Case Name: JACOB M. TEWKSBURY v. PETER MAGRAFF
Court: Supreme Court of California
Jurisdiction: California
Decision Date: 1867-10
Citations: 33 Cal. 237
Docket Number: 
Parties: JACOB M. TEWKSBURY v. PETER MAGRAFF.
Judges: 
Reporter: California Reports
Volume: 33
Pages: 237–255

Head Matter:
JACOB M. TEWKSBURY v. PETER MAGRAFF.
Estoppel to dispute Landlord’s Title by Tenant.—The general rule is, that a tenant cannot dispute Ms landlord’s title, and that the estoppel continues to the end of the tenant’s occupation, unless there has heen a repudiation of the tenancy, and a subsequent adverse holding by the tenant, and then until the Statute of Limitations has run in his favor.
Idem.—A tenant cannot set up against Ms landlord an outstanding title, without first surrendering possession.
When Tenant not Estopped.—Where, in taking the lease, he was deceived and imposed upon by the lessor $ where he has been ousted by title paramount •, where the lessor’s title has ceased ; where he has acquired his landlord’s title by purchase from him, or at a judicial sale, or by a redemption ; where the action is by the vendee of his landlord, he may dispute the derivative title; where he did not take possession under the lease, but was in possession at the time he took the lease—perhaps also when there has been a mutual mistake as to the law in reíation to the title of the lessor.
Defective Finding.—Where material facts are not found, it will be presumed on appeal that they were consistent with the judgment.
Practice in Relation to Findings.— The Court should require each party to submit such questions of fact as he desires answered, and the Court should then answer them from the evidence before announcing its judgment.
Appeal from the District Court, Fifteenth Judicial District, Contra Costa County.
This was an action of ejectment, and for the recovery of damages. The complaint alleges plaintiff’s seizin of a tract of land described, in Contra Costa County, and his ouster therefrom by defendant. The answer denies all the allega tions, and as a further defence, sets up in defendant a cotenancy with the other owners of the “ San Pablo Ranch,” of which the demanded premises constitute a part.
The cause was tried before the Court without a jury. The following are the material facts found by' the Court, in addition to those stated in the opinion of this Court, to wit:
That on the 28th day of November, 1865, the plaintiff, by a written demand served upon the defendant on the premises demanded and described in the complaint, demanded possession thereof, which demand was then and there refused by the defendant.
That the plaintiff hath sustained damages for the rents and profits of said premises, and for the detention of his interest therein by the defendant since said demand, in the sum of three hundred dollars.
That on the 27th day of November, 1859, Margaret Magraff,- wife of the defendant, and one Edward M. Birdsale, father of the said Margaret, as tenants, executed a written lease of the demanded premises to one John H. Saunders as landlord.
That on the 27th day of December, 1859, the defendant, Peter Magraff, as tenant, also executed a written lease of the premises described in the complaint to the said John H. Saunders, as landlord.
That thereafter, and prior to the lease hereinbefore mentioned from the plaintiff to the defendant, the said John H. Saunders conveyed to the plaintiff all his interest in the demanded premises, and assigned the two last mentioned leases.
That prior to the commencement of this action, and subsequent to the demand made, as hereinbefore stated, by the plaintiff upon the defendant for the possession of the described premises, the defendant received a deed, duly executed to him by one J. T. Wright, which deed purported to convey an undivided interest in the demanded premises, derived originally from one Juan B. Alvarado, and Martina, his wife, claiming to he owners of an undivided interest in the Ranch of San Pablo, of which ranch the demanded premises were a part.
The plaintiff had judgment in the District Court that he do have and recover of and from the defendant the possession of .the demanded premises with the defendant, and three hundred dollars damages for the rents and profits, and for the detention thereof, and" for costs, etc.
The plaintiff appealed from the whole judgment, save that portion which adjudges damages and costs to the plaintiff.
The other facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
M. S. Chase, for Appellant.
I. As plaintiff’s lessee, defendant was estopped by his lease from any impeachment of his landlord’s title.
H. Had defendant ever become plaintiff’s cotenant while also his tenant, such cotenancy could not help defendant to avoid surrender of the possession to the plaintiff according to the terms of the lease or to the law of the tenancy.
