Court Opinion

ID: 6510876
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 18:22:14.729604+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:54:52.497761
License: Public Domain

STONE, J.
— In Foster v. Trustees of the Athenœum, 3 Ala. 302, this court decided, that “ a surety of a vendee, who is compelled to pay the purchase-money, has no lien in equity upon the land ” for reimbursement. The reason given was, that by the payment of the debt on which he was surety, the instrument evidencing the debt became functus officio. In other words, that the debt, to which the lien attached as an incident, ceased to exist when it was paid ; and left nothing to which the lien could stand as an incident. The principle of that case has never been departed from, but has been frequently cited approvingly. — Chapman v. Abraham, 61 Ala. 108. It is not our intention to enter into discussion of that case, nor of the principle on which it was said to rest.
The present case is different in its facts. Smart and New-bold, complainant and defendant, jointly purchased the lands brought to view in the present proceedings. They purchased on credit, received a conveyance in their joint names, and John P. Martin & Co. became their endorsers and sureties for the payment of the purchase-money. They executed ^ joint mortgage of the purchased premises to John P. Martin & Co. to bear them harmless against their said indorsement. Smart claims, and shows, that he paid more than half the purchase-money, and this bill is filed to enforce a lien on Néwbold’s undivided interest, for the excess of payments over one-half, paid by Smart. Smart claims he has such lien, growing out of the facts of this case. The lien is denied by *330Newbold, and he claims that the premises are exempt to him as his homestead. It is clear that, under the facts attending this purchase, and the payment of the purchase-money, Smart and Newbold became tenants in common of the premises under our statute, which converts all joint tenancies into tenancies in common. — Code of 1876, | 2L91. Rankin v. Black, 1 Head, (Tenn.) 650, was a case of joint purchase of land, and unequal payment of the purchase-money. The court said : “ Where the adventure is joint, each is entitled to participate equally in profit or loss, without regard to equality in payment. But it is a clear principle of equity, that the common property will be held bound for any excess paid by one over the other. It is analagous to the law of partnership, by which, as between the partners, the capital must be recognized out of the partnership effects, before the profits can be divided.” The complainant, in that case, has claimed that he was entitled to an excess of the land, commensurate with the excess of payment he had made above a moiety. In Gee v. Gee, 2 Sneed, 395, the same court said, speaking of a case of joint and equal purchase: “In the adjustment of accounts between themselves, the matter must be equalized ; and the land, with the proceeds, if sold, would be held barred by a court of equity for the excess paid by either, above his one-half of the consideration.” In Titsworth v. Stout, 49 Ill. 78, it was ruled, that “.where one tenant in common removes an incumbrance from the common estate, the other tenants must contribute to the extent of their respective interests, and, to secure such contribution, a court of equity will enforce upon such interests an equitable lien, of the same character with that which has been removed by the redeeming tenant.” The same principle was declared in Fisher v. Allen, 52 Ill. 379. In Oliver v. Montgomery, 42 Iowa, 36, it was held, that a co-tenant, who paid the taxes upon the property held in common, was subrogated to the State’s lien on the property, and could enforce such lien for his own reimbursement. In 1 Jones on Mort, § 878, is this language : “If one joint mortgagor, in order to protect his interest, pays the joint debt, he is subrogated to the interest of his joint mortgagor, until he is repaid.” Owen v. McGehee, 61 Ala. 440, was a joint purchase of a tract of land by-four, with an agreement to divide in certain proportions, each to pay in proportion to the quantity of laud he obtained. The purchase was made in Owen’s name, but they executed a joint note for the purchase-mone.]. ' Owen paid more, and MeQehee less than his proportion. On bill by Owen, it was decreed, that he had a lien on the part which fell to McGfehee in division, for the unpaid portion which McQehee should *331have paid. In this case, the title had been taken in the name of Owen. The Chancellor rightly ruled, that Smart had a lien on Newbold’s half interest in the lands, for the sum of the mortgage debt, he, Smart had paid, over and above his moiety.
