Fox v. Townsend
Fox v. Townsend
Concurring Opinion
This action to quiet title to certain lots of land in Los Angeles County was brought by plaintiff, claiming title under certain tax sales to the state of California, and deeds from the state to him, against various persons who were the owners thereof if the tax proceedings were ineffectual to-vest title in plaintiff. The lots involved were parts of the Electric Railway Homestead Association tract in Los Angeles County. As to four of these lots,—viz. lot 11 in block 5 and lot 19 in block 26, claimed by defendant Taylor, and lot 17 in block 20 and lot 17 in block 24, claimed by defendant Carter, —judgment went for said defendants, and motions for new-trial made by plaintiff were denied. Plaintiff appealed from the order denying his motion. This court, on such appeal, affirmed the order as to lot 19 in block 26, and reversed it as to the remaining three lots. (Ante, p. 51, [91 Pac. 1007].) As to the Carter lots, lot 17 in block 20 and lot-17 in block 24, the objection that the description of property in the assessment was insufficient to make a valid assessment (the description being, “In Los Angeles County. In Electric Ry. Homestead Assn. Tr. Lot 17 Block 20,” and the same practically as to lot 17 block 24) was answered by stating that a map of the Electric Railway Homestead Association tract, recorded in book 14, page 17, of miscellaneous records, showing the location of the lots, was introduced in evidence on the trial, in aid of the assessment description, and that the ease in this respect was therefore the same as that of Baird v. Monroe, 150 Cal. 560,
The question remaining for determination is as to the legal sufficiency of the descriptions of property contained in the assessment. Were such descriptions sufficient to identify the land ? We have already stated the nature of the descriptions. They were in all vital respects the same as the descriptions contained in the assessments of property considered in Miller v. Williams, 135 Cal. 183, [67 Pac. 788]; Best v. Wohlford, 144 Cal. 733, [78 Pac. 293]; and Baird v. Monroe, 150 Cal. 560, [89 Pac. 352],—namely, a designation of a parcel of land as a portion of a larger tract simply by number and block, without any reference to a map. In Miller v. Williams, an action to quiet title, it was held that such a description in an assessment is not sufficient, prima facie, to identify the portion assessed. In that case, as in this, there was no attempt to supplement the assessment description by evidence showing that it did sufficiently identify the land. The theory of the decision, apparently, is that a description of this kind is of such a nature as to indicate that the property can ordinarily be located only by reference to some map or plat, and no such map or plat being referred to as being in existence, the description is prima facie insufficient. There is no presumption, in the absence of such a reference, that there is such a map in existence. (Labs v. Cooper, 107 Cal. 656, 658, [40 Pac. 1042].) Under this theory there is a distinction between such a description and a description of a tract of land by name, such as “Porks House Ranch,” as to which it has been held that “a description of a tract of land by name is sufficient, as it is presumed that the tract, and the extent of its bound
In the case at bar, the record fails to make it appear that . :any evidence whatever was introduced tending to show that
The order denying plaintiff’s motion for a new trial—as to the defendant Carter and the land claimed by him—viz. lot 17 in block 20 and lot 17 in block 24—is affirmed.
Henshaw, J., McFarland, J., Shaw, J., Sloss, J., and Lorigan, J., concurred.
Rehearing denied.
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff sued to quiet title to certain lots of land, claiming title thereto under and by virtue of certain
One of the lots in question was lot 19 in block 26. The assessment of this lot, upon which the tax-sale was based, shows that there was no dollar-mark, or other mark, sign, word, abbreviation or explanation on the assessment-roll to indicate what was meant by the figures in the column designed to show the value of the property and the amount of the taxes. This being the case, the assessment was void, and the sale and. deeds made thereunder are likewise void. (Hurlburt v. Butenop, 27 Cal. 54; Braly v. Seaman, 30 Cal. 611; People v. S. F. Sav. Union, 31 Cal. 132; People v. Hastings, 34 Cal. 571; Emerick v. Alvarado, 90 Cal. 444, [27 Pac. 356].) This omission appearing in the assessment itself necessarily invalidates the proceedings. In this respect this case is to be distinguished from the case of Carter v. Osborn, 150 Cal. 620, [89 Pac. 608], where the omission of the dollar-mark or sign was in the delinquent list and not in the assessment. The decree as to lot 19, block 26, was, therefore, correct.
The other lands whose titles are in controversy are lot 17, block 20; lot 17, block 24; and lot 11, block 5. The assessments of these lots were in all vital respects the same as the assessment set forth and discussed in Baird v. Monroe, 150 Cal. 560, saving only that instead of being described as “in Pellissier Tr.,” they were described as “in Electric Railway Homestead Assn. Tr.” As in Baird v. Monroe, a map of the Electric Railway Homestead Association, recorded in book 14, page 17, of Miscellaneous Records of the County of Los Angeles, was introduced in evidence, which map showed the location of the lots in controversy. The assessments, therefore, in this respect, are identical with that discussed in Baird v. Monroe, and, aided by the map which was introduced in evidence, the descriptions contained in these assessments were “sufficient to identify” the land. (McCullough v. Olds, 108 Cal. 529, [41 Pac. 420].)
