Court Opinion

ID: 9538637
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:38:50.651012+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:02.150224
License: Public Domain

Grady, C. J.
(concurring in the result)—In 1941, the owner of a logging donkey left it upon a tract of land owned by another person. Respondent subsequently became the owner of the land. At various times, movable parts were taken from the logging donkey, and brush grew up around it. No one made known to the owner of the land any claim of ownership. Respondent, desiring to make use of the area, removed the donkey from his land and sold it to a junk dealer for $164.88. Appellant, claiming to be the owner of the donkey, suddenly realized that very valuable property had been converted by respondent and brought an action for damages.
The trial court had no difficulty in finding that the donkey had been abandoned by the owner and dismissed the action. The trial court also concluded the action was barred by the statute of limitations.
On appeal, we got into a highly scholastic maze of legal theory as to what it took to abandon property so that one situated as respondent would be justified in getting it out of his way and selling it for junk and not be guilty of conversion. We heard the case En Banc March 16, 1954. We *274got deeper into the labyrinth. A majority have solved the problem by the statute of limitations route. This may be justified on the theory that the case should be finally decided and the litigation terminated.
My view is that the action was for conversion of the property and that the cause of action, if any, accrued when the property was sold by respondent, but by reason of abandonment by its owner respondent was not guilty of conversion. I would affirm the judgment on this ground.