Thomas v. Hukill
Thomas v. Hukill
Opinion of the Court
The learned judge below held that he had jurisdiction of the subject-matter of this controversy, notwithstanding it was real estate situated in West Yirginia, from the fact that the parties, plaintiffs and defendant, were residents of the county of Allegheny. He dismissed the bill, however, upon the ground that it was an ejectment bill, and that the plaintiffs had an adequate remedy at law, either by an action of ejectment in the courts of West Yirginia, or in an action at law for damages, and cited Stewart’s Appeal, 78 Pa. 88. We entirely agree with the conclusion of the learned judge, and are not disposed to criticise his reasons therefor, further than to say that, while it is true the residence of all the parties in the county of Allegheny gave the court jurisdiction over them, the fact of the subject-matter of the controversy being real estate situate in another state rendered the exercise of such jurisdiction of at least doubtful propriety. While the proceeding was in form a bill in equity, it was in substance a possessory action, involving the title to real estate. In such case a decree of this court could only affect the persons of the litigants; it could not control the title or possession of a tract of land in West Yirginia.
The decree is affirmed, and the appeal dismissed, at the costs of the appellants.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- T. R. THOMAS v. E. M. HUKILL
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Where a bill in equity was filed by a second lessee of oil lands, out of possession, alleging a forfeiture incurred by a prior lessee, in possession, for failure to perform his covenants, praying for an injunction to restrain further operations, for a decree declaring the prior lease void, and for an account, it was not error to dismiss the bill, the plaintiff having an adequate remedy at law. 2. Moreover, while the proceeding was in form a bill in equity, it was in substance a possessory action, involving the title to land in another state; in such case, a decree of this court could affect the persons of the litigants only, and, not controlling the title or possession of the land in the other state, the exercise of such jurisdiction would be of at least doubtful propriety.