Case Name: First Congregational Society in East Longmeadow vs. Chesley Metcalf
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1906-11-27
Citations: 193 Mass. 288
Docket Number: 
Parties: First Congregational Society in East Longmeadow vs. Chesley Metcalf.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 193
Pages: 288–289

Head Matter:
First Congregational Society in East Longmeadow vs. Chesley Metcalf.
Hampden.
November 12, 1906.
November 27, 1906.
Present: Knowlton, C. J., Hammond, Loring, Bralet, & Sheldon, JJ.
Equity Jurisdiction, To remove cloud from title. Land Court. Superior Court. Supreme Judicial Court. Jurisdiction.
The jurisdiction over suits in equity to remove a cloud from the title to land, mentioned in R L. c. 182, §§ 6-10, was not transferred by St. 1904, c. 448, § 1, from the Superior Court to the Land Court, and such suits remain within the general equity jurisdiction of the Superior Court and the Supreme Judicial Court.
Bill in equity, filed in the Superior Court on January 4, 1906, to remove a cloud from the plaintiff’s title to certain land in the town of East Longmeadow.
The case was heard by Crosby, J., who found for the plaintiff, and made a decree granting the relief sought. The defendant appealed.
C. S. Ballard, for the defendant.
J. L. Bice, for the plaintiff.

Opinion:
Knowlton, C. J.
This is a bill in equity brought to remove a cloud from a title. No objection has been made to its form or its averments, and the only question argued before us is whether the St. 1904, c. 448, § 1, transferring the jurisdiction of the Superior Court over real actions to the Land Court, includes such bills in equity.
Dealing with this question only, we are of opinion that the jurisdiction was not transferred, and that the decree for the plaintiff should be affirmed. This section includes proceedings of only four classes: first, writs of entry under the R. L. c. 179; second, petitions to require actions to try title to real estate under R. L. c. 182, § 1 to 5; third, petitions to determine the validity of incumbrances under the R. L. c. 182, §11 to 14, and fourth, petitions to discharge mortgages under the R. L. c. 182, § 15. The proceedings over which jurisdiction is transferred are those which are commenced under these statutes and no others. Suits in equity to quiet or establish the title to land, or to remove a cloud from the title, are not included in. these chapters and sections, but are mentioned in R. L. c. 182, § 6 to 10. They therefore remain within the general equity jurisdiction of the Superior Court and the Supreme Judicial Court.
Decree affirmed.