which a judgment could be given. The defect has been stated. It was cured by the verdict so far that the judge would have allowed the plaintiff even after verdict to amend his complaint by stating that the notes had been assigned to him, as C. C. P., sec. 132, authorizes. But this was not done, and the complaint remains yet defective. I am aware that defects in complaints are sometimes held cured by verdicts without the necessity of amending the complaint. But without minutely inquiring into the rules on that subject, It seems to us that they cannot apply where there is a total omission of an essential allegation. We cannot allow the amendment in this Court. On the whole, we think we are required to arrest the judgment. This, however, does not set aside the verdict, which, as for as it goes, will stand. The plaintiff may apply to the judge below for leave to amend his complaint in the matter in which it is defective, and either party may apply to have an issue made up and tried, as to whether plaintiff took possession of any part of the land, and received any rents or profits therefrom, and the amount thereof, if any.

The allegation by the defendant, that he has made improvements on the land since his contract for the purchase, is immaterial. If he has thereby increased the value of the land, he will receive the benefit thereof on a sale. We think also that if the judge of the Superior Court shall hereafter order a sale of the land to pay any sum which may be found owing to the plaintiff, it will be proper under the circumstances of this case, as they now appear to us, to allow the defendant a reasonable time within which to satisfy the debt, before a sale. What is a reasonable time must depend a good deal on the circumstances (42) and must be left mostly to the discretion of the judge. This Court has indicated that, in general, three months would be reasonable.

Judgment set aside and case remanded to be proceeded in according to this opinion. We think neither party ought to recover costs in this Court.

PER CURIAM. Error.

Approved: Johnson v. Finch, 93 N.C. 209.

Distinguished: Grant v. Burgwyn, 88 N.C. 102; Robeson v. Hodges,105 N.C. 50.