Harrison v. . Darden

Devin, J. Tbe judgments appealed from were based upon tbe findings of fact made by tbe referee, concurred in and approved by tbe trial judge. Tbe reference having been by consent, it is tbe established rule in tbis jurisdiction that tbe findings of tbe referee approved by tbe judge are conclusive upon appeal if there was competent evidence to support tbe findings. Wallace v. Benner, 200 N. C., 124, 156 S. E., 795; Usry v. Suit, 91 N. C., 406. Appellant has not brought up tbe evidence beard by tbe referee, nor has be pointed out any material fact not supported by evidence. However, tbe plaintiff assigns error in tbe rulings below as to several matters of law to which be has noted exception. Tbe plaintiff excepts to tbe opinion expressed in tbe referee’s report that tbe recital in tbe original judgment that tbe defendants “while bolding tbe premises under color of title believed to be good made improvements on tbe lands,” should be regarded as a determination by tbe court of tbe fact of tbe belief of tbe defendants in tbe validity of their title. However, tbe failure of tbe plaintiff to except to tbis statement in tbe judgment and bis joining in tbe stipulation in tbe same connection that tbe question of improvements, rents and damages should be passed on at a subsequent term, together with bis waiver of tbe filing of petition for betterments by tbe defendants, would seem to lend support to tbe expression of tbe view complained of. In tbis connection tbe referee added tbe specific finding that at tbe time of making tbe improvements on tbe land tbe defendants bad reasonable grounds to believe their title to be good. Furthermore, it appears that tbe defendants entered into possession of tbe lands under deed executed pursuant to tbe judgment in a suit to foreclose a tax sale certificate, to which suit plaintiff was a party, and that defendants’ possession was with tbe knowledge of tbe plaintiff and so continued for five or six years before tbe present suit was instituted. Tbe findings and conclusions on tbis point may not now be successfully challenged by tbe plaintiff. It is well settled that in order to entitle a defendant to compensation for tbe enhanced value of land due to permanent improvements placed thereon by him, it must appear that be held tbe land in good faith under a colorable title believed by him to be good, and that be bad reasonable ground for such belief. Rogers v. Timberlake, ante, 59; Barrett v. Williams, 220 N. C., 32, 16 S. E. (2d), 405; Pritchard v. Williams, 176 N. C., 108, 96 S. E., 733. Plaintiff excepts to tbe failure of tbe referee to note in bis findings as to tbe condition of tbe land a distinction between standing and down trees. It is contended tbis would have afforded a more accurate method *367 of determining the condition and value of the land, but we do not regard this exception as of sufficient moment to require additional findings of fact. Plaintiff assigns error in the ruling of the court below in approving the findings and conclusions of the referee as to the rental value of the lands. The referee and also the court took the view that the rents and rental values of the lands which were obtained by-the defendants solely by reason of the improvements put on the lands by themselves could not be used to offset compensation for these improvements. This seems to be the rule prescribed by the statute, C. S., 700, which excludes “the use of the improvements thereon” from estimates against the defendants of the clear annual value of the premises during the time of possession. As the lands at the time of defendants’ entry were covered by woods and swamps, some of which had been burned over, and were uncultivated, the referee’s conclusion that plaintiff was only entitled to set-off against the value of improvements a nominal rental value was properly approved by the court. According to the finding the land had no substantial rental value at the time of defendants’ entry. Plaintiff’s exception to the court’s approval of the referee’s finding as to the value of standing timber removed by and chargeable to the defendants cannot be sustained in the absence of showing that these findings were not supported by the evidence. As the evidence heard by the referee was not sent up, we must presume there was evidence to support the findings on these matters. Caldwell v. Robinson, 179 N. C., 518, 103 S. E., 75. The plaintiff complains that the referee failed to find that the value of the rent and the waste committed by defendants exceeded the enhancement in value of the land caused by improvements put on the land by the defendants. But in the absence of any evidence in the record as to the character, amount and value of these items, we are unable to help him. The suggestion that the original fertility of the soil may have been dissipated and wasted by the defendants is not sufficient to justify the conclusion that the plaintiff has been materially prejudiced by the action of the referee and the court in this respect. The argument is also made by the plaintiff that since his title had been registered under eh. 47, C. S., known as the Torrens Law, claim for betterments in this action could not be enforced. True, this statute provides a particular method for the registration of transfers, liens and claims against land which has been brought under, its provisions. But except as otherwise specially provided in the act, registered land is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in the same manner as if not so registered. C. S., 2379. We find nothing in these statutes that would prevent the court from proceeding to determine the value *368 of improvements claimed by defendants, wbo have been evicted under plaintiff’s superior title, in accordance with the terms of an unassailed judgment to which plaintiff was a party, and ascertained by a reference to which he has formally consented. The judgments of the court below were ordered recorded by the register of deeds on the registry of plaintiff’s certificate for the land. C. S., 2413. An examination of the entire record leads to the conclusion that the facts have been established in the manner selected by the parties, and that the judgments based thereon must be Affirmed.