Case ID: kan_27/html/0348-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Horton, C. J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Joseph Duncan v. Andrew Yordy.
    1. Destroying Growing Crops; Venue of Action. An action to recover damages against a defendant for unlawfully entering real estate situate in this state and destroying growing crops thereon, may be brought in» the county in which the defendant resides or may be summoned.
    2. Injuries to Crops; Right of Action. A plaintiff in the actual and peaceable possession of real estate may be entitled to recover for injuries to his growing crops, although not the owner of the premises, and not entitled to the right of possession thereof.
    
      3. Jurisdiction of Justice, Jfo Ouster of. Under the provisions of \ 7 of civil procedure before justices, a justice of the peace trying an action must stay all proceedings before him when it appears to his satisfaction that the-boundaries of land are in dispute in such action, but the mere filing of an affidavit and answer duly verified, setting forth that boundaries of land are in dispute, will not oust the justice of jurisdiction.
    
      Error from Saline District Court.
    
    At the November Term, 1881, of the district court, Yordy, as plaintiff, had judgment against Duncan, who brings the case here. The opinion states the facts.
    
      J. H. Haldeman, for plaintiff in error.
    
      Banks & Cunningham, for defendant in error.
   The opinion of the court was delivered by

Horton, C. J.:

On August 24, 1881, defendant in error (plaintiff below) filed his bill of particulars against plaintiff in error (defendant below), before a justice of the peace of Saline county, in the following words, omitting title and the name of the justice:

“The plaintiff says, that during the summer of 1881, at numerous times, the defendant did unlawfully enter, and direct to be entered, the following premises: The N.J of N.W. -j- of sec. 1, town fourteen, south, of range six, Ellsworth county, Kansas; and at different times did destroy, or cause to be destroyed, grain growing on tbe premises above described, by tramping down a strip of wheat one-half mile long and one rod wide. The plaintiff believes he has been damaged in the sum of twenty-five dollars, and costs of this suit.”

A trial was had, and after the introduction of the evidence the justice allowed the bill of particulars to be amended by an allegation that the plaintiff below was, and is, the lawful owner of the land described therein. The justice rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of $13, with costs. The defendant then took the ease to the district court ■of Saline county, on a petition in error, and upon a hearing thereon the judgment of the justice was affirmed. The defendant brings the case here, and asks to have the judgments of the district court, and of the justice, reversed and vacated for alleged errors.

It is urged that the bill of particulars is fatally defective. In support of this objection, it is said that it does not appear that the plaintiff below had any possession of the premises, and as the premises described in the bill of particulars are situate in Ellsworth county, that the action should have been brought in that county instead'of Saline county. The objection as to the venue of the trial is without merit. The record shows that the summons was duly served in Saline county, and the action is one of those which' may be brought in the coiinty where the defendant resides or may be summoned.

The bill of particulars, even with the amendment, appears to have been very loosely drawn, but still we hardly think it fatally defective. Fairly construing all the pleadings, possibly we should say that the plaintiff below was in the possession of the property. If so, he was entitled to recover if the evidence sustained the averments of the bill of particulars. Where one is in the actual and peaceable possession of real estate, he may recover for injuries to growing crops, whether he be in fact the owner or entitled to the possession of real estate or not. (Caldwell v. Custard, 7 Kas. 303.)

The defendant below filed an affidavit under oath, setting forth therein the defense that title and boundary were in question, and upon the affidavit and answer, asked that the action should be stayed before the justice, and that the justice should certify the case to the district court of his county. The justice refused so to do, and this ruling is also alleged as error. The record in the case does not purport to contain all the evidence introduced on the trial, and we cannot say upon the record that the action was one that the justice ought to have certified up. Justices have jurisdiction in actions for trespass on real estate where damages demanded for such trespass do not exceed $100. In this case the amount claimed was only $25. If it appeared at the trial that the boundaries of the land were not in dispute in the action, no error was committed in refusing the stay applied for. The mere filing of an answer, stating that the boundaries of the land are in dispute, although verified as required by §7 of civil procedure before justices, will not necessarily oust the justice of jurisdiction.

The judgment will be affirmed. .

All the Justices concurring.