Toms v. Knighton
Toms v. Knighton
Opinion of the Court
“The purchase of land, full payment of the purchase-money, and possession, create a perfect equity, which is good against the vendor, his heirs and those claiming under him with notice.” Sikes v. Seckinger, 164 Ga. 96, 102 (137 S. E. 833). See also Grace v. Means, 129 Ga. 638 (59 S. E. 811); Lee v. Pearson, 138 Ga. 646 (5) (75 S. E. 1051); Wall v. L. & N. Railroad Co., 143 Ga. 417, 420 (1) (85 S. E. 325); Elrod v. Bagley, 154 Ga. 670 (115 S. E. 3). “A perfect equity is the equivalent of legal title.” Bank of Arlington v. Sasser, 182 Ga. 474 (3) (185 S. E. 826); Chapman v. Faughnan, 183 Ga. 114, 115 (3) (187 S. E. 634); Sikes v. Seckinger, supra. “Possession of land is notice of whatever right or title the occupant has.” Code, § 85-408; Baldwin v. Sherwood, 117 Ga. 827 (45 S. E. 216); Dix v. Wilkinson, 149 Ga. 103 (2) (99 S. E. 437); McDonald v. Dabney, 161 Ga. 711 (8) (132 S. E. 547); Chandler v. Georgia Chemical Works, 182 Ga. 419 (1-a) (185 S. E. 787, 105 A. L. R. 837); Hicks v. Hicks, 193 Ga. 382, 383 (18 S. E. 2d, 763). “He who takes with notice of an equity takes subject to that equity.” Code, § 37-115; Elrod v. Bagley, supra. The notice which the law in this State presumes from adverse possession is actual notice and not merely constructive notice. Walker v. Neil, 117 Ga. 733, 748 (45 S. E. 387); Dyal v. McLean, 188 Ga. 229, 231 (3 S. E. 2d, 571). Of course, the possession which would amount to notice is not simply possession at some, time prior to the acquisition of a deed by the contestant, but possession at the time such deed is obtained. Webster v. Black, 142 Ga. 806 (3) (83 S. E. 941); Wood v. Bowden, 182 Ga. 329 (6) (185 S. E. 516). “Notice sufficient to excite attention and put a party on inquiry shall be notice of everything to which it is afterwards found such inquiry might have led. Ignorance of a fact, due to negligence, shall be equivalent to knowledge, in fixing the rights of parties.” Code, § 37-116; Walker v. Neil,
It is clear that under the evidence and authorities above mentioned the petitioner obtained a perfect equity, equivalent to legal title, in and to some portions of the land in controversy as against the grantor, his heirs, and those claiming under him with notice. The notice upon which the petitioner relies to defeat the claim of his adversary under a subsequently recorded deed and alleged possession is that notice which is given by the petitioner’s possession at the time the defendant acquired his deed to the land in dispute. The evidence fails to show actual occupation of the entire premises. “Actual possession of lands i-s evidenced by’ inclosure, cultivation, or any use and occupation thereof which is so notorious as to attract the attention of every adverse claimant, and so exclusive as to prevent actual occupation by another.” Code) § 85-403. The nearest approach to showing full possession or occupation is the statement of the petitioner, after testifying that he put a part of the land in pasture and put a fence around it, that “I put a fence around it the next year after I bought it.” Assuming that he was referring to a fence around the entire acreage, and not merely the pasture, his testimony does not assert that the fence was intact and complete on November 15, 1941, when the defendant acquired his deed. '•“Most” of the fence is still there. The fence is incomplete, but when it ceased to be complete is not disclosed. For aught that appears it was not continuous on November 15, 1941. Therefore, it can not be said that on that date a fence encircled the entire premises and the petitioner had possession of the whole, and it is not claimed that it was aided by natural barriers. Will his possession in part, together, with full payment of the purchase-price, entitle the petitioner to a perfect equity in the entire 13 acres contracted for? The answer will depend
It becomes unnecessary to determine whether or not the evidence required a finding as a matter of law that the defendant was put on notice of some actual possession by the petitioner, since such notice would not be sufficient to entitle the petitioner to prevail as to the entire premises. The geographical actual possession of the petitioner was not made to appear with such definiteness as would have enabled a verdict in his favor to have been rendered
Judgment affirmed.
Concurring Opinion
concurring specially. I am inclined to the view that the plaintiff would not acquire a perfect equity, equivalent to legal title, to the omitted 13-acre tract, under the facts summarized in the first headnote. It may be that the oral agreement would be merged in the deed, and that any right or claim that the plaintiff might have with respect to the omitted tract would depend on reformation. Carr v. Augusta Grocery Co., 183 Ga. 346 (188 S. E. 531); Kennedy v. Kennedy, 183 Ga. 432 (3) (188 S. E. 722, 109 A. L. R. 1143); Taylor v. Board of Trustees of Glenlock Public School, 185 Ga. 61 (194 S. E. 169). If such reformation would be necessary, I do not think it could be said that the plaintiff had a perfect equitable title to the omitted tract. Magid of Tallulah Inc. v. Beaver, 183 Ga. 485 (189 S. E. 43). However, jf the plaintiff did have a perfect equitable title to the omitted tract, as ruled by the majoritjq I think he would have it by reason of the full payment of the purchase-money alone, and that actual possession would not be a prerequisite thereto. Code, § 37-802; Grace v. Means, 129 Ga. 638, 644 (59 S. E. 811); May v. Sorrell, 153 Ga. 47 (3), 53 (111 S. E. 810); Long v. Godfrey, 198 Ga. 652 (32 S. E. 2d, 306).
What I have just said has reference solely to the question as to equitable title, and does not in any way concern the question as to what would constitute notice to a purchaser. Nor do I mean to say that it would be necessary for one to have a perfect equitable title before he would be entitled to the protection of a court of equity as against a subsequent purchaser with notice. Code, § 37-115.
It is my view that under Code, § 85-408, actual possession will
' Nevertheless, the defendant contended and testified that the plaintiff was not in possession of any part of the tract at the time he purchased it, and under the evidence as a whole it cannot be said that the verdict for the defendant was unauthorized. Dix v. Wilkinson; 149 Ga. 103 (2) (99 S. E. 437); Webster v. Black, 142 Ga. 806 (3) (83 S. E. 941). Accordingly, the court did not err in overruling the plaintiff’s motion for a new trial, based solely on the general grounds. For this reason, I concur in the judgment.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- TOMS v. KNIGHTON
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- Published