Case Name: James Dalgardno, Respondent, v. John Trumbull et al., Appellants
Court: Washington Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Washington
Decision Date: 1911-01-21
Citations: 61 Wash. 659
Docket Number: No. 7956
Parties: James Dalgardno, Respondent, v. John Trumbull et al., Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Washington Reports
Volume: 61
Pages: 659–661

Head Matter:
[No. 7956.
Department Two.
January 21, 1911.]
James Dalgardno, Respondent, v. John Trumbull et al., Appellants.
Appeal — Decision — Law op Case — Remand — Questions Concluded. Wliere, upon appeal, the rights of the parties are determined except as to the amount of taxes paid, and the cause is remanded for the purpose of ascertaining the amount, the decision becomes the law of the case, and on the remand no other question can be presented.
Taxation — Lien for Taxes Paid. When taxes are paid in good faith to protect the property from seizure, and inure to the benefit of the owner, a lien for repayment of the taxes is imposed on the premises.
Appeal from a judgment of the superior court for Jefferson-county, Still, J., entered December 2, 1907, upon findings in favor of the plaintiff, after a trial on the merits before the court without a jury, in an action to recover possession of real property and to quiet title.
Affirmed.
Trumbull <§• Trumbull, for appellants.
U. D. Gnagey, for respondent.
Reported in 112 Pac. 928.

Opinion:
Morris, J.
In June, 1904, respondent brought an action against appellants, alleging the ownership of the south half of lot 2, block 109, of the original townsite of Port Townsend, and praying judgment, for the recovery of possession; for the rental value while out of possession; to quiet his title as against any claim, interest, or right of defendants; to enjoin defendants from asserting any claim to the premises; and to declare a lien for the taxes paid thereon. A demurrer was interposed to the complaint, which being sustained, respondent refused to plead further, and judgment of dismissal was entered against, him, from which judgment he appealed to this court. On September 18, 1905, this court filed an opinion in which the ruling of the court below in sustaining the demurrer was affirmed. The court held, however, that plaintiff was entitled to a lien upon the premises for the amount of taxes paid thereon, and remanded the cause to the court below, with instructions to ascertain the amount of taxes paid and to declare the same a lien (Dalgardno v. Barthrop, 40 Wash. 191, 82 Pac. 285), an examination of which will convey a better understanding of the then opinion of this court and its reasons for the holding made and the judgment here entered. The judgment of this court being filed in the court below, respondent moved for judgment for the amount of taxes paid as shown by his complaint, and that the same be declared a lien, which was denied, and the appellants ordered to file an answer. This order was complied with by appellants Trumbull filing an answer raising an issue upon all the allegations of the complaint, to which answer respondent made reply. The cause coming on for trial, the court found, among other matters, the amount of taxes paid by respondent to be the sum of $301.80, and entered a decree adjudging such sum, with interest and costs, a lien upon the easterly forty one-hundredths of the south half of said lot 2; from which this appeal is taken.
In the trial below, many unnecessary issues were made and passed upon by the court in its findings, to a number of which appellants take exception. Upon the judgment of this court there was but one issue to be tried — thé amount of taxes paid by respondent, which amount being found, it was the duty of the court below, as directed by this court, to decree a lien upon the premises. Appellants in their brief raise many questions concerning matters prior and subsequent to the first appeal, which they urge should be taken into consideration by us in determining the rights of the parties. We have no concern with any controversy between the parties, save only the one properly before us, and that is, the finding and decree made by the court below determining the amount of taxes paid and establishing the same as a lien. That was the plain mandate •of this court in its judgment upon the first appeal, and was the only matter proper to be inquired into, the first judgment of this court having become the law of the case and determined respondent's right to a decree in the amount of taxes paid. The only legal question that could in any event arise in connection with the mandate of this court upon the first appeal, which could be urged against such a decree, would be that it appears that respondent was not acting in good faith in paying these taxes, nor under a belief that he was the owner of the property and entitled to the possession thereof, and we do not so find; it being the established rule in this state and elsewhere that, when taxes are so paid in good faith, which protect the property from seizure and thus inure to the benefit of the real owner, a hen is imposed upon the premises. Rothchild Bros. v. Rollinger, 32 Wash. 307, 73 Pac. 367; Ball v. Clothier, 34 Wash. 299, 75 Pac. 1099; Spokane v. Security Savings Society, 46 Wash. 150, 89 Pac. 466; Childs v. Smith, 58 Wash. 148, 107 Pac. 1053.
Pinding no error committed by the court below in obeying and following the mandate of this court as contained in the judgment and remittitur upon the first appeal, the judgment is affirmed.
Dunbar,, C. J., and Crow, J., concur.