Strabala v. Lewis

Rothrock, C. J. 1. Tax sale and deed: statute of limitations. — I. It is conceded that the tax deed is in due form, and that there is no defect in any of the proceedings upon which it is based. ' x defendant is the owner of the patent title, and the only question presented by the appeal is whether the action is barred by the statute of limitations. It is provided by section 902 of the Code that “no action for the recovery of real property sold for the non-payment of taxes shall lie unless the same be brought within five years after the treasurer’s deed is executed and recorded.” It appears from the record that the land was sold for taxes on the first day of October, 1877. The treasurer’s deed was executed on the twentieth day of April, 1883, and filed for record April 15, 1885. The action was commenced on the ninth day of March, 1889. The action was brought within five years from the date of the recording of the deed. The land was unoccupied prairie until November 14, 1885, at which time the defendant took actual possession thereof,' which he still retains. It is claimed by counsel for defendant that, because the plaintiff neglected to file his tax deed for record, the statute of limitations above cited should be held to have commenced to run at the date of the deed. Reliance is had upon Hintrager v. Hennessy, 46 Iowa, 600; Griffith v. Carter, 64 Iowa, 193; Cassady v. Sapp, 64 Iowa, 204, and Hintrager v. Traut, 69 Iowa, 746. The cases cited are broader and more far-reaching than the claim made by counsel in this case. They hold that under the facts, including the possession of the land by the owner of ■the patent title, the statute should commence to run in three years from the date of the tax sale. But in the case at bar the action was commenced within five years from the recording of the deed, and the defendant did not take possession of the land until after the deed was recorded. These facts bring the case within the rule of the cases of Adams v. Griffin, 66 Iowa, 125; Francis v. Griffin, 72 Iowa, 23, and Griffin v. Turner, 75 Iowa, 250. In Adams v. Griffin it is held that, as the owner of the 512 patent title did not take possession during the time the purchaser at the tax sale negligently omitted to obtain a tax deed, such negligence cannot inure to the benefit of the former. It is proper to say here that the case of Griffith v. Carter, supra, relied upon by appellant, was determined upon the theory that the action was not brought until more than five years after the tax deed was recorded. This was probably a mistake of the writer of the opinion. Attention was called to this mistake in the later case of Francis v. Griffin, above cited. In our opinion, the district court correctly held that the plaintiff’s action was hot barred by the statute limitations. 2. —: action to quiet title writ of possession. II. The plaintiff demanded that a writ should be issued to put him in possession of the land. The court refused to so order, and from that ruling the plaintiff has appealed. In view of the fact that the defendant has made improvements on the land for which a claim may be made, and as the cause was appealed, we think the court did not err in refusing the writ. The cause will be remanded to the court below for further proceedings in that behalf. On both appeals the cause will be Aeeirmei).