Blair v. Porter

Ross, C. J. — The only question presented on this ap [297] peal relates to the jurisdiction of justices of the peace in actions to recover possession of real estate. Under section 7106, R. S. 1894, justices of the peace have jurisdiction in actions to recover the possession of real estate, when the relation of landlord and tenant has existed between the parties and the tenant is unlawfully holding over, and under section 7118, when possession has been unlawfully and forcibly taken, or when possession has been peaceably taken, but is unlawfully and forcibly detained. This action was commenced on the 11th day of March, 1891, the appellee alleging in his complaint that on the 10th day of February, 1888, Martin.Byrkit, by written lease, demised and leased to William Pray, fora term of three years from March 1, 1888, certain real estate situated in Marion county, Indiana, particularly describing it; that on the 10th day of August, 1889, Pray assigned his rights under the lease to the appellant Blair; that afterwards, the appellant Baker became associated with Blair as a partner and that they have since occupied the leased premises. That their tenancy under the lease expired on the 1st day of March, 1891. It is also alleged that on the 8th day of January, 1891, Byrkit leased said premises to appellee for a term of three years from March 1, 1891, and that since that date he has been and now is entitled to the possession of the demised premises, but that the appellants ever since the expiration of their said tenancy have wrongfully and unlawfully held over and detained the possession of said premises and are now wrongfully and unlawfully holding the same and detaining the possession from him. This action is prosecuted under the former of the two sections above cited, and in order to be maintainable the relation of landlord and tenant must exist between the parties. [298] Counsel insist, however, that the original complaint filed, but which was afterwards amended, was a simple action in ejectment; that when appellant appeared specially and moved to dismiss the cause for want of jurisdiction of the subject-matter, the justice had no alternative but to dismiss the action and that he had no power to permit the appellee to so amend his complaint as to state a cause of action within the justice’s jurisdiction. Justices of the peace have no jurisdiction to hear and determine actions for the recovery of real estate except as heretofore stated under sections 5106 and 5118, supra, which do not embrace ordinary actions in ejectment. Jurisdiction in ordinary actions in ejectment is exclusively with the circuit court, section 1062, R. S. 1894. We do not think the appellants were harmed by the court’s granting appellee permission to file an amended complaint. There was no apparent change in the cause of action other than to state specifically the facts showing the relative position of the parties with reference to each other and the property in controversy. The action, as originally begun, was possessory, and when amended, had not been changed in that respect, but was simply amended so as to show the relationship of landlord and tenant between the parties and that appellants were unlawfully holding over. The statute in this State allowing amendments is to be liberally construed in that it may aid in the settlement of all the issues which are and should be the subject of a single litigation. To that end the lower court is endowed with great discretionary power in allowing amendments, and this court will not reverse the lower court’s acts unless it shall appear affirmatively that harm has resulted therefrom. Had the justice sustained the appellant’s motion to dismiss and refused appellee leave to amend, appellee could at once have filed his amended complaint as a new action. Such a course [299] would have benefited the appellants only in that they could have held possession a few days longer. Technically, such may be the correct practice, but in this instance it did not harm the appellants if they were wrongfully holding possession. Filed. Nov. 21, 1894. The case of Bensch v. Farnsworth, 9 Ind App. 547, presents almost the identical question in issue here, and this court fully considered and decided the question adversely to appellant. The amended complaint states a cause of action clearly within the jurisdiction of the justice of the peace, and the appellants having appeared and gone to trial without calling in question the jurisdiction of the court over their persons can not now be heard to complain because they were not properly brought into court. Once having submitted to the court’s jurisdiction, by a general appearance, they can not withdraw therefrom. We find no harmful error in the record. Judgment affirmed.