May v. Slade

• Decision Date: 01 January 1859
• Citation: 24 Tex. 205
• Parties: STEPHEN D. MAY v. WILLIAM O. SLADE.
• Court: Texas Supreme Court

24 Tex. 205

STEPHEN D. MAY

v.WILLIAM O. SLADE.

Supreme Court of Texas.

1859.

It is well settled, that one tenant in common may maintain an action of trespass to try title, without joining his co-tenant. 10 Tex. 205;16 Tex. 506.

Tenants in common, must join in actions of trespass relating to the possession: that they must join in the action of trespass quare clausum fregit is well settled.

Although the non-joinder of a co-tenant, can, in general, only be taken advantage of by plea in abatement, or by way of apportionment of the damages, on the trial; yet, if the defect be apparent on the face of the petition, the objection may be taken by exception.

If the plaintiff meet such exception, by an amendment, joining his alleged co-tenant, as plaintiff in the action, the joinder will not avail him, if, upon the trial, it appear that the latter had no interest or estate, at the time of instituting the suit.

If one who has a good cause of action, join in trespass quare clausum fregit, with one who has no cause of action, the suit cannot be sustained.

APPEAL from Bell. Tried below before the Hon. N. W. Battle.

This was an action of trespass, brought by William O. Slade, against Stephen D. May for cutting and carrying away timber. The petition was in the usual form, and described the plaintiff as being “the absolute legal owner of an undivided interest of nine and one-third labors of land, out of seventeen and two-third labors;”“that he holds said lands, as tenant in common with _______; and that he was in the peaceable possession of said land up to the first day of October, 1853.” The trespasses were alleged to have been committed on or about the first day of October, 1853, “and divers other days, between that day and the commencement of this suit.” The suit was brought on the 20th August, 1855.

At the November term, 1855, the defendant appeared and demurred to the action, because of the non-joinder in the petition, of the other tenant in common.

On the 16th May, 1857, the plaintiff filed an amended petition, alleging that Nathan Halbert was the tenant in common with him, in the said land, and prayed that Halbert might be made a party co-plaintiff. At the same time, Halbert filed his petition. averring the same facts, and making the same prayer. Halbert was made a party, and the cause proceeded accordingly.

At the December term, 1858, the cause was tried, when the jury returned a verdict in favor of Slade, for $123.58 damages, upon which, the court rendered a judgment in his favor, for the amount, and all costs, etc.

Upon the trial, the plaintiff, Slade, proved title to the amount of interest in the land claimed by him, as stated in his original petition. Halbert had no title at the institution of the suit.

The court charged the jury, that proof by Slade of title, as alleged by him, and the commission of the alleged trespasses by the defendant, entitled him to a recovery of the damages sustained; and that the mere fact, “that the parties stand before the court as joint suitors, will not bar Slade's recovery for the injury to his own land.”

The defendant asked the court to instruct the jury, “that if Halbert's title-bond bears date subsequent to the institution of the suit, the jury will find for the defendant;” and, “that thi?? suit is brought jointly, by the plaintiffs, and if it appear, from the evidence, that Slade and Halbert did not own the land, at the time of the trespasses complained of in the petition, the jury will find for the defendant.” The court refused this instruction.

A motion for a new trial was filed by the defendant, assigning as grounds therefor, the instructions given by the court, and the refusal to give those asked for. The motion was overruled, whereupon, the defendant appealed, and assigned as error, the grounds contained in the motion.

Oldham & White, for the appellant. Tenants in common must join in all actions for injuries to the common estate. Merrill v. Berkshire, 11 Pick. 269;Gilmore v. Wilbur, 12 Id. 120;May v. Parker, Id. 34;Daniels v. Daniels, 7 Mass. 135. In trespass quare clausum fregit, tenants in common must join. Austin v. Hall, 13 Johns. 286;Decker v. Livingston, 15 Id. 479;Low v. Mumford, 14 Id. 426. That a tenant in common, cannot maintain an action as a co-plaintiff, with a stranger, who has no interest, we think is firmly settled by authority. The misjoinder of plaintiffs, in actions ex delicto, is equally fatal, as in actions ex contractu, and may be taken advantage of on the trial. Glover v. Hunnewell, 6 Pick. 222. If one who has a good cause of action, join in trespass quare clausum fregit, with one who has no cause of action, the suit cannot be sustained. Murray v. Webster, 5 N. H. 391.

John T. Flint, for the appellee.

WHEELER, C. J.

It is settled by the decisions of this court, that one tenant in common may maintain an action of trespass, to try title,...