Alessi v. Davis

73 Pa. D. & C. 1, 1950 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 338
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County
DecidedJuly 7, 1950
Docketno. 213
StatusPublished

This text of 73 Pa. D. & C. 1 (Alessi v. Davis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Alessi v. Davis, 73 Pa. D. & C. 1, 1950 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 338 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1950).

Opinion

Bretherick, J.,

Plaintiff, Leonore T. Alessi, filed her complaint in this action to quiet title. Rose Segars, one of the defendants, filed an answer containing new matter. Plaintiff filed a reply, and a motion for judgment on the. pleadings. No appearance has been entered or answer filed by any of the remaining defendants.

The premises involved in these proceedings are known as 327 and 329 Marks Avenue, in the Borough of Darby, this county.

The complaint avers that the former owner of the premises was Sarah E. Davis. She acquired title under the will of her daughter, Henrietta E. Davis, who died on or about May 26,1921, the will dated May 21,1921, being duly proven and recorded in this county. Sarah E. Davis died on or about May 24, 1933, intestate.

Plaintiff avers that the parties in interest are Fred Coleman, Fred D. Davis, Burgess A. Coleman, Henrietta Kennard, Sarah Mackrey, Elizabeth J. Lear, Rose Segars and Ruth Davis, all of whom acquired such interest by descent ultimately from Sarah E. Davis.

The complaint further avers that on December 8, 1941, the Treasurer of Delaware County sold the premises at tax sale to the county commissioners, the deeds therefor being duly recorded; that by deeds dated November 23,1949, and duly recorded, the premises were conveyed after public sale on November 10, 1949, by the County of Delaware to plaintiff, as the property formerly of and assessed to Sarah E. Davis, deceased; that “upon diligent inquiry, no persons have been found who have or claim to have any right, title or interest in or claim against, said land, other than the defendants mentioned in paragraph no. 6 hereof”.

Defendant’s (Rose Segars’) answer admits in general the allegations of the complaint. However, paragraph 5 of the answer avers that Mae Johnson, mother of Rose Segars, died on December 28, 1940, and that [3]*3“the said Rose Segars at the date of Mae Johnson’s death was not of legal age, being then 17 years old”. Paragraph 6 of the answer avers “that the interest of Rose Segars is 1/6, being 1/3 of the 1/2 interest of Mae Johnson”. Paragraph 7 of the answer avers that the first actual notice to Rose Segars of the tax sale “was on service of the copy of the complaint in this action, although she has been a tenant in common with a 1/6 interest since December 28, 1940, which was well within the time of redemption following the first sale”.

In her new matter, Rose Segars avers that she held a one-sixth interest in the real estate in question; that no notice of any kind was ever received by her of any tax sale, although she was actually a tenant in common “thereof”; that by the Act of May 24,1917, P. L. 270, she, being a tenant in common, had a right to pay the proportionate amount of the taxes on the premises; that she “has been and is ready, willing and able to pay her share in the said taxes”.

Plaintiff’s reply admits that Rose Segars held a one-sixth interest in the real estate in question and that, under the Act of 1917, P. L. 270, she had a right to pay a proportionate amount of the taxes on the real estate. As to the remainder of the allegations in defendant’s new matter, plaintiff pleads lack of knowledge and demands proof.

In her brief of argument contra plaintiff’s motion for judgment on the pleadings defendant presents but two questions, the first of which she states as follows: “Can a tax sale be valid as against a minor where no guardian has been appointed?” The answer must be in the affirmative. In 61 C. J., Taxation, sec. 1537, p. 1134, it is said:

“In the absence of a statute to the contrary, the fact that land belongs to a person who is under legal disabilities, as an infant or feme covert, does not prevent its valid sale for the nonpayment of taxes assessed [4]*4against it, although .favor is usually shown to such persons in regard to the time and terms of redemption.”

After a thorough review of the statutes in this Commonwealth we have found no legislative pronouncement which extends to infants any favor with respect either to sale for nonpayment of taxes, or to time and terms of redemption.'

In Duff v. Tiers, 15 Pitts. L. J. 248, it was held that a sheriff’s sale of land under the Pittsburgh Tax Act of March 22, 1877, P. L. 16, vests a good title in the purchaser though the owner is a minor and the scire facias issued on the claim is served only on him. The court said (p. 249) ■:

“The act cited does not except the property of minors from its provisions, nor does it direct that their guardians shall be made parties in any proceedings for a sale of the land for the taxes.”

Defendant states in her brief that a judgment taken against a minor, without a guardian having been appointed, “is for all intents and purposes a nullity”, citing the Rules of Civil Procedure. Aside from the fact that defendant wholly misreads R. C. P. 2034(d) there is no analogy whatsoever between a personal action against a minor and a sale of a minor’s real estate for nonpayment of taxes. The latter is a proceeding in rem: Bailey et al. v. Zielinski, 39 Luz. 265, 269. And as to the legal effect of a judgment against a minor, not represented by a guardian ad litem, see Hamilton v. Moore, 335 Pa. 433.

The remaining question argued in defendant’s brief is:’ “Was the property properly described as being the property of ‘Sarah E. Davis’?” Here, again, the answer must be in the affirmative.

In DeSimone v. McCray, 44 D. & C. 600, 602, the court said:

..“The Act of April 3, 1804, P. L. 517, 4 Sm. L. 201, sec. 5, 72 PS §6044, provides that in case of unseated [5]*5lands a tax sale will vest in the purchaser or purchasers all of, the estate and interest of the real owner although the land may not have been taxed or sold in the name of the real owner thereof. The theory of such law is set forth in, the court decisions to be that where a tax is due it must be paid, and where an owner is anxious and willing to pay his taxes he can, by referring to the assessment books, ascertain in whose name the assessment was made, pay the taxes, and have the assessment properly made, if erroneous in any respect. The Act of June 1, 1915, P. L. 660, extends the provisions of the Act of 1804, above recited, to apply equally to seated lands: Ryan v. Bruhin, 88 Pa. Superior Ct. 61. The irregularities in tax assessment, or in process or otherwise, shall not affect the title of a purchaser at a tax sale: Carns v. Matthews, 114 Pa. Superior Ct. 528. It is contended by plaintiff that the Act of May 9, 1929, P. L. 1684, repeals the Act of 1915 in the repealing clause reading as follows: ‘All other acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.’ This act, followed by the Act of May 29,1931, P. L. 280, outlines the procedure for the return of unpaid taxes and sale thereon. We do not find that the Act of 1915 is so inconsistent as to be considered repealed by this general clause. In fact, the Acts of 1929 and 1931 both provide that the unpaid tax shall be returned and the property advertised for sale in the name of the owner or reputed owner, thus indicating an intention to continue prior legislation to the effect that the tax sale is valid whether or not returned, advertised, and sold in the name of the actual owner for the years the taxes were not paid.”

In Matter of Sale of Property of Catherine Kearney Estate, 19 Northumb. 22, it was held that a tax sale is not invalid because the tax was based on an assessment in the name of a former owner. The court said (p. 31) :

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Related

Hamilton v. Moore
6 A.2d 787 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1939)
Ryan v. Bruhin
88 Pa. Super. 61 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1925)
Carns v. Matthews
174 A. 840 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1934)
Miller v. Hale
26 Pa. 432 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1856)
Glass v. Gilbert
58 Pa. 266 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1868)
Franklin Coal Co. v. Bertels
109 Pa. 550 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1885)
Fager v. Campbell
5 Watts 287 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1836)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
73 Pa. D. & C. 1, 1950 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 338, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/alessi-v-davis-pactcompldelawa-1950.