Crestline Mobile Homes Manufacturing Co. v. Pacific Finance Corp.

This claim and delivery action was brought by Crestline Mobile Homes Manufacturing Company, the unpaid seller of a trailer, against Pacific Finance Corporation, the holder of a trust receipt on the same trailer, to determine who, as between these two parties, has the prior right to the title and possession of the trailer involved. The trial court held that Crestline was estopped to assert its title as against Pacific, and adjudged that as between these two parties, Pacific was entitled to the possession or the value of the trailer. From this judgment Crestline appeals.

The case was tried on a written stipulation of facts. It there appears that the parties involved are Crestline, the seller of the trailer, located in Harbor City, California ■ Max L. Peterson, the purchaser of the trailer, a retail trailer dealer located in Modesto, California; and Pacific, the holder of a lien on the trailer secured by a trust receipt evidencing a loan made by Pacific to Peterson on the trailer.

Peterson purchased the trailer from Crestline. On January 15, 1957, Crestline caused the trailer to be delivered to Peterson in Modesto. On that same day Peterson mailed to Crest-line a check for the full…