I. The general principle of estoppel is not more elementary in morals than axiomatic in law.
“ A man shall always be estopped by his own deed, or not permitted to aver or prove anything in contradiction to what he has once so solemnly and deliberately avowed.” (Black. Com., Vol. II, p. 295.)
“ It is a general rule, founded on reasons of public policy, that a tenant shall never be permitted to controvert his landlord’s title.” (Taylor’s L. & T., 493.)
“A tenant may not dispute his landlord’s title, for he is estopped from changing by his own act the character and effect of his tenure.” (1 Parsons on Conts., 427.)
“In the case of a tenant, the policy of the law will not permit him to contest the title of his landlord.” (Rainde v. Kent, 2 Cal. 560.)
Yet, while text book and authority concur in thus announcing the principle, we fail not to find several qualifications of and exceptions to the rule. But all such qualifications and exceptions, it is believed, will be stated when, as now, it is conceded that a lessee is not estopped by his lease from showing that he entered into it through force, fraud, imposition or misrepresentation practiced on him by his lessor, or possibly through mistake alone on his own part, or that his lessor’s entire interest in the premises demised has become wholly ended or merged or vested in another, even though the lessee himself, and this, too, whether by operation of law or by the voluntary act of the lessor. (Taylor L. & T., 493 and notes; Parson’s Cont., Vol. I, p. 427 and notes; Green Ev., Vol. II, Sec. 305 and notes.) But the record herein, while disclosing neither allegation, proof, finding or pretence that any of the above qualifications or exceptions were, upon the facts, applicable to the case at bar, on the other hand affirmatively shows that the lease was both valid and subsisting, and that by virtue thereof alone was the plaintiff adjudged entitled to damages, and to be let into joint possession with the defendant. “ The general rule is founded on presumption of the lease being taken without fraud, force or illegal behavior on the part of the lessor.” (Hamilton v. Marsden, 6 Binn. 45.) The law and the facts therefore concur in excluding the defendant from all claim to any qualification of or exception to the general principle before stated.
2. But had defendant, while lessee of the plaintiff, become by his own act the plaintiff’s cotenant, he could not thereby, before surrender of possession, in the least evade the terms of the lease, or change the character, the obligation, or the condition of his tenure under it. Whether defendant entered before or under the lease is immaterial, since the Court finds he occupied as tenant of the plaintiff.
It is urged, however, on behalf of defendant, that where a lessee, by his own voluntary act, during the continuance of the lease under which he occupies, becomes a cotenant with his lessor, that he then, to the extent of his title thus acquired, can dispute the title of his lessor. This proposition was adopted by the Court, and became the base of that portion of the judgment which is here for review and reversal. In support of such a doctrine it is submitted neither principle nor authority can be found. Under the sanction of such a doctrine a lessor’s rights when leasing but his “ share ” in the common property would become but the mere sport of the lessee, subject to utter defeat at his veriest whim and caprice. While it is true theoretically, that a cotenant in possession holds for his companions, and that a lease does not estop a tenant from purchasing the term or the reversion of his landlord, or the right of his landlord’s cotenant, it would seem equally indisputable that such purchase by the tenant would be cum onere and subject to the full operation of the lease, save in so far as the same may have been modified or changed by the act of the lessor. In other words, the terms of an honest lease cannot be changed by the mere act of the lessee ; as Parsons says, (ut sup.) “ he is estopped from changing by his own act the character and effect of his tenure.” The lease, in effect, says to him, you have solemnly covenanted to surrender to your lessor the demised premises upon the expiration of the term, and no act of your mere volition shall help you to break that covenant; if your possession under the lease shall be threatened, your lessor shall defend you; if he fails in the defence you may attorn to the victor; if he prevails, you must at all events, when the term ends, or upon demand, surrender to him; and if in the interim you have become co-owner with him, you may, after such surrender, but never before, assert your full rights as his cotenant. (See, also, Bleght’s Lessee et al. v. Rochester, 7 Wheat. 535 ; Cuthbertson v. Irving, 4 Hurl. & Nor. 742.)
