Court Opinion

ID: 9791659
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:15:34.378908+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:37.109806
License: Public Domain

WATSON, Justice. I add the following as additional reasons for my concurrence in this opinion. Appellants’ chain of title depended upon proof of the existence and contents of a lost deed. The proof consisted of testimony of two of the appellants that they had seen the deed, and the testimony of the abstracter, Mr. DeVargas, who prepared the deed from Faustin Trujillo and wife to appellants in 1956. Mr. DeVargas testified that at the time he prepared this deed he got the description used in it from a deed from Francesquita Trujillo to Faustin Trujillo (the lost deed). Although this evidence might be sufficient to establish the parties to, and the description in, the lost deed, we cannot say that it was so strong and conclusive of its contents that the trial court was required to find the existence of the deed necessary to establish appellants’ title. Johnson v. Johnson, 74 N.M. 567, 396 P.2d 181 (1964); Griego v. Roybal, 81 N.M. 202, 465 P.2d 85 (1970); Blueher Lumber Company v. Springer, 77 N.M. 449, 423 P.2d 878 (1967); Panhandle Pipe and Steel, Inc. v. Jesko, 80 N.M. 457, 457 P.2d 705 (1969). Appellants’ attack on the sufficiency of evidence to establish appellees’ title because of statements or actions of the admitted heirs of Francesquita Trujillo, which would indicate that they thought they did not own the lands in question, are not conclusive as to their title. See 31A C.J.S. Evidence § 380; Garvin v. Hudson, 76 N.M. 403, 415 P.2d 369 (1966). Since appellants do not plead or argue that they have established title by adverse possession, they are not prejudiced by the court’s finding that plaintiffs and their predecessors had paid taxes on the land for more than 10 years. Renfro v. J. D. Coggins Company, 71 N.M. 310, 378 P.2d 130 (1963).