Certain propositions are urged against the validity of the deeds made by the tax-collector to the state. Section 3776 of the Political Code provides for a certificate of sale and declares what that certificate must contain. Section 3785 pro
Certain correction deeds were made by the tax-collector to the state, and it is urged that these deeds were without authority and void. The general principles governing such correction deeds are well settled. When a tax-deed does not conform in its recitals to the facts, the officer is authorized to execute a second and corrected deed, but he has no power to execute a second deed which shall misstate the facts respecting any proceedings prior to its execution. Such a deed would be void. The power and the duty of the proper officer is not exhausted by the execution of an irregular or imperfect tax-deed. (Douglas v. Nuzen, 16 Kan. 515; McCready v. Sexton, 29 Iowa, 356, [4 Am. Rep. 414]; Woodman v. Clapp, 21 Wis. 530.) Section 3805b of the Political Code, dealing with the subject of misstatement of facts or clerical errors occurring in the tax-collector’s deeds, declares that these may be corrected by the tax-collector upon an order of the board of supervisors entered upon its minutes directing correction, by the issuance of a new or amended tax-deed. If, as respondent here contends, such an order of the board of supervisors was necessary and
The deed contained a description of the property as “situate, lying and being in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and described thus: Mortgage interest in the following described property, Electric Ry. Homestead Association Tract, lot 17, block 24.” It is contended that the deed here purports to convey only a mortgage interest in the lot, without any explanation, and that the deed is, therefore, void. But article 13, section 4, of the constitution declares that a mortgage for the purposes of assessment and taxation shall be deemed and treated as an interest in the property affected thereby.” The further recitals in the tax-deed make this case parallel with that of Doland v. Mooney, 72 Cal. 34, [13 Pac. 71], where such a deed was held to be sufficient. This property was sold for taxes for the year 1894. It is objected that upon the assessment-book for 1895 there was not stamped an entry of the fact “that said lot had been sold for taxes, and the date of such sale, ’ ’ as required by section 3801 of the Political Code as it read in 1895. Only the words, “sold to the state,” were so stamped. But it is the assessment and sale for taxes for 1894 which are involved in this case, and a clerical misprision of the year after cannot affect the validity of such proceeding. Moreover, if the purpose of the requirement is to give notice to the fiscal officers, certainly a notice, “sold to the state,” is sufficient to put them on inquiry, and the same is true if it be said that the requirement was designed to give notice of the sale to the owner.
Lorigan, J., Angellotti, J., Shaw, J., McFarland, J., and Sloss, J.5 concurred.
An application for a rehearing having been made, the same . was granted and the foregoing judgment set aside as to the defendant and respondent Robert A. Carter, and the property-claimed by him. Subsequently, on the 20th of September, 1907, the following opinion was rendered by the court in Bank, denying the plaintiff’s motion for a new trial as to the defendant Carter and the land claimed by him:—
Reference
- Full Case Name
- EDWIN R. FOX v. W. R. TOWNSEND, Defendants ROBERT S. CARTER, C. J. TAYLOR
- Cited By
- 29 cases
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- Syllabus
- Taxation—Assessment-Roll—Absence of Dollar-Mark—Invalidity of Sale and Deed.—An assessment of land, which shows on the face of the assessment-roll that there was no dollar-mark or other mark, sign, word, or abbreviation, or explanation to indicate what was meant by the figures in the column designed to show the value of the property and the amount of the taxes, is void, and a sale for delinquent taxes and deeds made thereunder are likewise void. Id.—Certificate of Sale to State—Repeal of Law Requiring—Recitals of Deed.—Upon the repeal of section 3776 of the Political Code, providing for a certificate of sale for land sold to the state for delinquent taxes, the provisions of section 3786 of that code, to the effect that the deed to the state must contain a recital of the matters contained in the certificate, became nugatory. Id.—Time of Redemption—Error in Recital—Curative Act of 1903. —An imperfection in a deed to the state of land sold for delinquent taxes, in stating the time when the right of redemption had expired, was cured by the confirmatory act oi February 28, 1903. Id.—Corrected Deed to State.—When a tax-deed to the state does not conform in its recitals to the facts, the tax-collector is authorized to execute a second and corrected deed, but he has no power to execute a second deed which misstates the facts respecting any proceeding prior to its execution. Such a deed would be void. Id.—Presumption as to Regularity of Corrected Deed.—If an order of the board of supervisors, as provided for by section 3805b of the Political Code, were necessary to authorize the tax-collector to execute an amended tax-deed, it will be presumed, in support of such a deed, that it was' executed by that officer under proper authority and direction. Id.—Corrected Deed after Conveyance by State.—It is no objection to a corrected tax-deed to the state that it was executed after the state had parted with its title to the land. Id.—Deed Based on Assessment of Mortgage Interest.—Under section 4 of article 13 of the constitution, a tax-deed, which described the property assessed and conveyed as a mortgage interest in a specifically described tract of land, is sufficient to convey the land described. Id.—Failure to Note Delinquent Sale on Subsequent Assessment.— Where land had been properly sold to the state for delinquent taxes for the year 1894, the failure of the fiscal officers to stamp upon the assessment-book for the year 1895 the fact that it had been sold for taxes and the date of the sale, as required by section 3801 of the Political Code as enacted in 1895, did not affect the validity of such sale. Id.—Notice of Delinquent Sale.—The words “sold to the state,” stamped on the assessment for the subsequent year, were sufficient to impart notice of such sale to the fiscal officers and also to the owner of the land. Id.—Insufficient Description of Land in Assessment.—Under the existing revenue laws, by which all property delinquent for taxes is sold to the state, a description in an assessment of real property, as follows, “ In Los Angeles County. In Electric By. Homestead Assn. Tr. Lot 17 Block 20,” is ‘prima facie insufficient to identify the land assessed, and there is no' presumption that there is any map in existence a reference to which might serve to identify the land. Id.—Evidence to Identify Land.—In an action to quiet title, brought by a party relying on a tax-deed based upon such a description in the assessment, evidence of a map showing the location of the land is admissible dehors the deed to show that the assessment was in fact sufficient to identify the land. In the absence of such identifying evidence the assessment and deed are insufficient and void.