Betsey v. Torrance

FisheR, J., delivered the opinion of the court. This was an action brought under the Pleading Act of 1850, in the Circuit Court of Yallabusha county, to recover a tract of land in the possession of the defendant. Although numerous exceptions were reserved on the trial below, the case turned there, as it must here, upon one point only; and that is, whether the deed, executed by the plaintiff to the defendant, pending the suit, was sufficient to vest in him her title to the land. The facts are as follows: The defendant, about the year 1852, entered into possession of the land under color of title, claiming it as his own, and adversely to the plaintiff and all others. While the defendant was thus in possession, the plaintiff sold the land to one Jenkins Devaney, who, it may be inferred from the record, caused this suit to be commenced. After this conveyance to De137 vaney, the plaintiff, by a quitclaim deed, released to the defendant, wbo, after introducing proof as to his adverse possession, introduced this deed of quitclaim to defeat the action. Under this statement of the case, there is really no difference between counsel. Both parties admit that the deed to Devaney was void as to the defendant in possession of the land, holding under an adverse title. On behalf of Devaney, however, it is said, that the deed, as between him and the plaintiff and all others, except the defendant, is valid. This position may be admitted, and still the result will not be changed. If Devaney’s deed was void as to the defendant, there was nothing to restrain him from purchasing from the plaintiff. As between him and the’ plaintiff, the same right or capacity to contract in regard to the land, existed, as if Devaney’s deed had never been executed. But it is said that the deed of the latter was registered before the defendant purchased. Admit it. If it were void as to the defendant, before registration, this act could not render it valid. It may be true, as contended by counsel, that the suit was properly commenced; that a recovery could have been had against the defendant, and that such recovery would have inured to the benefit of Devaney, if no superior title in the defendant had been shown. But this is not the question. The law, from considerations of policy, holds the deed of Devaney void, as to the party in the adverse possession of the land; and, being so void, it is as to him as if it had never been executed. Under this aspect of the case, what restrained either the plaintiff from selling or the defendant from purchasing the land, confining the transactions, of course, to these parties ? It cannot certainly be said that a void deed could so operate, for otherwise it would not be void. Under this view of the case, the judgment must be affirmed. The counsel for the plaintiff in error filed a petition for a re-argument, as follows:— The plaintiff in error prays that a re-argument be granted him. The judgment is affirmed, upon the ground that the deed from Betsey to Devaney was void as against Torrance; and it is, therefore, assumed that her deed of quitclaim, to the latter, was opera [138] tive to pass the land. The'opinion admits that the deed to Dévaney is valid against Betsey, and against all others, except Torrance. If, as the court admits, and the authorities agree, the deed from Betsey to Devaney was good as against her, and passed her interest in the land, what interest had.she to convey by her subsequent quitclaim to Torrance ? She quitclaimed to Torrance only such interest as she then had, which was nothing, if her previous deed was good as against herself. It is not enough for Torrance to show that the prior deed was inoperative as against him, but he must also show it was inoperative as to Betsey, before he can claim an interest under her subsequent deed. If it be true that, as against Devaney, he was privileged to acquire a title, it is equally clear that Betsey had none to convey. It was, therefore, essential for the court to find, not only that Torrance had a right to receive, but that Betsey had something to give — a point not yet declared. And it seems impossible to hold that the first deed was good against her, if her second deed p'assed the land. It is a mistake to assume that “both parties” admit that the deed to Devaney is void as against Torrance. The position of counsel for petitioner is this, — that said deed “ was so far inoperative that it vested in him no right of action, as against Torrance,” but was, for every other purpose, “valid and effectual as a conveyance of the land.” It is true that such a deed is sometimes said to be void, as against the adverse possessor; but in what sense, and to what extent is it void as to him ? It is inoperative to this extent, — that it gives the grantee no right of action, in his own name, against such possessor. I submit that this is. the whole extent of the rule, and that the grantee has the right to sue in the name of his grantor, the disseisee, precisely as the assignee of a chose in action, not negotiable, has the right to use the name of his assignor, and sue and recover; and the rights of such grantee will be recognized and protected by courts, precisely as they protect such assignee. As. to such deeds, the authorities hold this language : “ It conveys all the interest of the grantor to the grantee, but the grantee cannot enforce it in his own name against the disseisor, though it may be done in the name of the grantor.” Livingston v. Peru Iron Co., 9 Wend. 523. [139] If, as this authority holds, such a deed “ CONVEYS all the interest of the grantor to the grantee,” are we not right in saying the deed from Betsey conveyed all