Comaita v. Kyle
Comaita v. Kyle
Opinion of the Court
By the Court,
This is an action to recover damages for the alleged conversion of personal property, to wit, about 15,000 bushels of charcoal and 450 cords of wood. The following uncontradicted facts were proven by plaintiff: On the fifteenth of November, 1882, one Located! was indebted to plaintiff in the sum of $2,120. On the evening of said day, defendant, the sheriff of
“ $2,120. Antelope Valley, November 16, 1882.
“ This is to certify that for and in consideration of the sum of two thousand and one hundred and twenty dollars, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, I have this day sold, and do by these presents sell and deliver, to John Comaita, a certain wood and coal ranch on which I now reside, situate west of Antelope Valley, and immediately west of Antelope Valley, and immediately west of the old Lamaroux ranch, together with the wood chopped, and piled or pitted, and all the coal burned, with two horses and one wagon, to have and to hold the same for himself and his heirs forever.
“Witness: Giacomo Locatelli.
“I. J. Wilson,
“ Joel Allison.”
After executing the above instrument, Locatelli and plaintiff were informed that the former must discharge his hired men, go away from the ranch, and leave plaintiff in charge and possession of everything. This was done. Locatelli remained away about ten days. Before or after the execution and delivery of the certificate or bill of sale, Locatelli did nothing relating to the wood or coal other than as above stated. There were no words or acts of delivery of either wood or coal. Plaintiff did nothing to take possession of either, except to receive the bill of sale. The coal was in six or seven piles, some dis
Upon the above facts shown by plaintiff, defendant moved for a nonsuit upon the following grounds: —
“First. That the uncontroverted case made by plaintiff constituted a fraud in law.
“ Second. That from the testimony it appears that plaintiff claims the personal property described in the complaint by virtue of a pretended purchase of real property upon which the personalty is situated, and that the instrument in writing under which he claims the real property is insufficient to convey any right or possession to the real property, and is void.
“ Third. That there is not any evidence that the ranch was inclosed by any actual inclosure, or anything equivalent thereto, to show the extent of plaintiff’s dominion or control of the same, as claimed by him, or otherwise.
“Fourth. That the testimony shows that plaintiff relies upon a constructive possession of the land where the coal was pitted and the wood piled to make out his possession of the personal property, in which case he can only recover by the introduction, as evidence, of such a deed as will vest in him a legal seisin and possession, and that the written instrument*41 introduced did not convey, and does not convey, to him any right of possession; the same being in law a simple parol conveyance of land, and insufficient to convey personal property thereon as against creditors.
“Fifth. That plaintiff has not shown any delivery of the personal property, or any change of the possession thereof.”
Did the court err in denying defendant’s motion? Was there sufficient proof of delivery and change of possession of the wood and coal to entitle plaintiff to the finding of a jury upon those questions? There were no words or acts of delivery of the personal property, and plaintiff did not do anything to take possession of the wood and coal, except to receive the bill of sale. A delivery of the bill of sale was not even a symbolical delivery of the personal property described therein. (Carter v. Willard, 19 Pick. 12; Dempsey v. Gardner, 127 Mass. 382.) Certainly, Locatelli’s discharge of his workmen did not constitute a delivery or change of possession of the wood and coal; nor did Locatelli’s departure have that effect, although coupled with the general declaration that he left plaintiff in possession of everything. Undoubtedly, plaintiff might have taken possession of the personal property in some proper manner before the levy, and, had he done so, there would have been a complete delivery and change of possession, as was held by this court in Gaudette v. Travis, 11 Nev. 157. But the mere departure of the vendor, together with the execution and delivery of the bill of sale, did not have that effect. Those acts would not have constituted a sufficient delivery and change of possession if Locatelli had sold the personal property only. In that case, considering the character of the property, plaintiff would not have been obliged to remove it, but it could have been delivered, and the pits of coal and piles of wood could have been marked in plaintiff’s name. Indeed, counsel for respondent do not claim that prior to the levy there was a sufficient delivery and change of possession of the wood and coal, independently of the sale, surrender, and taking possession of the ranch. It is said, however, that as between the vendee of personal property and an attaching creditor of the vendor, the former has a reasonable time in which to take possession, and that whether plaintiff had such reasonable time, prior to the attachment, was a question for the jury to decide.
The statute declares that every sale made by a vendor of
It is conceded that the bill of sale did not convey Locatelli’s title to the ranch. There was no proof that the ranch was inclosed, or had any established boundaries. Plaintiff, then, did not have constructive possession of any portion thereof. (Cannon v. Union Lumber Co., 38 Cal. 674; Wolfskill v. Malajowich, 39 Cal. 281; Eureka M. Co. v. Way, 11 Nev. 182.) He had actual possession of the cabin only. Since there was no delivery of the wood and coal, actual or symbolical, should we assume that the legal title to the ranch was in Locatelli, nothing less than a conveyance, by deed of the real estate, with surrender of possession thereof to plaintiff, would have given the latter possession of the personal property thereon. (Sharon v. Shaw, 2 Nev. 292;
In view of the conclusions reached, we deem it unnecessary to point out the errors contained in plaintiff’s first and second instructions.
The judgment and order appealed from are reversed, and the cause is remanded.
15 Am. Dec. 546.
19 Am. Dec. 340.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JOHN COMAITA v. MATTHEW KYLE
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- Published