Baker v. Goodman

194 P. 117, 57 Utah 349, 1920 Utah LEXIS 113

• Court: Utah Supreme Court
• Decided: December 2, 1920
• Docket: No. 3471
• Status: Published

Opinions

TOBIN, District Judge.

This is an action in ejectment, brought by the plaintiff as administrator de bonis non, to recover possession of 30 acres of land. The intestate, Hannah M. Inglefield, died September 26, 1903, and left surviving her a widower and eight children. On the 2d day of September, 1902, said decedent purchased 35 acres of land in Utah county. This land had been sold to Utah county in 1902 for the 1901 taxes, and had not been redeemed. On September 19, 1902, immediately after the purchase of said land by said decedent, the decedent mortgaged said tract to one Elizabeth Brereton as security for a promissory note in the principal sum of $400, maturing September 19, 1907. In March, 1903, said decedent and her husband conveyed to the defendant, James Goodman, by warranty deed, 5 acres of the 35 acres hereinbefore mentioned. The remaining 30 acres is the land in controversy in this case, and is described as follows:

“Commencing at the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 26, township 6 south, of range 2 west, Salt Lake meridian; thence north 10 chains; thence west 5 chains; thence north 10 chains; thence east 5 chains; thence south 7.50 chains; thence east 20 chains; thence south 12.50 chains; thence west 20 chains to beginning.”

. On September 16, 1903, and immediately after tbe death of decedent, her widower, John Inglefield, borrowed a sum of money, $50 or $100, from the defendant, for the purpose of paying funeral expenses for his wife’s funeral. As security for the payment of this money, on demand, John Inglefield attempted to convey by warranty deed another 5 acres of said land to the defendant, and permitted the defendant to go into possession immediately. In 1905 the defendant purchased the outstanding mortgage from the estate of the said Elizabeth Brerpton, and took an assignment thereof which assignment has never been recorded.

Immediately after the death of decedent, the widower moved from the land in controversy to Mammoth, Utah, abandoning his family. Lottie Emmons, the oldest daughter of the deceased, cared for the minor children of the deceased, and in the fall of 1906 she moved from the land in controversy, where she had been residing since the previous spring, to Mammoth, Utah, taking the children with her. Lottie Emmons testified that she had paid the taxes on the property after her mother’s death, but that she had not paid taxes since 1906.

On May 21, 1907, letters of administration on the estate of said decedent were issued to W. H. Brereton, son of said Elizabeth Brereton. He immediately published notice to creditors in the usual form, requiring the presentation of claims before September 23, 1907, and had appraisers appointed. On August 6, 1907, before the expiration of the time for the presentation of claims, and without filing any inventory and appraisement, or approving or filing any claims, the administrator petitioned for his discharge, stating that he was unable to find any property belonging to the estate. On August 17, 1907, the court discharged Mr. Brereton as administrator, and released his sureties; the order of discharge stating that it appeared that there was no estate to administer. No inventory, final accounting, or decree of distribution has ever been made. Mr. Brereton testified that he took an interest in the appointment of the administrator of the estate of Hannah M. Inglefield, because his mother was holding the mortgage, and that after he had looked over the property, and had a talk with Mr. Goodman, and had sold the mortgage to Mr. Goodman, lie filed his petition for discharge as administrator.

On July 2, 1907, while said Brereton was acting as administrator, the defendant, Goodman^ purchased from Utah county, for the sum of $28.13, a tax deed reciting in part as follows:

“Quitclaim Deed.

“Utah, county, a municipal corporation of the state of Utah, hy Elias A. Gee, clerk, grantor, of Utah county, state of Utah, hereby quitclaims to James Goodman, grantee, of Provo City, Utah county, state of Utah, for the sum of eight and 13/100 dollars, the following described tract of land, situated in Utah county, state of Utah, to wit: “S. % S. W. of the S. E. %; E. quarter; S. E. of the S. W. quarter of Sec. 26', Tp. 6 S., R. 2 E., Salt Lake meridian, area 35 acres.

On August 3, 1907, prior to the date of filing the petition for discharge of Administrator Brereton, the defendant caused the outstanding $400 mortgage to be released of record. The defendant has admittedly been in possession of the land in controversy since July 2, 1907, and has paid all the taxes on the same since that time.

Lottie Emmons, daughter of the deceased, Hannah M. Inglefield, testified that on or about the 6th day of July, 1907, she had a conversation with the defendant, in which he stated in substance that he was living on the property in controversy, that it had cost him about $1,000, and that if he were repaid that amount the heirs of Hannah M. Inglefield could have the property. Mrs. Emmons also testified that she knew some one was taking steps to probate the land at that time, and had received a probate notice after the date of the conversation just mentioned; that she had not been paid by any one for what she had paid for taxes or for funeral expenses.

