Mather v. Dunn
Mather v. Dunn
Opinion of the Court
This was an action to recover the possession of a mining claim known as the “Alta Villa Lode.” The defendants claimed title to the same mining ground by virtue of a location made under the name of the “Lilly. B. Lode.” Verdict and judgment were in favor of plaintiff. On the trial the plaintiff failed to establish his ownership to one-fourth of the Alta Villa lode, but no question was raised as to this failure prior to the verdict. . After the verdict the defend
As will be seen from an inspection of the order, a question of law only is presented for our determination, and that is did the court err in granting a new trial upon the ground stated? The verdict of the jury was in favor of plaintiff on all the issues, but they found no damages. Was the plaintiff entitled to a judgment, as against defendants, for the possession of the whole of the Alta Villa lode, notwithstanding he failed to prove a legal title to the entireclaim? The contention of the defendants is that he is not, and such was evidently the view of the learned trial court. In this we are of the opinion that the trial court was in error The plaintiff, in establishing title to three-fourths of the claim, had the right to the possession of the whole of the claim, as againts all persons except his co-tenant, owning the one fourth interest. Neither of the defendants claimed to be a co-tenant with plaintiff in the Alta Villa lode. The defendants claimed the ground under a separate and distinct location of the Lilly B. lode, and hence the issue was raised by the pleadings as to the priority and validity of these .two locations. We must assume, from the verdict of the jury, that
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- 1. A tenant in common is entitled to recover possession of the cutiré premises, as against a stranger not claiming as a co-tenant, though the other co-tenants are not parties to the action. 2. Tenants in common are not “united in interest,” within Comp. Law, $ 4879, requiring all such persons to join in an action. 3. Comp Laws, §4909, makes a defect of parties a ground of domurr t. Section 4912 provides that, if the grounds of demurrer do not appear on the face of the complaint, the objection may be taken by answer. Section 4913 provides that, “if no such objection be taken by demurrer or answer, defendant shall be, deemed to have waived the same, excepting only the jurisdiction of the court and the, objection thaé the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.” Held, that the question of a defect of parties plaintilf cannot be first raised on ;t motion for a new trial.