Lane v. Fury
Lane v. Fury
Opinion of the Court
Cornelius W. Lane was in possession when he convoyed to Mrs. Fury, and he placed her in actual possession of the premises; and, therefore, there has been no-breach of the covenant of seizin, as that covenant is regarded in 'this state. Nor was there any breach of the-covenant against incumbrances, as the instrument signed' by Mrs. Ward as a deed was invalid by reason of the defective acknowledgment, and hence the fee did not pass to-Mrs. Fury. The real question is, whether there was- a-breach of the covenant of general warranty.
There was notice to Mrs. Fury to leave the premises;, and a suit by the Ward heirs to recover possession, of which the plaintiff in error had notice, and it is perfectly clear, that without some affirmative action on the part of Mrs. Fury, the plaintiffs in the suit would have prevailed;for the deed of Mrs. Ward, having no sufficient acknowledgment, was wholly invalid at law. True, Mrs. Fury-might have asserted the infirmity in the suit to- recover the property, aud sought a reformation of the instrument, and probably that course was pursued; but she was not bound to-adopt, or having adopted, wholly rely on that mode of obtaining relief. Indeed, if she set up the defect in that action, and asked that it be remedied, and the proceeding- to recover enjoined, she was the actor, and virtually the plaintiff in the case, and a decree therein would be appeal-able. She might well resort to an independent action, before another tribunal, where there could be no appeal, to obtain the correction with less delay,, and that it is the course she saw proper to -pursue.
The principle stated in Rawle on Covenants (4-th edition), 812, in support of which Harding v. Larkin, 41 Ill. 413, is cited, that such recovery can not include expenses and attorney’s fees “ in any remote dr other suit than that by which the paramount title was established,” has no application to this case, for here the money was expended, in obtaining the paramount title.
If, in holding that' this petition is sufficient, we go somewhat further in sustaining such actions than this court has found it necessary heretofore to go, We are. supported, nev
Motion overruled.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.