The claim against Newbold, for unequal use and occupation by him, stands on a different footing. If it were true that Newbold owes Smart for that use, it would, at most, be only a simple contract debt, with no lien whatever orrthe land for its payment. But, under the averments and proof in this case, Smart shows no claim against his co-tenant for rents, or for use and occupation. Tenants in common are seized per my et per tout. Each has an equal right to occupy ; and unless the one in actual possession denies to the other the right to enter, or agrees to pay rent, nothing can be claimed for such occupation. Such possession by one is treated as had, with the consent and approbation of the co-tenant. “ A mere participation in the profits of land, with a joint occupation, or an occupation which does not exclude the owner from possession, will not amount to a tenancy.” — Taylor’s Landlord and Ten. § 24. In Badger v. Holmes, 6 Gray, 118, the court said : “ Nothing is better settled than the rule, that the mere occupation of premises owned in common, by ODe of the tenants in common, does not entitle his co-tenant to call him to account, or render him in any way liable to an action for the use and occupation of the estate. Each owns the estate per my et per tout. If a co-tenant does not see fit to come in and occupy, the other still has the right to the enjoyment of the estate; and in such case, the sole occupation of one, is not an exclusion of the other. Each tenant, being seized of each and every part and parcel of the estate, has a right to the use and enjoyment of it; and so long as he does not hold his co-tenant out, or in any way deprive him of the occupation of the estate, he exercises only a legal right, and receives nothing for which he is bound to account to his co-tenant.” To the same effect are the following authorities; Graham v. Pierce, 19 Grat. 28; Israel v. Israel. 30 Md. 120; Hutton v. Powers, 38 Mo. 353; Everts v. Bench, 31 Mich. 136; Bird v. Bird, 15 Fla. 424; Campbell v. Campbell, 21 Mich. 485; Barrell v. Barrell, 25 N. J. Eq. 173; Austin v. Ahearm, 61 N. Y. 6, 14. In 1 Washb. on Real Prop. 570, 420], is this¡ language : “ To render one co-tenant liable to another for rent, or for use and occupation, there must be something more than an occupancy of the estate by one, and a forbearance to occupy by the other. The tenant who merely occupies the estate does no more than he has a right to do on his own ac*332count.” The Chancellor erred in decreeing any relief to complainant on account of use and occupation.
The testimony on the question whether Smart and New-bold were at any time partners in the butchering business, is in direct conflict. The Chancellor found they had been such partners for a brief time, and there is not enough in this record to convince us he erred. His ruling on that question is affirmed.
The question on Newbold’s liability for rents is presented, without any reference to exceptions attempted to be filed to the report of the register. The Chancellor, in his decree of reference, instructed the register to inquire into that matter. Moreover, our ruling, in disallowing that charge, is not based on the testimony, on which the register acted. We disallow it, because, under the law, Newbold is not liable to pay it. On all other items of the account we are satisfied with the register’s finding. In fact, we do not understand counsel as seriously assailing any other items of the account, save those considered above. The claim set up by Newbold in his answer, that at the time of the purchase Smart was indebted to him, and agreed that that should be estimated in adjusting the burdens of the purchase, fails for want of satisfactory proof. Eliminating from the account the item of $350 charged against Newbold, for use and occupation, the register’s finding and report on the facts is satisfactory to us. The record enables us to make a correct statement of the account, and we will proceed to do so. The register found that Newbold’s payments, with interest, amounted to $227.93. He allowed to Smart, for his payments, including interest, $835.97. Prom this should have been'deducted $350, improperly charged against Newbold. The true credit which should have been allowed Smart was, and is, $485.97. Deducting Newbold’s allowance — $227.93—from this, shows Smart’s payments to have exceeded Newbold’s by $258.04; one-half of which, $129.02, was the true amount Newbold owed Smart as of the day of the report, July 9th, 1878. Instead of decreeing that defendant below — appellant here — was indebted to complainant in the sum of three hundred and four dollars, bearing date July 9, 1878, it should have been one hundred and twenty-nine 2-100 dollars, as of that date.
The decree of the Chancellor is reversed, and a decree here rendered, correcting the register’s report so as to show that defendant was indebted to complainant, July 9th 1878, in the sum of $129.02 — and decreeing to complainant, in all other respects, the relief decreed to him by the Chancellor.
Let appellee pay the costs of appeal in the court below and in this court.
*333What we have said disposes of the question of homestead, as that right does not exist against valid liens.
Reversed and rendered.