McDivitt v. Bronson
McDivitt v. Bronson
Opinion of the Court
Defendant was the owner of two lots in the city of McCook, upon one of which her dwelling stood. She sold the other to plaintiff, who was intending to build. Plaintiff procured plans for tbe erection of a dwelling on tbe lot sbe purchased and let tbe contract for tbe erection of tbe bouse. Sbe bad tbe lot surveyed before beginning excavation for the foundation. It was then ascertained that a bay of defendant’s bouse projected over and into tbe lot plaintiff bad purchased. Tbe portion wbicb encroached was about 12 or 14 feet long and a little over 2 feet wide, exclusive of the eaves wbicb projected about 2% feet further. Plaintiff desired to use tbe strip upon wbicb tbe bouse encroached as a driveway. Sbe proposed to defendant that sbe (plaintiff) reconvey tbe lot and have a return of the purchase money. Plaintiff also negotiated with other parties with reference to tbe purchase of another lot. Sbe also offered to accept $250 and reconvey tbe five-foot strip. Tbe testimony tends to prove that defendant said sbe could not return tbe money and take tbe lot back because sbe bad sent tbe money away. Sbe declined to pay $250 for tbe strip. Plaintiff then proceeded with tbe construe-
The petition was the ordinary form in ejectment. The ansAver set up that the plaintiff knew of the encroachment Avhen she purchased the lot and agreed that it might remain there, but there is absolutely no proof to support these allegations. The only, assignment of error is that the judgment of the district court is contrary to laAV. Under this assignment two propositions are advanced; First, that it is essential to the action that plaintiff shoAV that she has been ousted by the defendant; second, that ejectment will not lie for a portion of a building if the building will ■be so destroyed as to lose its identity.
In Dale v. Hunneman, 12 Neb. 221, the question whether it was necessary to prove ouster before an action of ejectment could be maintained was considered, and it was held that while this Avas essential at common law it Avas unnecessary in a modern action under the Code, and that all that is necessary to entitle the plaintiff to the action is that he has a legal estate in the premises, is entitled to possession of the same, and that the defendant unlawfully keeps him out of possession. Bridenbaugh v. Bryant, 79 Neb. 329.
As to the second point, only a small portion of defendant’s dwelling projects into plaintiff’s lot, Avhich can be
The judgment of the district court.is
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jeannette McDivitt v. Marie E. Bronson
- Status
- Published