Case Name: Stewart v. Corbin
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Iowa
Decision Date: 1874-06-19
Citations: 38 Iowa 571
Docket Number: 
Parties: Stewart v. Corbin.
Judges: 
Reporter: Iowa Reports
Volume: 38
Pages: 571–572

Head Matter:
Stewart v. Corbin.
Tax Sale: reimbursement for taxes. A decree settling the title to land in the original holder, as against a tax purchaser, does not bar an action to recover for taxes paid by the latter in good faith upon the land in°controversy.
Appeal from Museati/ne District Gowrt.
Friday, June 19.
The plaintiff filed a petition in equity alleging that he was the owner of a certain eighty acre tract of land, and that the defendant claimed a prior title thereto under a purchase at tax sale, and asking that this title be declared void.
The defendant filed an answer and cross-bill, alleging that he was the absolute owner of said land, under a treasurer’s deed, and asking that the title be quieted in him.
On the hearing in the court below,’the plaintiff’s petition was dismissed, and on appeal this judgment was reversed. See Stewart v. Gorbin, 25 Iowa, 144.
Afterwards the defendant filed a supplemental and amended cross-bill, alleging that the lands were sold to him for the delinquent taxes of 1859 and ’60 and ’61, and that since his purchase he had paid the taxes for 1862, ’63, ’64, ’65 and ’67, and that the total amount of taxes so paid enured to the benefit of said lands. Defendant asks that the amount of taxes so paid, with the proper interest, may be a charge upon the portion of said lands not a homestead, and that plaintiff may be decreed to pay the same.
Plaintiff answered this cross petition, alleging that defendant is estopped from asserting any claim on account of said taxes, because the matter has already been adjudicated between the parties.
The court decreed that defendant recover on account of said taxes the sum of $369.13, and that the same be declared a special lien upon the property in controversy, other than the homestead. Plaintiff appeals.
Cloud da Broomhall, for appellants.
Riehman dk Carshadden, for appellee.

Opinion:
Day, J.
— The only point made by appellant is that the former decree, set out in the statement of facts, is a bar to this claim of the defendant on account of the taxes paid. It seems too apparent to us to admit of serious discussion that it cannot have that effect. The subject matter of the present claim is altogether distinct from that of the former. The former controversy was respecting the title, which both parties claimed. The ultimate decision was that the title was in the plaintiff. Accepting that decision-as a final determination of that matter, the defendant says, " True, the title is yours, but I paid the taxes on the lands for eight years, and I want you to reimburse me."
If defendant could be entitled to have the taxes paid by him refunded, only upon the ground that he held the title to the land, there would be some ground for appellant's claim. But if he had-the title, the taxes would have been paid for his own benefit, and he would have neither the desire nor the right to have them repaid. His right is based upon the fact that his title has failed, and that he has made payments, the benefit of which has been denied to him, and has accrued to the -holder of the title. The following authorities fully sustain defendant's right to the relief asked, and show that it is granted on account of payment of taxes in good faith, and subsequent failure of title:' Claussen da Kuehl v. Rayburn, 14 Iowa, 136; Orr v. Travacier, 21 Iowa, 69; Hunt v. Rowland, 28 Iowa, 349.
Affirmed.