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13 Iowa 441

Lewis v. Denton

Supreme Court of Iowa

Decided June 18, 1862

Supreme Court of Iowa · decided 1862-06-18

Bill to foreclose a mortgage executed by Robert Denton to secure the payment of a certain promissory note payable to Miles K. Lewis, by whom it was assigned to plaintiff. The mortgaged premises, having been, subsequently to the execution of the mortgage, sold to Abby Denton, she was made a party defendant.

Decided 1862-06-18

Wright, J.

¶1A set-off is not a defense to an action. It is the defendant’s action against plaintiff, and plaintiff’s right to recover upon his cause of action is in no manner affected by such set-off.

¶2If, therefore, an action is brought upon a note, duly assigned, in the name of the assignee, the defendant cannot, while the action thus stands, ask to litigate a set-off against the assignor, by simply averring in his pleadings that such assignor is the real party in interest. He is not a party to the record, and no judgment could be taken against him on such set-off, and substantially defendant asks such judgment when he pleads his set-off.

¶3The demurrer was properly sustained.

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