Court Opinion

ID: 6570217
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 19:27:17.296504+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:56:52.763800
License: Public Domain

Skinner, Ch. J.
This is an action of ejectment, in which judgment by default has been rendered; and the question is as to the rule of damages. The facts appearing in the case are— that the’ lands in question were by deed of mortgage conveyed by one Burt, to the ancestor of the plaintiffs, and under whom they claim, (the mortgagor continuing in possession of the premises,) and after the estate became absolute at law in the mortgagee, the mortgagor conveyed in fee to the defendants, who have held the possession till the present time. The plaintiffs claim damages for the mesne profits, since the defendants entered into possession. The defendants, having made application conformably to the statute for time to redeem, and stay of execution, insist that the plaintiff is entitled to nominal damages only.
The statute provides that the plaintiff in ejectment shall recover as well his damages, as the seizin and possession of the •premises, and in the construction of this statute, rents and profits, up to the time of trial, are allowed. No action can here be sustained for mesne profits.
*330This statute creates no new claim in favour of the plaintiff. Such damages, and such only, as could in some form be recovered at common law, can be recovered in this action.
common law, after judgment for the plaintiff in ejectment, mesne profits are recovered in the action of trespass. But it is said a mortgagor is not liable for mesne profits; and it is insisted that the person claiming under him cannot be subjected to damages, in this action, by the mortgagee. The reason why the mortgagor, continuing in possession, is not liable for mesne profits, is that in lieu of rents, by an agreement understood between the parties, the mortgagee receives interest upon the debt.
No case is shown in which the grantee or lessee of the mortgagor has been excepted from the general rule, that after a recovery in ejectment, the action for mesne profits lies of course, and the judgment in the ejectment is conclusive evidence of the right.
In the case of Keech vs. Hall, Doug. 21, which was ejectment against the lessee of the mortgagor, the defendant insisted the action could not be maintained without notice to quit; and urged that, without such notice, having paid the rent to the mortgagor, he would, if a recovery was had, of course be subjected to an action for mesne profits, at the suit of the mortgagee. Lord Mansfield, in delivering the opinion of the court, says, “On this point I give no opinion, but there may be a distinction, for the mortgagor may be considered as receiving the rents in order to pay the interest, by an implied authority from the mortgagee, till he determine his will.”
If the mortgagor continue in possession by consent of the mortgagee, he is at common law, tenant at will in the strictest sense of the word; and although our statute secures the possession in the mortgagor, till default in payment; if he continues in possession, by consent of the mortgagee, afterwards, he is then tenant at will in the same sense, and is not entitled to notice to quit. A demise by such tenant, is a determination of that tenancy; and in this case, the conveyance having been made by the mortgagor to the defendants, after the law day, there can be no doubt, by the common law, the will is determined by the grant; and it would seem to follow, that the ■grantee’s possession must be considered adverse and tortious, so that trespass would lie against them by the mortgagee. — 3 East. 450, 7 Com. Law Rep. 204, 5. Note, Co. Lit. 57, in note 379, Doug. 21, 282.
But whether, after a recovery in ejectment, an action for mesne profits could be sustained or not, the estate at will having been determined by implication, when that determination is express, as by notice to quit, or suing in ejectment, we be-lieve there is no reason, nor any authority in the English books to be shown, why a recovery for mesne profits, after the ejectment, according to the common rule, ought not to be had; and if so, there is no doubt damages ought here to be given, from the time the will was so determined.
Ephraim Paddock, for the plaintiffs.
Isaac Fletcher, for the defendants.
In the case of Stanbury vs. Dean, Drayton 166, this Court decided, that after the expiration of the law day, and notice to quit, the mortgagor himself was liable for mesne profits': and the reason, surely, is much stronger for bolding a third person liable. In the case of the mortgagor, if he has ability to pay the debt, or any part of it, it cannot be very material .whether it is obtained by a recovery in this form, or by suit upon the bond, or note; and if he has no means of paying, the judgment in both cases, would be equally unavailing,
If the value of the estate is not equal to the amount of the debt, and the debtor insolvent (as it is understood in this case, otherwise, the question would be of no consequence to the parties, for the defendant would at once redeem, and avoid the judgment; or if he should hereafter redeem, the amount here recovered must be deducted from the debt,) and a third person has been in possession, taking to himself the profits ; upon every principle of justice, he ought to account to the mortgagee for all that shall come to his hands after notice, or yield up the possession to him.
Damages, therefore, will be assessed in this case against the defendants, upon the principle adopted in the case of Stanbury vs. Dean, and if there is no evidence of notice to quit, the commencement of the suit will be the time from which the mesne profits are to be allowed.