Court Opinion

ID: 6569204
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 19:22:30.361391+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:56:50.991665
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Burke
delivered the opinion of the court.
Defendants in error, hereinafter referred to as plaintiffs, brought this action against plaintiff in error, hereinafter referred to as defendant, for the possession of two lots in the city of Trinidad. To review a judgment entered upon the pleadings, on motion of plaintiffs and in their favor, defendant sues out this writ and asks that it be made a supersedeas.
These pleadings, besides complaint, answer and reply, consist of numerous motions and demurrers. They are interminable, unjustifiable and often frivolous. Several items of damage were originally included. These were all waived in open court and we shall consider the case as though standing upon that portion of the first three pleadings above mentioned as they relate solely to the question of possession, and the demurrer to the complaint.
The complaint alleges that A. J. Patrick, deceased, was the owner and in possession of the property in question; that he sold it, by written contract, to defendant for $806.70, $10.00 paid in cash and $65.00 due each six months thereafter until the last payment which was $91.70. Default of sixty days in any payment made the contract null and void and all payments theretofore made and improvements, if any, placed upon the land were to go to Patrick “as stipulated damages.” It is further alleged that Patrick died; that plaintiffs are his heirs and sole heirs and have succeeded to all his rights in the premises; that the defendant after hawing paid $147.00 thereafter defaulted; that he has paid nothing since April 27, 1914; and that plaintiffs have declared a forfeiture and demanded possession,
*281The answer admits the contract, the default and defendant’s possession.
Defendant sets up the statute of limitations applicable in personal actions, asserts that the plaintiffs have no legal capacity to sue and the court has no jurisdiction. If these objections have any basis worthy of consideration we are unable to detect it. The answer contains a general denial which need not be noticed because there is also a specific denial of each allegation of the complaint and each of these denials is coupled with an admission of'the contract and the default. Defendant further admits his refusal to vacate, the heirship of plaintiffs and their notice of forfeiture. He alleges that he has paid “the sum of about $450.00; that “no payments were, or are, payable, or due, thereunder” (i. e. under the contract) ; that it was agreed between the parties “that the time of the said alleged contract should be extended and they then were so extended”; that “plaintiffs has been guilty of laches and unreasonable delay”; that “neither the said A. J. Patrick could during his lifetime, and these plaintiffs could not at any time since the execution of said contract and can not now, and they have not made title to said realty and could not and can not convey title to the same to the defendant to the damage of defendant in the sum of $5000.” Wherefore defendant prays that the complaint be dismissed and that defendant have judgment for $5450 and interest “from the time said defendant was entitled to said money.” These, so far. as they are allegations of anything, are allegations of law, not of fact. They constitute no defense. The judgment entered by the trial court was the only one possible under the condition of these pleadings. It is accordingly affirmed.
Mr. Chief Justice Teller and Mr. Justice Allen concur.