Opinion ID: 874217
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Did Bagleys Lack Standing to Bring an Action for Quiet Title to the Real Property?

Text: Thomasons contend that Bagleys lacked standing to bring a quiet title action regarding the real property and that the district court therefore lacked jurisdiction. The doctrine of standing focuses on the party seeking relief and not on the issues the party wishes to have adjudicated. Miles v. Idaho Power Co., 116 Idaho 635, 641, 778 P.2d 757, 763 (1989). To satisfy the requirement of standing litigants must allege an injury in fact, a fairly traceable causal connection between the claimed injury and the challenged conduct, and a substantial likelihood that the judicial relief requested will prevent or redress the claimed injury. Troutner v. Kempthorne, 142 Idaho 389, 391, 128 P.3d 926, 928 (2006). Bagleys are the grantees of a warranty deed conveying the real property to them. The deed was executed by the Thomasons and was recorded. In fact, Marilynn Thomason alleges that she recorded the deed. [R]ecordation of the deed at the grantor's knowledge and direction evidences a valid delivery of the deed to the grantee which encompasses the requisite intent of the grantor to pass title. Hartley v. Stibor, 96 Idaho 157, 160, 525 P.2d 352, 355 (1974). As grantees of the deed, Bagleys clearly had standing to bring a quiet title action. Thomasons' standing arguments are based upon contentions regarding the validity of the warranty deed. They contend, The respondents lacked standing under Idaho Statutes 55-601, 55-818, 55-813, 9-503, 45-901 and 902. They do not argue the applicability of any of those statutes except Idaho Code § 55-601. [2] However, we need not address that statute with respect to their standing argument. As stated above, standing focuses upon the party seeking relief and not upon the merits of the issues that are to be litigated. Thomasons contend that under Idaho Code § 55-601, Bagleys should have lost on the merits of their claim that they had title to the real property. [3] A party's standing to bring an action is an issue that is entirely separate from the issue of whether the party will prevail on the merits of the action. Section 55-601 has nothing to do with standing. As the record owners of the real property, Bagleys have standing to bring their quiet title action.