Court Opinion

ID: 4926094
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 00:56:57.93609+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:20.642023
License: Public Domain

Mellen C. J.
delivered the opinion of the Court, in Cumberland, in August following.
The question in this ease seems to be a new one; or in other words, the decision of it requires the application of certain well settled principles to certain facts, where the application of them appears to be considered as a novelty. The facts before us are few and simple, and we wish to be understood as not extending our decision beyond those facts as they have been found by the jury. Cases, whose general character might resemble the present, may easily be imagined to involve several interesting and intricate inquiries ; the solution of which might be attended with many difficulties. But the finding of the jury has excluded them all from the case under consideration. The buildings whose value is demanded in this action of trover were the absolute property of Henry Howard, the deceased, at the time of his death. The land on which they were erected was then, and continues to be the property of the defendant. They were erected on the land by his express consent. The buildings have been fairly purchased by the plaintiff, and they are his absolute property; and the defendant has' converted them to his own use. Now, the question is, why should not this action be maintained ? Almost all the cases which have been cited on both sides, are those between lessor and lessee, or heir and executor ; and they were decided upon principles of policy, or the mere nature of the property in question, independently of any express contract in relation to the subject; the former, according to those usages between landlord and tenant, which were established and respected for the benefit of trade, and, in some instances, of husbandry; and the latter, accordingly as the subject in question partook most of the realty or personalty — whether attached or not to the freehold. We apprehend that such cases cannot be of much use in the determination of the case at bar ; for in this, the express agreement between the defendant and his son as to the erection of the buildings converted by the defendant, places the subject *454on other grounds, and at once settles the respective rights of the owner of the land and the owner of - the buildings. It is not denied that if one erects a building on the land of another wrongfully, the building immediately' becomes attached to the freehold, and the property of the owner of the land ; but the case is different in respect to erections which are sanctioned by the relation between landlord and'tenant; and for reasons still stronger, when buildings are erected by one man on the land of another, under his express license and agreement, as was the fact in the instance before us. The case of Wells v. Banister & al. 4 Mass. 514, seems directly in point. There the facts were that a son built a dwelling house on his father’s land, and by his express permission. The court, then consisting of Parsons C. J, and Sewall and Parker justices, in giving the opinion say “ the property of the house is personal property of the son, he having no estate in the land.” We understand that, among the profession, this is the principle recognized and acted upon in practice$ .that such property is considered personal, and is accordingly always sold on execution in the same manner as all other personal estate is sold at auction.' Should we decide this cause in opposition to the abovementioned principle and practice, we should open a door to innumerable frauds, which might be effectually committed with impunity. A person might erect expensive buildings on the land of a friend in whom he could confide, by his express permission; and thus, in case of failure in business, perhaps a contemplated or intended failure, he ¡would enjoy a home and ample accommodations, at the expense of his defrauded creditors; for if the buildings became the property of the owner of the land, then his creditors could not seize them on execution ; and the friend could not be adjudged the trustee of the builder, in consequence of their standing on his land, because the houses are neither goods, effects or credits of the builder. We do not percéive any reason why there should not be

Judgment on the verdict.