E. W. McKinstry, for Respondent.
When this action was brought, the defendant was a co-tenant of the plaintiff, holding under the same title.
If the lease was an admission that plaintiff was the sole owner of the premises, the term had expired. The lessee is estopped only during the term. (Carpenter v. Thompson, 3 N. H. 204.) “ By mating the lease, the estoppel doth grow, and by the end of the lease the estoppel determines.”
The doctrine is not applied where the tenant disclaims the landlord’s title, and holds over; and the law is “ settled” that the tenant may disavow and disclaim. (Zeller v. Eckert, 4 How. U. S. 295; 1 Hilliard on Real Prop. 218.)
Here the defendant absolutely refused to surrender possession to plaintiff upon formal demand; thus explicitly, and without qualification, disclaiming the latter’s title. In such case, the landlord may bring ejectment at once, but he cannot také advantage of the tenancy. (1 Parsons on Contracts, 428, note a.) At common law a tenant holding over was regarded as a tenant at sufferance—an estate which could be destroyed at any time by the entry of the landlord, or by some public and avowed act amounting to a declaration that the tenant’s continuance was tortious. (2 Black. Com. 150.) The only change, if any, in the common law by the statute of California is, that it dispenses with formal entry, and substitutes therefor a written demand. (Uridias v. Morrell, No. 2, 25 Cal. 35.) And if the relation of landlord and tenant be once dissolved, it cannot be restored except by a new contract. (28 Cal. 224.) Tet, while the former tenant remains in possession as a mere trespasser, he may purchase an undivided interest from the tenant in common, and thus immediately change his possession from a hostile to a friendly character. (Carpentier v. Mendenhall, 28 Cal. 487.)
There is no finding that defendant entered under, or that he paid rent to plaintiff or his grantors. (2 John. Cas. 223; Id. 353; 8 B. & C. 479.)
Plaintiff invokes the doctrine of estoppel. Estoppels are said to be “odious;” and well they may be, if we accept, literally, Lord Coke’s definition: “ An estoppel is where a man is concluded to say the truth.” (Co. Litt. 353.)
This branch of the law, like every other, is to be reasonably treated. The principle upon which it rests is that every man is bound to act according to the fact of the case, and the law will not only presume that he has done so, but will deny him the right to contradict such reasonable presumption. Hence, no man should be denied setting up the truth, unless it is in plain and clear contradiction to his former acts and allegations. As the effect may be to shut out the real truth by its artificial representative, estoppels, whether at law or in equity, are not favored or extended by construction. (Pelletreau v. Jackson, 11 Wend. 118; 13 Wend. 206; Jones v. Sasser, 1 Dev. & Batt., N. C., 464.)
The argument of plaintiff’s counsel assumes that when a lease is made, the lessee is forever debarred from denying that the lessor was the sole owner in fee simple absolute of the lands demised. But the inquiry what, in fact, was the estate of the lessor, is necessarily involved in most cases where the lessee is permitted to prove that the estate has ceased. There can be no estoppel where an interest passes; and even where the lessee is estopped from showing that the lessor had no title, he may yet prove that he was entitled to a particular estate which has expired. (2 Smith’s Cas., Hare & Wallace, 509.) - The principle has a present, and not a future operation. After the expiration of the lease, the tenant may assert any right he may have, though it be of such a character that he could not do so while the relation of landlord and tenant continued. That he may show that the landlord’s title has expired, in whole or in part, there can be no doubt. (Authorities supra ; Willard on Real Estate, 365; 5 Cow. 135; 6 Wend. 670.) He may prove the nature of the lessor’s title, and make a defence not inconsistent with the original possession. (Adams on Eject., side page 276, and notes; Camp v. Camp, 5. Conn. 291.) He may set up a title under a judgment which overreaches his landlord’s. (Jackson v. Rowland, 6 Wend. 670.)
