Phillips v. Gastrell

Mississippi Supreme Court
Phillips v. Gastrell, 61 Miss. 413 (Miss. 1883)
Campbell

Phillips v. Gastrell

Opinion of the Court

Campbell, C. J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

We have heretofore recognized the doctrine that a disseizee cannot maintain an action for the value of trees or other part of the land sold,” Miller v. Wesson, 58 Miss. 831, and it follows that replevin is not maintainable by the disseizee for such things. But to defeat the action on the ground of the disseizin of the plaintiff there must be an actual adverse occupation of the land, held in good faith under claim of title. The action is denied because the *417occupant of land under such circumstances should not be “ harassed with a separate action for each bushel of wheat consumed or stick of firewood burnt on the premises, instead of having the matter settled at once by an action to recover the possession ” of the land. Wright v. Guier, 9 Watts 172.

We are disposed to restrict the doctrine within its narrowest limits, and to deny the action only as against the actual possessor of the land, and to permit it against a trespasser however frequently he may have repeated his trespasses. We do not think the appellee is shown to have had such actual occupation of the land as to deny the real owner the right to maintain replevin for logs cut from' the land. This is swamp land, valuable probably only for its timber, and not capable of actual occupation. It was temporarily and occasionally occupied by persons “camped” on it for the purpose of felling trees to be rafted out. There was no permanent or continuous occupation of it and the facts do not bring the case within the rule as stated. Policy dictates a permission to bring replevin by the true owner of the trees in such a case.

Reversed and new trial granted. ■

Reference

Full Case Name
George F. Phillips v. H. M. Gastrell
Cited By
1 case
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Replevin. For trees cut. -Action by disseizee, how defeated. To defeat an action of replevin on the ground of the desseizin of the plaintiff, there must be an actual, adverse occupation of the land held in good faith under claim of title. 2. Same. Actual owner. Trespasser. The action will be denied only as against the actual possessor of the land and permitted against a trespasser, however frequently the trespass may have been repeated. 3. Same. Case in judgment. Where the land is swamp and overflowed land, not capable of actual Occupation, and only occasionally and temporarily occupied by. persons “ camped ” on it for the purpose of felling trees to be rafted out, there was no permanent or continuous occupation of it, and the true owner will be permitted to bring replevin for trees cut on the land.