Case ID: wis_15/html/0609-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PAINE, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Wakeley vs. Mohr, impleaded &c.
    A complaint by the holder of a tax deed, sufficient to show a cause of action under sections 35, 36 and 31, chapter-22, General Laws of 1859, would not be held bad on demurrer even if section 38 of that chapter (which requires the defendant, as a condition to theright of defending against the tax deed on certain grounds, to pay into court certain sums therein specified for the benefit of the plaintiff,) were eonceded to be unconstitutional.
    The only effect of the unconstitutionality of that section would be, that the defenses specified therein might be interposed without complying with the conditions.
    The provisions of chapter 22, General' Laws of 1859, relative to actions to try the title to lands deeded for taxes, are not unconstitutional on the ground ttA they deny the right to a trial by jury in an action at law; section 42 of that chapter providing that any issue of fact arising in such a cause shall be tried by a jury on the demand off either party.
    
      APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Dane County.
    This was an action commenced in November, 1861, by the holder of a tax deed executed October 5, 1861, and recorded on the 16th of the same month, conveying land sold in September, 1858, for delinquent taxes of 1857. The complaint alleges the legal assessment of taxes upon the land for 1857, default in the payment thereof, the sale of the land to the plaintiff and the execution of a certificate of sale to him, and the subsequent execution and record of the tax deed, which is set forth in full. It then alleges that by virtue of said conveyance the plaintiff claims title to said land, “ and is the absolute owner thereof, and entitled to the possession thereof;” that at the time of said sale the land was owned by the defendant Eaton, and was still claimed by him; that Mohr, the other defendant, claimed some interest in the land, &c. Prayer for judgment that the defendants, and all persons claiming under them, might be forever barred of all interest &c., in the land; that the title to the land might be quieted in the plaintiff; and for general relief. — Mohr demurred to the complaint, on the grounds that it did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, and that several causes of action were improperly joined therein. The court sustained the demurrer, and Mohr appealed.
    
      Walceleys & Vilas, for appellant.
    
      J. 0. Hoplcins, for respondent, contended that the legislature had no power to provide for a suit in equity by the grantee in a tax deed to bar the rights of the original owner ; that if the plaintiff had any title to the land, it was an absolute legal title; that such was the nature of the title claimed by him in his complaint; that the issue thus presented must be tried in an action at law, in which the defendant was entitled to a jury. The action is in fact an action to recover real property, and the complaint does not contain facts sufficient to sustain such an action. R. S., p. 888. 2. Counsel contended that secs. 35 to 48 of chapter 22, Laws of 1859, all relate to this one remedy, and must stand or fall together ; and that section 88 is in violation of sec. 9, Art. 1 of our state constitution, which provides that “ every person is enti-tied to a certain remedy in tbe law, freely and without being obliged to ¡purchase it," &c. 3. Three causes of action were united in tbe complaint; one for an action in ejectment; one for an equitable action to bar tbe rights of tbe defendants, under tbe statute; and one for an equitable action to re-moye a cloud upon tbe plaintiff’s title.
    October 11.
   By the Court,

PAINE, J.

It is not denied that this complaint is sufficient to show a cause of action under sections 35, 36, and 37, cbap. 22, General Laws of 1859. But it is claimed in support of tbe demurrer, that tbe act itself is unconstitutional. A portion of tbe argument is based upon tbe provisions of sec. 38, which require tbe defendant, as a condition to tbe right of defending against tbe tax deed on account of certain irregularities, to pay into court certain sums therein specified, for tbe benefit of tbe plaintiff. We do not see bow this question can be raised upon this demurrer. For if that requirement were conceded to be invalid, it would not destroy tbe entire law. Tbe only effect would be that tbe specified defenses might be interposed without complying with tbe conditions. Tbe provision in question certainly does not constitute such an essential feature of the law, that tbe whole must fall unless effect can be given to that.

Tbe only other ground for bolding the act unconstitutional was, that tbe action is in effect a legal action, and that it is incompetent for tbe legislature to change a legal into an equitable cause of action, and thus deprive the party of bis constitutional right to a jury trial. But this may be conceded, and we still do not see how this law is obnoxious to tbe objection. Section 42 expressly secures to either party who demands it, a jury trial upon any issue of fact. There certainly can be no question here, then, about a party’s being deprived of this right. And we suppose that it is not denied that it is competent for tbe legislature to enlarge or abridge remedies existing, or create new ones, subject to such restrictions as tbe constitution imposes. We discover no valid objection to the law in that respect.

Tbe order sustaining tbe demurrer is overruled, with costs, and tbe cause remanded for further proceedings.