The rule, as between landlord and' tenant, rests upon the ground of equitable, not common law estoppel; and equitable estoppels depend upon the circumstances of each particular case. (2 Smith’s Cas., Hare & Wallace, 542; Id. 536.) Whether the defendant is estopped must depend upon the inquiry whether, under the circumstances of this ease, the claim he sets up is plainly inconsistent with the contract under which the possession was taken. (1 Hilliard on Real Prop. 219.) A common demise does not necessarily import anything more than a right of possession in the lessor for the term demised; and the tenant impliedly admits, only, that the landlord has such a title as authorizes him to lease the premises for the term. (8 Ala. 606; 3 H. H. 306.) And, in any case, the tenant is estopped only so long as the landlord’s title remains the same as it was at the commencement of the lease. (6 Wend. 670.)

Opinion:
By the Court, Sanderson, J.:
Whether a tenant can dispute his landlord's title depends upon a variety of circumstances. The general rule is that he cannot, and that the estoppel continues, not to the end of the term merely, but to the end of the tenant's occupation, or, where there has been a repudiation of the tenancy and a subsequent adverse holding by the tenant, until the Statute of Limitations has run in his favor. He cannot set up an outstanding title which he may have acquired. Before he can avail himself of such a title he must surrender the possession. (Doe on the demise of Knight v. Smythe, 4 M. & S. 348 ; Greeno v. Munson, 9 Vt. 37.) To say that he may set up an adverse title acquired by him to defeat a recovery by his landlord, after the term has expired, is to say that there is no estoppel, and that a tenant may always deny his landlord's title. (Wilson v. Cleaveland, 30 Cal. 201.) To allow a party to obtain possession by entering under a lease, and then to disclaim, either before or after the expiration of the term, would be to encourage the very fraud and chicanery which the estoppel was designed to prevent. The estoppel rests upon considerations of public policy which, for obvious reasons, would be defeated in its purpose if one who has been put in possession of land by another should be allowed to controvert the title of the latter without first restoring him to as good a condition as he was in before he parted with the possession. (Glen v. Gibson, 9 Barb. 638.)
This general rule is, however, subject to several exceptions. One is where, in taking the lease, the lessee was deceived and imposed upon by .the lessor (Gleim v. Rise, 6 Watts, 44.) So if the tenant has been ousted by title paramount he may plead it (Hayne v. Maltby, 3 Term. R. 441); also that the landlord's title has ceased or become extinguished (Jackson v. Rowland, 6 Wend. 666); or that he has acquired his landlord's title by purchase from him or at a judicial sale, or by a redemption. And if the action is brought by a vendee of the landlord the tenant may dispute , the derivative title. (Phillips v. Pearce, 5 B. & C. 433; Reray v. Cotter, 29 Cal. 168.) So if the tenant did not take possession under the lease, but was in possession at the time he took his lease, he may dispute the landlord's title without first surrendering the possession; for not having received the possession from him, he is under no moral or legal obligation to restore it before adopting a hostile attitude, and he may have attorned, by mistake, to one who had no title. (Cornish v. Searell, 8 B. & C. 471.) To these exceptions may be added, possibly, the case where it appears affirmatively that both parties have acted" under a mutual mistake as to the law in regard to the title of the lessor. (Glen v. Gibson, supra.)
The case comes here upon the findings alone, and although, as stated by counsel, they have been purposely elaborated with a view to an appeal, so that any necessity for a statement might be avoided, yet it is impossible for us to say whether the case comes under the general rule or falls within some one of the exceptions noted above. Bor instance : It does not appear from the findings whether the defendant was in possession before he leased from the plaintiff, or went in afterwards and under the lease. If he did not go in under the lease, he had a right to try the title, as we have seen; for not having received the possession from the plaintiff, the latter is in as good a position now as he was at the time he executed the lease, which is all the benefit which the doctrine of estoppel is intended to secure. If the defendant was in possession at the time he took the lease, the plaintiff cannot say, " You must surrender possession to me before you can try title with me," because he cannot in the same breath add, " for you received the possession from me, and fair dealing requires that before you make war on me you should put me in the same condition in which you found me." The AÚtal fact, which ought to have been found in order to sustain the theory of the appellant, is that tlie respondent received the possession from the appellant under and by virtue of the lease. If he did, he cannot, as we have seen, rely upon a title afterwards acquired by him to defeat a recovery in, whole or in part. Yet this most important fact is not found either way.