her interest to Devaney,- and that therefore she had nothing to quitclaim to Torrance ? And if, as this case holds, such grantee may sue and recover, in the name of his grantor, but cannot sue in Ms own name, is it not true that the grantee has an interest which the courts will recognize and enforce; and that such deed is inoperative only in this, — that it does not give the grantee a right of action, in his own name, against the disseisor ? Again, it has been said of such a deed: “ The grantees could not enforce it in their own names, but may do so in the name of the grantor.” Stockton v. Williams, 1 Doug. (Mich.) 567; Wade v. Lindsey, 6 Met. 413, 414; Edwards v. Parkhurst, 21 Verm. 474, 475. Even where the courts declare such deed void, as against the adverse holder, they still admit that the grantee has the entire beneficial-interest. Thus: “The deed is absolutely void against the person holding adversely; and as against him the title is still in the grantor, but in trust for the use of the grantee, and the suit must be in his name; and when a recovery is had, it will inure to the benefit of the grantee.” University v. Joslyn, 21 Vermont, 61. Thus, where courts declare the title still in the grantor, they hold that his recovery is for the grantee, who is entitled to use the name of the grantor, and recover against the adverse holder. Wilson v. Nance, 11 Humph. 191; Jackson v. Leggett, 7 Wend. 379, 380. It will be noted that these decisions are not cited merely to show that this suit was “ properly brought,” but to prove that Devaney has, even as against Torrance, a substantial right, which the courts will protect and enforce, through the name of Betsey. Again, if, as the court assumes, this deed was void, for every purpose, as against Torrance, so that Betsey still had the title, it would follow that she would have had, but for her deed to him, a direct interest in the result of the suit. Yet the courts hold that such grantor “ has no legal interest in the event of the suit,” and is, therefore, a competent witness against the adverse holder. Van Hœsen v. Benham, 15 Wend. 165. [140] These authorities seem to establish our position, — that Devaney has the entire interest in the land, and that he is entitled to enforce it and recover possession by suing in the name of Betsey. If it be said this view nullifies the law of champerty, we say not. It declares that the right of action, against the adverse holder, is not assignable, so as to enable the grantee to sue in his own name; that the grantee cannot sue upon that deed, in his own name, and by means of it oust the possessor, but lea.ves the parties, for all the purposes of suit, as if no such deed existed; whilst that deed, for every other purpose, is operative. Can the adverse holder complain that such a deed gives the grantee -a right to sue in the name of the grantor, and recover ? We answer, in the words of a very learned court, “ that is a matter between the grantee and grantor, and with which the person holding adversely has nothing to do. It is enough for him that the deed does him no injury.” Livingston v. Proséus, 2 Hill (N. Y.) 529. Again, when Torrance sets up the deed from Betsey to him, he assumes the position of a purchaser from her, with knowledge of the prior recorded deed to Devaney. We submit that, in this respect, he stands precisely as would a judgment creditor, who having purchased at private sale the property of his debtor, with knowledge of a prior deed, should attempt to avoid the older conveyance as a fraud upon creditors. In such a case, the conclusive reply would be that he claimed not as a creditor, but as a purchaser. So here, the defendant cannot set up his rights as disseisor to sustain his claim as purchaser, with notice, under a junior deed. There is another point, not noticed by the court. The deed to defendant was made after the suit was brought. At the date of the suit, plaintiff had a clear right of action. There was also a clear right to recover back rents. But there is a general judgment, and for all costs, against plaintiff. If a party sue, and the defendant shows payment after suit brought, plaintiff is still entitled to recover costs up to that time. Wherefore petitioner prays a re-argument, and that the judgment of the Circuit Court be reversed, and a new trial granted. Fisher, J., delivered the opinion of the court, upon the petition for a re-argument. [141] This case is now before the court, upon a petition asking a re-argument. After a careful consideration of the authorities cited by counsel, we are satisfied that the opinion is correct. The question is not what is the law, but what is the case to which it must be applied. It is a mistake to suppose that the deed executed by the plaintiff to Devaney can even be noticed in this case. If Torrance had set up this deed for the purpose of defeating the action, he would have been told that, as he claimed adversely to it, he could not set it up, for the reason that the very position which he assumed proved the invalidity of the deed. But Torrance, not introducing the deed, it is certain that no one else can introduce it, for the reason that it can serve no purpose, either in sustaining or defeating the title in controversy. If the plaintiff had introduced the deed, she would have admitted its legal effect to transfer the title, and could not, for this reason, have recovered. The error of counsel is in supposing that Devaney’s deed can even raise a question in the case, if we adhere to strict technical rules. The plaintiff could release her cause of action to the party in possession, and, the moment this ivas done, the suit was at end. Petition overruled.