Scarvell v. Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad

Grant, J. The defendant was convicted of trespass guare clausum fregit. The acts of trespass consisted of maintaining a spur track over plaintiff’s land, and running freight cars over the same. About 10 years prior to the trial of the cause in the court below, one Amos C. Beebe owned the land, upon which was a gristmill, at which Beebe carried on both a commercial and custom business. Beyond and adjoining this land was the sawmill of the Smith Lumber Company. Mr. Beebe, the Smith Lumber Company, other parties, and the defendant entered into an arrangement or understanding for the construction of the track in question, which ran so as to accommodate the gristmill, the sawmill* and also the other parties interested. Beebe, at his own expense, furnished the ties for the construction of the track across his land; the lumber company and other parties did likewise; and the defendant furnished the rails and constructed the track, which was used for the joint benefit of all the parties, until Beebe sold and conveyed the land and the mill to the plaintiff, in 1891. After the purchase by plaintiff, he carried on only a custom business, and had but little occasion to use the track. Part of the [375] tramway used by the Smith Lumber Company in connection with the spur track is upon plaintiffs land, for the' use of which he receives a rental. The deeds from Beebe to plaintiff contained no reservation, but the plaintiff had full knowledge of the arrangement, having been in partnership with Beebe for some time previous to his purchase of the entire property. The arrangement for the construction of this track rested entirely in parol. In April, 1892, plaintiff rendered a bill to the defendant, claiming $75 for the use of the land for switching purposes for the previous year. The defendant refused payment, and denied liability to pay any compensation. In August, 1892, he wrote the defendant a letter, stating that, because it had failed to allow him any compensation for the use of his premises, he therefore requested it to remove the track. This the ' defendant failed to do, and plaintiff thereupon instituted this action of trespass. The findings by the court are numerous, but the above statement is sufficient to present, and dispose of the question which is decisive of the case. Plaintiff insists that the defendant had only a parol license to enter upon the land in question, which was revoked by the deeds from Beebe to him, and that thereafter defendant became a trespasser in its use of the track. The defendant insists that trespass is not the proper remedy, and that the parol license was coupled with an interest, was executed, and is therefore irrevocable. This spur track was constructed at the joint expense of the defendant and the several parties over whose land it, ran, and who were entitled to its use. No time was mentioned for its existence, but it was the evident understanding among the parties interested that it should be continued so long as there was occasion for its use. Evidently, none of the parties would have incurred the expense of its construction if it had been understood that one of them might at any time terminate the license, and render the [376] others trespassers by its use. "We are not called upon in this suit to determine the important questions arising under an executed parol license, coupled with an interest in the land. The plaintiff has clearly mistaken his remedy. The defendant .lawfully entered, and was lawfully in possession. If it be granted that the deeds terminated the license, yet this did not operate to render the defendant's possession tortious and its use a trespass. As well might a tenant whose right to possession and use has been terminated be prosecuted in trespass for remaining in possession. This is not a case of a mere naked license to enter for temporary purposes, such as the cutting of timber, the drawing of water, or the passage over one's land on foot or with teams. In these cases the licensor remains in the actual possession of his property, the licensee obtains only a temporary possession, which is not exclusive' nor coupled with any interest, and the revocation of the license terminates all right of entry. But in the present case the defendant was given the actual possession of the land. It took possession and executed the license, which was largely for the benefit of the plaintiff's grantor, and for the accommodation of the business carried on by him. Under these circumstances, it cannot be made a trespasser by an attempted revocation, either expressly or by implication of law. The rights of the parties in such case must be determined in some proceeding wherein a judgment of ouster can be rendered. Such was the course pursued in Wood v. Railroad Co., 90 Mich. 334, an action of ejectment, upon which case the plaintiff mainly relies to establish revocation by deed. Judgment reversed, and entered in this Court for the defendant, with the costs of both courts. McGrath, C. J., Long and Montgomery, JJ., concurred with Grant, J.