Hipes v. Doherty
Hipes v. Doherty
Opinion of the Court
Appellee, as plaintiff below, instituted this suit by a complaint in one paragraph to quiet his title to a certain easement, namely, a private roadway located over and upon certain lands belonging to appellant, situated in Wabash county, Indiana. The relief demanded by the complaint was that plaintiff’s title to the roadway and easement be quieted in him, that defendant be enjoined from obstructing said roadway, that he be ordered to remove the obstructions that he had placed upon said roadway, and asking for all other and proper relief. The defendant answered in two paragraphs. The first was a general denial, and the second set up affirmative matter. Defendant also filed a cross-complaint, whereby he sought to have his title quieted as against that claimed by plaintiff. Plaintiff replied to the answer, and also filed an answer to the cross-complaint. Upon these pleadings the issue was joined between the parties, and the cause was submitted to the court, with the request that a special finding of facts be made and conclusions of law stated thereon. The trial court made a special finding of facts and stated conclusions of law thereon in favor of plaintiff. Over the exceptions of defendant to these conclusions the court entered a decree that plaintiff’s title to the easement and roadway over the described lands of defendant be quieted in him and forever put at rest, and enjoined defendant from obstructing said roadway and from interfering with plaintiff’s right to enjoy the free use thereof. After entering the decree, defendant petitioned for a new trial under the statute, as a matter of right, and tendered the proper undertaking, as required by law. This undertaking the court approved, but overruled the motion of defendant for a new trial as a matter of right. He has appealed, and two of the errors he has assigned, and upon which he relies for reversal, are that the court erred in its conclusions of law on the special finding, and in overruling his motion for a new trial as a matter of right.
It is also well settled that a new trial as of right exists in such suits. McAllister v. Henderson, supra, and authorities cited; Corns v. Clouser, supra.
The complaint set up but one cause of action, which is to quiet title. The demand for an injunction to prevent defendant from continuing to obstruct the roadway, thereby preventing plaintiff from passing thereover, was a matter of relief demanded incidental to the facts alleged in the complaint.
It follows that the court erred in overruling appellant’s application for a new trial as of right, for which error the judgment must be reversed.
Reference
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