Court Opinion

ID: 9825648
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 13:51:57.919339+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:41:14.690136
License: Public Domain

McHaney, J., (on rehearing). We adhere to our original opinion in this case, but counsel suggests that the opinion should be so modified as to more clearly state the rule governing the right of appellee to recover for repairs, taxes and improvements. We thought, we had made it definite and certain in the original opinion, but, in order that there may.be no misunderstanding, we state it here again, that the appellant is entitled to recover rents from the date of her dis-affirmance of the deeds, which was the date of the commencement of this action; and that the appellee is entitled to recover all Of the taxes he has paid, repairs and improvements; and if the amount, of taxes, repairs and improvements is. iu excess of the rents, appellee would be entitled to a judgment against appellant for the excess. As to what is meant, by the term “repairs and improvements,” this court has said, in the case of Greer v. Fontaine, 71 Ark. 608, 77 S. W. 57, that “the measure of the value of betterments is not their actual cost, but the enhanced value they impart to the land, without reference to the.fact that they were desired by the true owner, or could not be profitably used by him.” Bouvier’s Law Dictionary. Continuing, the court said: “This definition is that given substantially in all jurisdictions having statutes like ours. Sometimes we say the improvements must be permanent, and not merely temporary. The idea seems to pertain that the improvements are such as will add to the value of the 1-and as it shall come into the occupancy and use of the true owner, for he is the person required to pay for them, although they have been made without his consent.” The lower court will therefore determine the amount appellee is entitled to for taxes, repairs and improvements, and subtract from that the amount appellant is entitled to for rents,'and render judgment for appellee for the excess. The petition for rehearing is denied.