Meeske v. Miller
Meeske v. Miller
Opinion of the Court
The complainant recovered a judgment of eviction before a circuit court commissioner, upon a claim that the premises were wrongfully withheld from him by Miller, his tenant. This judgment was reversed
The return to the, writ shows that Miller, being in possession as owner of the original title to the premises, mortgaged them to Meeske, the complainant. Subsequently the land was sold for delinquent taxes to one Foss, who took a deed for the same from the auditor general. Foss was a relative of Miller. Meeske foreclosed his mortgage in chancery, taking a commissioner’s deed. A demand was then made for possession, after which an arrangement of some kind was made by which the defendant continued in possession. Complainant claimed that Miller agreed to purchase the land for the amount due, and meantime to pay $5 a month rent. Miller admitted the arrangement, and that he agreed to pay the debt for which the mortgage was foreclosed, but denied that he promised to pay rent. The proceeding was based upon a claim that he was complainant’s tenant, and of nonpayment of rent.
Upon the trial befoi'e the commissioner, complainant first learned of the tax title by the production of the deed, and the testimony of Foss and the defendant that for six years the latter had been paying $60 a year rent to the former. Upon certiorari the circuit judge was of the opinion that title to land was brought in question, and that the commissioner should therefore have dismissed the proceeding, under the rule laid down in Butler v. Bertrand, 97 Mich. 59, and Jenkinson v. Winans, 109 Mich. 525.
It is shown beyond controversy that, at the time of the arrangement between Miller and Meeske, Foss had all of the title that he ever had, and that Miller knew of it. He saw fit at that time to recognize the title of Meeske, and by his agreement he became his tenant, either at an agreed rent, or at will or sufferance. The commissioner found that he agreed to pay rent, and that finding is conclusive of the question, there being evidence to that effect. No change in the title of complainant has occurred since that agree
The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and a judgment of ouster will be entered here in accordance with the judgment of the commissioner which is hereby affirmed, together with costs of all courts to be taxed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.