Maxwell v. . Jones

Smith, C. J. The allegations contained in the complaint are that the plaintiff Maxwell is and was seized and entitled to the -possession of the tract of land in dispute, described by its boundaries, and had leased it to his co-plaintiff, Upchurch, for a term; not expired, and put him in possession, and that the defendant wrongfully entered and evicted the tenant. The relief demanded is ‘‘judgment for the recovery of possession of said land and for two hundred dollars damages.” The answer is a separate and direct denial of' each allegation. The issues submitted to the jury, to each of 'which was returned an answer in the negative, are: 1. Is the plaintiff the owner in fee-simple of the lands described in the complaint? 2. "Was the defendant in the wrongful possession of any portion of said lands when the action was brought? On the trial the plaintiff exhibited in evidence a grant of the land from the state, issued in the year -1844, from which he dej duced title to himself. The defendant claimed under an older grant made to one Roark, but did not connect himself with the estate of the grantee. It -was shown that at the time of the •defendant’s entry the plaintiff Upchurch was in possession under a lease from the other plaintiff for one year, and then in force. No issue appeal’s to have been asked in reference to the pos *326 session of Upchurch and any rights of his incident thereto, nor-wah it the subject of comment; nor were any instructions relating 'thereto asked during the trial; but the plaintiffs “rested, their whole case upon the title of Maxwell., and upon his right.' to recover.” Among other matters the court charged the jury “that the plaintiff* must recover on the strength of his own title and not on the weakness of that of his adversary’s,” and to this the plaintiff excepted. After verdict the plaintiffs moved, for a new trial, on the' ground that the action is for a trespass upon the possession off Upchurch, and not to determine the title to the land. The motion being refused and judgment rendered for defendant, the-plaintiffs appeal. There can be no objection to the instruction given in the action, if it be deemed to have for its object the restoration of the laud to the plaintiffs, and no authority is needed to sustain, its correctness as a principle of law. But the action is manifestly of this kind from the structure of' the complaint, the issues eliminated from-the pleadings, and the-conduct of the cause by both parties up to the close of the trial... The complaint asserts title as well as a right of possession in Maxwell, the wrongful entry and occupation by the defendant,, and demands possession, also substantial damages for the withr holding. It is true the tenant is also a plaintiff, and this was a neces-' sity; since he alone, being then entitled to possession under the-lease, could sue for its restitution', and the two plaintiffs are associated because the entire estate, according to their averments,, resided in them, and one or the other would be entitled to recover whenever the action wras determined. Again, if the action wore fqr the invasion and usurpation of a possession merely, and this is sufficient for a recovery against a,, wrong doer with no title or right of entry, the damages would be merely nominal for the entry, while the demand is foi’ the con *327 tinued occupation since the entry. Possession must' be regained1 before damages can be had for occupation held and injuries suffered by the premises subsequent to the original invasion. Smith v. Ingram, 7 Ired., 175; Gilchrist v. McLaughlin, Ib., 310; Graham v. Houston, 4 Dev., 232. These references show the action to be for the' recovery of land and the damages incidental to and resulting from the continued wrongful occupation by the alleged aggressor, and upon this view t-he issues were prepared and submitted to two successive juries; nor was any objection made until the rendition of the last adverse verdict. Under such circumstances the court properly refused to entertain a suggestion that the character and purpose of the action liad been misunderstood, and that it only sought redress for an unlawful entry upon, and disturbance of, a mere possession of the tenant. There has. been a .fair trial upon the merits and the plaintiffs must abide the result. There is no error, and the judgment must be affirmed. No error. Affirmed.