Case Name: MacDonald v. Leverington Construction Company, Appellant
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1938-06-17
Citations: 331 Pa. 381
Docket Number: Appeal, No. 156
Parties: MacDonald v. Leverington Construction Company, Appellant.
Judges: Before Kephart, C. J., Schaefer, Maxex, Drew, Linn, Stern and Barnes, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 331
Pages: 381–384

Head Matter:
MacDonald v. Leverington Construction Company, Appellant.
Argued May 11,1938.
Before Kephart, C. J., Schaefer, Maxex, Drew, Linn, Stern and Barnes, JJ.
Earle Hepburn, for appellant.
Robert P. F. Maxwell, with Mm George F. Blewett, foi* appellee.
June 17, 1938:

Opinion:
Opinion by
Mb. Chief Justice Kephabt,
Appellee, upon completion of some construction work in March, 1930, left his gasoline shovel upon a vacant lot, where it remained, unprotected from climatic conditions and from theft of removable parts. In March, 1936, appellant "purchased" the shovel for $225 from the mortgagee in control of the lot, and expended approximately $2,800 in repairing the machine to malee it available for immediate work. Appellee brought this action of replevin to secure the possession of the shovel.
During the time the shovel remained on the lot, the mortgagee-vendor tried constantly, but apparently unsuccessfully, to locate the true owner, although appellee occasionally came to the lot to inspect the machine, and in addition the engine had a registered number which could have been traced. Until the sale the vendor exercised no absolute act of dominion over the shovel. At the time of the purchase, appellant, although ignorant of the owner's identity, was thoroughly acquainted with the limited nature of the mortgagee-vendor's interest in the machine.
Appellant contended in the court below, and here, that the machine ivas abandoned and had been appropriated by the mortgagee; that the statute of limitations barred action, and in any event if not entitled to keep the machine, he should nevertheless recover his expenses in repairs. The case was submitted to the jury solely on the question of abandonment.
The court below correctly held that the statute of limitations (Act of March 27, 1713, 1 Sm. L. 76) did not apply. Although the machine remained upon the vendor's land for six years, yet until its sale the vendor had neither taken possession of it nor acted in any way inconsistent with appellee's rights. The statute of limita tions does not begin to run until tbe right to bring action arises. See N. Y. & Penna. Co. v. N. Y. Central R. R. Co., 300 Pa. 242, 245-246.
Appellant does not dispute tbe principle that tbe owner may replevy bis property that may be identified, although its value bas been enhanced by defendant's work (see Snyder r. Vaux, 2 Rawle 423; Herdic v. Young, 55 Pa. 176, 179), but insists that one who bas in good faith increased tbe property's worth is entitled to compensation in tbe form of set-off.
Tbe established rule is that no set-off is allowable in replevin: Goss Printing Press Co. v. Redmond, 305 Pa. 518; Bentz v. Barclay, 294 Pa. 300; Lee-Strauss Co. v. Kelly, 292 Pa. 403; Mitchell v. Standard Repair Co., 275 Pa. 328; General Motors Truck Co. v. Phila. Paving Co., 248 Pa. 499; Baranofsky v. Weiss, 120 Pa. Superior Ct. 126, 129. Prior to the Act of April 19, 1901, P. L. 88, when a counterbond was given, defendant retained tbe property despite a later verdict for plaintiff; this resulted in a forced sale, plaintiff being restricted to a verdict for damages. Illustrating tbe effect of this rule, in Herdic v. Young, supra, it was said that where defendant fails to put up a counterbond, and plaintiff recovers tbe specific goods, defendant is not entitled to a verdict in an amount equivalent to what be expended on tbe property; but if a counterbond bas been entered, tbe real owner's damages are only tbe value of tbe unimproved property, defendant thereby securing tbe value of bis expenses, or tbe improvements to tbe property. Undoubtedly this was tbe effect of tbe counter-bond. Recovery of possession of bis goods by tbe real owner was thus out of tbe question. Tbe latter, having proved bis right to tbe property, must prove bis damages. There can be no doubt bis damages were tbe value of tbe property when it left bis possession. Thus limited, damages were secured only for that value and no more, unless tbe law should allow punitive damages. However, where the owner is in a position to recover Ms property, the case proceeds on the issue of right to possession only, and the owner is not forced to pay for alterations which he may not desire or cannot afford.
The court below relied upon Herdic v. Young, in holding that appellant's failure to enter a counterbond within the statutory seventy-two-hour period prevented set-off here. The Act of April 19, 1901, section 7, renders the distinction drawn in Herdic v. Young, no longer applicable. Under this Act plaintiff may elect to recover the property despite defendant's counterbond. See Lee-Strauss Co. v. Kelly, supra. This was harmless error, however, for, appellee having recovered his property, the rule that there can be no set-off for improvements in such case applies.
Judgment affirmed.