Case Name: Sutton v. Mandeville
Court: Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia
Jurisdiction: Virginia
Decision Date: 1810-10-25
Citations: 1 Munf. 407
Docket Number: 
Parties: *Sutton v. Mandeville.
Judges: JUDGE ROANE and FEEMING were of the same opinion.
Reporter: Virginia Reports
Volume: 15
Pages: 158–159

Head Matter:
*Sutton v. Mandeville.
Thursday, October 18, 1810.
Assumpsit — Implied Promise. — Assumpsit for use and occupation of land, by permission of the plaintiff, lies on an implied, as well as express promise.
Sutton brought an action against Mandeville for the use and occupation of a house in Alexandria. First count, indebitatus assumpsit for the use and occupation of the house for the space of--years: Second count, in consideration that the plaintiff had, at the special instance and request of the defendant, before that time permitted him to hold and occupy another messuage or dwelling-house of the said plaintiff with the appurtenances, &c. and that the said defendant had, according to that permission, held and occupied the same for a long time, to wit, ---years, before then elapsed, the defendant undertook, and to the plaintiff faithfully promised, to pay the plaintiff so much money as he reasonably deserved to have, &c. and avers he deserved other five hundred dollars, &c. On non assumpsit pleaded, the Jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for 500 dollars damages, subject to the opinion of the Court whether it was necessary for the plaintiff in that action to prove an express promise to pay some rent for the house: if such promise be necessary, they find for the defendant. The District Court decided in favour of the defendant; from which judgment the plaintiff appealed.
Thursday, October 25.
Assumpsit — Implied Promise. — The action of assumpsit lies at common law, on an implied as well as an express undertaking. State v. Harmon, 15 W. Va. 125, citing principal case. See also, monographic note on “Assumpsit" appended to Kennaird v. Jones, 9 Gratt. 183.
See principal case cited in Bolling v. Lersner, 26 Gratt. 65.

Opinion:
The Judges pronounced their opinions.
JUDGE TUCKER.
In considering a similar question to the present in the case of Eppes v. Cole, 4 H. & M. 161, (except that in that case an express promise that the plaintiff should be paid to his satisfaction was proved,) I had occasion to cite a passage from Wooddeson's lectures, vol. 3, p. 152, in which he says that such an action as this is maintainable, to obtain a recompense for the occupation of the plaintiff's land, by his permission, where there is no stipulation for any precise rent; and 408 adds, that scarce any *thing is more usual than such an action of assumpsit for the use and occupation of the plaintiff's house by his permission. I> cited also the opinion of Judge Buller, in the case of Birch v. Wright, 1 T. R. 387, in corroboration thereof. He there said, the action may be maintained either upon an express or an implied promise. I beg leave to refer to the case itself for further particulars; and shall conclude with giving it as my opinion, that the judgment of the District Court is erroneous, and ought to be reversed, and judgment rendered for the appellant.
JUDGE ROANE and FEEMING were of the same opinion.
By the whole Court, judgment reversed, and directed to be entered for tne appellant, according to verdict.