Van Winkle v. Hinckle

Cope, J. delivered the opinion of the Court Norton, J. concurring. This is an action to quiet the title to certain real estate in the city of Sacramento. The complaint alleges that the defendant is in possession as the tenant of the plaintiff, but disclaims the tenancy, and sets up an adverse title in himself. The judgment enjoins the defendant from asserting his title, and establishes that of the plaintiff. We are of opinion that the judgment is erroneous, and that the action cannot be maintained. The statute provides that “ an action may be brought by any person in possession, by himself or his tenant, of real property, against any person who claims an estate or interest therein adverse to him, for the purpose of determining such adverse claim, estate, or interest.” (Prac. Act, sec. 254.) Taken literally, this provision is broad enough, perhaps, to authorize an action [344] against the tenant himself, but there are conclusive reasons why it should not be so construed as to give it that effect. It is a rule of public policy that a tenant cannot dispute the title of his landlord, and it is not to be supposed that the intention was to interfere with this rule, or furnish the means of depriving the tenant of a right which, as tenant, he is precluded from defending. A tenant may acquire an adverse title, but he cannot use it against the landlord so long as the tenancy continues ; and unless we are to admit an exception in this respect the effect of the action would be to cut him off without an opportunity to be heard. We do not regard the statute as intending either of these results, but as giving a remedy against parties who are in a position to assert their rights, and are not bound by a temporary estoppel as to the right asserted on the other side. If a tenant renounce the tenancy in favor of an adverse title, the landlord may elect to consider himself ousted, and maintain ejectment; but he cannot claim possession through the tenant, and at the same time bring an action against him to determine the title. There is nothing in any of the previous decisions of this Court in conflict with these views, and the cases cited by the counsel for the plaintiff have no bearing upon the question. Judgment reversed and cause remanded.