Pierce v. Shelton
Pierce v. Shelton
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
On August 18, 1910, M. E. Pierce brought an action against Maurice C. Shelton and his wife to quiet her title to a tract of land in Finney county. The Sheltons filed an answer and cross-petition, alleging ownership of the land and also the payment, on July 18, 1910, of all delinquent taxes assessed against the tract. On June 14, 1911, the court, on motions filed by both parties, dismissed the action, but three days later the Sheltons moved to reinstate the cross-petition and the action, and this motion was allowed over the objection of Pierce. On the trial it was decided that the tax deed on which Pierce’ relied was irregular and invalid, and that the Sheltons were the owners of the land and held possession of the same when the proceeding was commenced, and thereupon judgment was given quieting their title to the land. From this judgment Pierce appeals.
There was an objection that the case was reinstated without summons or the service of any notice upon the appellant. It appears that counsel for the appellant were in the court when the motion to reinstate was made, and therefore they not only had actual notice
The appellees, in their cross-petition, alleged that théy owned the land and held possession of it. The testimony tended to show title in them unless it was defeated by the tax deed which had been issued to appellant. It is contended, however, that possession is an essential issue in an action to quiet title, and that appellees failed to show that they had such possession of the land as warranted them in maintaining the action. Possession is a material issue in a statutory action to quiet title, but it appears that some proof of possession in appellees was produced. First, they had the record title, and there is' no contention that appellant ever acquired possession of the land or exercised any control over it. In fact, her tax deed was not executed until September 6,1910. It appears that the land was occupied by Evans Brothers as a pasture under an agreement made by the agent of appellees. It was enclosed by a fence with other lands of Evans Brothers, and they paid rent to appellees in the early part of 1911, the last payment being on April 10 of that year. This was a sufficient possession as against the claims of appellant. (Hoffman v. Woods, 40 Kan. 382, 19 Pac. 805.)
The j udgment of the district court will be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- M. E. Pierce v. Maurice C. Shelton
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- SYLLABUS BY THE COURT. 1. Order of Dismissal — Set Aside at Same Term — Actual Notice — No New, Summons Necessary. An order of dismissal may be set aside and the cause reinstated -without the service of a new summons where the order of reinstatement is made at the same term and while the counsel for the opposite party is present in court and has actual notice of the application. 2. Quieting Title —■ Tax Deed —• Insufficient Consideration — Invalid. A tax deed, the validity of which was challenged before the five-year statute of limitations had run in its favor, was issued for an insufficient consideration and for an amount which did not correspond with that named in the notice of redemption, and is therefore invalid. 3. Same — Possession a Material Issue in Action to Quiet Title. Possession by the plaintiff is a material issue in a statutory action to quiet title to land, and in this action it is held that the proof produced showed a sufficient possession as against the claims of the defendant.