Gill v. Robinson
Gill v. Robinson
Opinion of the Court
rendered the opinion and decree of the Court, as follows:
In 1876, during the community which existed between him and his wife, Grace Gill, Armistead Taylor purchased the property in dispute, took immediate possession and continued in possession thereof until his death in 1910. Grace Gill died without issue and intestate in, 1878, and in 1879 Taylor married the defendant, who is his universal legatee and who is presently in possession of the property.
The present suit for a partition is instituted by the sisters of Grace Gill, the first wife, who, as her alleged heirs, claim her community half-interest in the property.
There are several issues presented, that it is unnecessary to consider, for our view is that the prescription of thirty years pleaded by defendant is well founded and decisive.
From the death of his first wife in 1878, until his death in 1910, Taylor retained and enjoyed the open, exclusive, unequivocal, undisputed and uninterrupted possession of the property — that is, for a space of thirty-two years; and during this entire time, at his separate expense exclusively, the dwelling was improved, if not rebuilt; the lot was filled, and all taxes, insurance and other charges paid.
Rhodes vs. Cooper, 113 La., 604; Shelby vs. Pierson, 125 La., 513, 514.
B. C. C., 3515, is to the same general effect; and the French commentators recognize the right of a co-owner who has separately .and uninterruptedly possessed and enjoyed the property for thirty years to prescribe against the interests of his co-owners.
Baudry-Laeantinerie et Wahí, Des' Successions, Vol. II, pp. 661 et seq.
We are satisfied that the nature, extent and character of Taylor’s possession fulfilled the requirements of these provisions and that the plea of prescription is well founded and was properly maintained.
The case of Simon vs. Richard, 42. An., 842, cited by appellants, is distinguishable, for in that case the Court found and expressly held that the requisite possession had not been proved. As to B. O. 0., 1304, which is likewise relied upon by appellants, it specifically refers to cases where the property has been enjoyed or possessed in common by the co-heirs or co-owners. ■
Nor is there any merit in the contention that prescription has been interrupted; for the testimony alone of one of the plaintiffs is relied upon to prove an alleged vague and indefinite acknowledgment made by Taylor, prior to his death.. Such evidence is of the weakest, character and
There i,s no error in the judgment and it is accordingly affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.