Ramsey v. O'Leary
Ramsey v. O'Leary
Opinion of the Court
This is a real action, evidently brought to recover of the tenant a narrow strip of land occupied by him, and in dispute between the parties as co-terminons proprietors. The controversy really involves the true location of the line separating their respective lots. The demandant, however, included in the description of the demanded premises his entire lot, and described it on the disputed side as bounded by a lot of land which is in fact the same now owned and occupied by the tenant. There was a general verdict for the demandant for the premises demanded. Thereupon the tenant moved to set the verdict aside “ because the description of the demanded premises is so vague, indefinite, and uncertain that no writ of possession can be made and executed thereon.” This motion was overruled by the presiding judge, and exceptions are taken to this order, and the tenant also moves against the verdict as rendered against the evidence in the case.
It is provided by R. S., c. 104, § 21, that if the demanded
But the tenant does not suffer by such abortive result. Beyond a bill of costs he will not be affected by it. He cannot be prejudiced by a judgment which cannot be applied to a certain, particular, and definite parcel of land. Unless the demandant can show that the premises in controversy are embraced within the verdict, the judgment founded on such verdict will be unavailing and useless to him, to aid his title to the premises he is seeking to obtain. Silloway v. Hale, 8 Allen, 61, is a pertinent authority as to the value and consequences of such a judgment.
It is clear that the verdict should not be set aside, even if it amounts to no more than a verdict for costs, for the jury were authorized by the evidence to find that the tenant claimed to hold as his own at least a small parcel of the demandant’s premises.
It is contended that the verdict is erroneous because it finds that the demandant was disseized of his whole premises when the evidence shows a disseisin of a small portion only; but the tenant not having pleaded his special matter seasonably under the
Motion and exceptions overruled.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.