Court Opinion

ID: 8653891
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 21:13:54.432403+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:56:37.039148
License: Public Domain

Bartoh, J.:
The plaintiff brought this action to recover possession of certain unsurveyed lands of the United States, and for damages for the rents and profits of said premises. The case was tried, and a verdict and judgment rendered in his favor. This appeal is taken from the judgment roll, and the sole question necessary to be considered is whether the complaint states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. It is therein alleged that on the 19th day of March, 1890, the plaintiff was, and for a long time prior thereto had been, in the quiet and peaceable possession of the premises in controversy; that the premises were nnsur-veyed lands of the United States, and marked on the map as an island, and known as “Daw Newman Ranch;” that on the 19 th day of May, 1891, the defendant, with permission and consent of plaintiff, went into possession of the premises, as his agent and tenant, under contract, whereby the defendant' was to perform certain labor on the premises, and was to occupy the same while in the performance thereof, or for such length of time as plaintiff might permit; that on the 19th day of March, 1894, the. plaintiff made demand, in writing, of the defendant, for the possession of the premises; that more than five days had elapsed since the making of such demand; and that the defendant had refused for more than that space of time to quit possession. Such are, substantially, the material allegations in the complaint.' It will be observed that there is no allegation of title in the plaintiff. In fact, the contrary appears, for the premises consist of unsurveyed government land. Nor is there any allegation that the plaintiff had any right of possession, either when th.e defendant entered into possession, or when demand was made of him for the possession. Neither is there an allegation *50showing that the defendant unlawfully withheld the premises, or that service of demand for possession of the premises was ever made upon him. The omission of these material allegations renders the complaint fatally defective, and therefore the position of counsel for the appellant, that the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, must be sustained. Where a party brings an action for the possession of property >vhich, he claims, is being unlawfully detained from him, he must allege and prove, not only that he has the right of, and is entitled to, its possession, but also that such property is being unlawfully detained from him, after notice to quit is served as provided by law. It is incumbent upon him to allege all the material facts on which he seeks to recover; and that his right of possession, the unlawful detainer, and the service of written demand, are material facts to establish his right to recover, is apparent. Comp. Laws 1888, §§ 3789, 3793; Bush v. Dunham, 4 Mich. 339; Morse v, Boyde (Mont.), 28 Pac. 260; Lowman v. West, 8 Wash. 355, 36 Pac. 258; Spurck v. Forsyth, 40 Ill. 438; Bryan v. Smith, 10 Mich. 229. Especially is this true where the controversy is in relation to government land, because, in such case, neither party having an indefeasible title in the land, the complainant should allege the facts upon which he relies to show his right to the possession of the property. Failing in this, the plaintiff cannot prevail. The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded, with directions to the court below to permit the parties to amend their pleadings, should they, or either of them,, so desire.
Merritt, C. J., and KiNG, J. concur.