The only finding bearing'upon this point is as follows :
" That on the 23d day of January, 1861, the plaintiff as landlord, and the defendant as his tenant, entered into and executed a certain written lease of the premises described in the complaint, for the term of ten months from the 1st day of January, 1861, and for the rent for said term of fifty dollars cash, and for other considerations expressed in said lease."
Nothing is said as to which party was in possession at the time the lease was made—whether the defendant was in possession or entered afterwards under the lease—nor any facts found to show that the defendant may not be within some of the other exceptions to the rule in hand instead of the rule itself. Upon such a finding the appellant cannot obtain a reversal Avithout showing that the rule upon which he relies is universal, or without exceptions of any kind, which, as we have seen, is not the case.
It may well be doubted whether the Act of the 20th of May, 1861, (so far as it relates to findings, and reproduced in the amendments of 1866 to section one hundred and eighty of the Practice Act,) is not productive of more mischief than good. It certainly proceeds upon an illogical theory, for it inverts the natural and logical order of the proceedings. Instead of making it the duty of the successful party to see that the findings contain facts sufficient to sustain the judgment, it makes it the duty of the unsuccessful party to see that it contains facts sufficient to reverse it. Instead of making the finding a consistent and visible foundation for the judgment to stand upon, the statute converts it into air or a mine for its explosion. This change certainly detracts from the logic of the judgment roll, the various parts of which, like the members of a Macedonian phalanx, should rest upon and support each other, and entails a practice which, in a majority of cases, defeats the end which findings were intended to subserve.
The practice, which prevails to a very considerable extent, if not universally, of allowing the successful party to draw the findings after the judgment of the Court has been announced, does not favor the ends which a finding is designed to accomplish. To be of any use, under the operation of section one hundred and eighty, as amended in 1866, the finding should contain all the facts disclosed by the evidence which, in the judgment of counsel on both sides, have any bearing upon the question as to what the judgment should be. Unless it does, it is no better than a general verdict, and wholly fails to accomplish the object intended, which is to obviate the necessity of a motion for a new trial and a preparation of a statement of the evidence preliminary to an appeal. In a vast majority of cases there would be no occasion for a motion for a new trial, and as incidental thereto, for the trouble, labor and expense of getting, up a record upon which the motion is to be heard, if the findings were what they are designed to be, and what they ought to be; for in nine cases out of ten, where the trial is by the Court, the sole controversy here is as to whether the conclusions of law are correct. In all such cases there should be, and there certainly need be, no occasion for a motion for a new trial, or for bringing the evidence to this Court in any form. Every such case ought to come here upon the judg ment roll. But under the present practice, in getting up the findings serious obstacles are thrown in the way, and the end of a finding often defeated, and therefore a motion for a new trial attended by delay, labor and expense made necessary. Instead of announcing its judgment, and then, if findings are demanded by the unsuccessful party, directing the successful party to draw them, it would be a better practice for the Court to first ask counsel upon both sides if they desire findings; and if they do, reserve its judgment and direct each side to prepare and submit such questions of fact as they desire to have found. This being done, the Court should answer from the evidence every question submitted, and then, having first determined and settled all the facts, pronounce its judgment, and not before. By such a course a defective finding will rarely happen or a motion for a new trial be required. If exceptions have been taken to the rulings of the Court, upon demurrers to evidence, they can be embodied in bills of exceptions and brought up for review in that form. If, however, the practice of first announcing the judgment, and preparing the findings afterwards, is followed, the Court ought to direct the losing party to draw the findings; for the successful party, under the operation of the Act in question, has no motive to make the findings, in the first instance at least, what they ought to be. Under the former practice the successful party was primarily interested in having the findings full and complete for the purpose of sustaining the judgment, and it was therefore proper that he should be allowed to draw them; but under the present practice the conditions are inverted, and the losing party has become primarily interested in the fullness and completeness of the findings, and, by parity of reason, he should be allowed to draw them. The course first suggested, however, is in all respects the better practice.
Judgment affirmed.