Case Name: Nels Anderson v. William Courtright
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1881-10-26
Citations: 47 Mich. 161
Docket Number: 
Parties: Nels Anderson v. William Courtright.
Judges: The other Justices concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 47
Pages: 161–162

Head Matter:
Nels Anderson v. William Courtright.
Ejectment against tax-title claimant.
Ejectment lies against one who, though out of possession, has notified the real owner that he claims the premises under a recorded tax-title. Comp. L. § 6207.
Case made from Newaygo.
Submitted October 13.
Decided October 26.
Ejectment. Plaintiff had judgment below".
Affirmed.
Albert G. Day for plaintiff.
Ejectment lies in Michigan against any adverse claimant of title: Comp. L. § 6207; Clark v. Hall 19 Mich. 356; Crane v. Seitz 30 Mich. 457; Kinney v. Harrett 46 Mich. 87; Mich. Central R. R. v. McNaughton 45 Mich. 87; a tax deed is prima facie evidence of title: Ruggles v. Sands 40 Mich. 559.
E. L. Gray for defendant.
Ejectment can be brought only against some one actually in possession, exercising acts of ownership and claiming title: Banyer v. Empie 5 Hill 48; Redfield v. Utica & Syracuse R. R. 25 Barb. 54; Child v. Chappell 9 N. Y. 251; Tyler on Ejectment 615; Hamblin v. Warner 30 Mich. 97; King v. Carpenter 37 Mich. 366.

Opinion:
Campbell, J.
In this case the only question is whether a party claiming under a recorded tax title and notifying the real owner of such claim can be properly sued in ejectment if out of possession.
The statute regulating ejectment allows it to be brought, where premises are vacant, against persons " claiming title thereto" at the commencement of the suit, and declares that " all persons claiming any title to the jJi'emises adverse to that claimed by the plaintiff, may in all cases be made defendants in such action." Comp. L. § 6207.
This language covers the case completely.
The judgment must be affirmed with costs.
The other Justices concurred.