The testimony shows that the amount expended by the defendant up to the time he took possession of the property in controversy was something more than $600, and not about $1,000, .as represented by him. The testimony is also to the effect that up to the time of the trial of this action defendant represented that he owned the widower’s share of the estate. At the trial he disclaimed having an assignment of the widower’s interest, and amended his pleadings by striking therefrom the declaration of ownership of such interest.

The testimony shows that at the time the defendant took possession of the premises in question they were in a rundown condition, and that they had been greatly improved by the defendant for the purpose of making a home. The defendant testified that he had received about $2,000 out of the place, and admitted that he had sold 2,500 cubic yards of sand and gravel from the land in controversy, at a price of 10 cents a yard and upward. According to the testimony in the case, the defendant has never been repaid anything by any of the heirs, or by any one, on account of the money paid by him in connection with the property in controversy. There is no evidence that the defendant at any time informed any of the heirs that he held a tax deed from Utah county.

The plaintiff, Lee L. Baker, was appointed administrator of the estate of Hannah Inglefield, deceased, on the 7th day of March, 1919. After making demand upon defendant for an accounting, and for possession of the land in controversy, and upon refusal of defendant, the plaintiff commenced this action. The record shows that all of the children of Hannah Inglefield, deceased, with the exception of the following, to wit; Jefferson Inglefield, -Thomas Inglefield, and Carl Inglefield — had attained their majority more than two years prior to the commencement of the action at bar. The trial court entered a judgment quieting title to the land in controversy in defendant, from which judgment plaintiff appeals.

The question presented to this court upon appeal is: Has the statute of limitations barred plaintiff from recovery of possession of the land in controversy, or any part thereof, and is defendant rightfully entitled to his decree quieting title therein ? The plaintiff contends:

(1) That the possession by the defendant of the land in controversy was obtained and retained by fraud, and for that reason no lapse of time, however great, will defeat the defrauded persons of their remedy against him, as the perpetrator of that fraud.

(2) That the statute of limitations is suspended during the period of vacancy in administration of a decedent’s estate, and the rights of the creditors in the assets of the estate cannot be defeated, directly or indirectly, by lapse of time, where there has not been due administration, and where the statutory time allowed them for presentation of claims has not expired. So, when an administrator is discharged before completion of administration, the court cannot dispense with the usual mode of administration, but must appoint another administrator, and during the vacancy in administration one in possession of estate assets may not adverse the estate, but is chargeable therewith as an executor de son tort, and time does not begin to run in his favor until appointment of an administrator de-bonis non.

(3) Mere possession and improvement of land of a decedent by a mortgagee, who takes possession thereof before breach of any condition by mortgagor, and with permission of the mortgagor, cannot constitute adverse possession until after maturity ' of the mortgage debt, or breach of condition of said mortgage by the mortgagor, if living, or by some one qualified to represent him, if dead.

The plaintiff contends also that—

As to the plaintiff’s first contention, that possession to the land in controversy was obtained and retained by 1 fraud, we are of the opinion that this claim is not borne out by the record in the case.

Plaintiff’s contention that the mere possession and improvement of land of the decedent by a mortgagee, who takes possession thereof before the breach of any condition by the mortgagor, and with permission of the mortgagor, cannot constitute adverse possession until after maturity 2 of the mortgage debt, or breach of condition of such mortgage by the mortgagor, if living, or by some one qualified to represent him, if dead, is not applicable in this case, for the reason that the defendant is not claiming adverse possession as a mortgagee in possession, as against the mortgagor, after some condition has been broken. The defendant relies on adverse possession founded upon the tax deed from Utah county.

“the tax deeds on which the court based and predicated its formal findings of fact as to defendant’s title, color of title, and claim of right in and to the land in controversy are nullities, and should not have been received in evidence for any purpose whatever;” that “the description of these deeds is meaningless, and so vague and uncertain as to render them wholly void.”

The tax deed in question, even though it be held to be defective, was sufficient to give color of title. This is the well-established law of this state. Welner v. 3 Stearns, 40 Utah, 185, 120 Pac. 490, Ann. Cas. 1914C, 1175.

The defendant contends that the statute of limitations was set in motion on the 2d day of July, 1907, at the time he entered into possession of the land in controversy, when and while the administrator was acting, and that nothing has occurred to suspend its running. As to this question our statutes prescribe the manner in which estates must be probated. The statutes were not complied with in the case at bar. No inventory was filed, and the administrator was discharged prior to the expiration of the time for the presentation of claims, on the theory that there was no property belonging to the estate. Therefore' the court never acquired jurisdiction of the property in controversy. The record shows that Mr. Brereton took an interest in the appointment of an administrator of the said estate because his mother was holding a mortgage, and that after the mortgage had been sold to Mr. Goodman he filed his petition for discharge as an administrator. In other words, when the purpose for which he sought appointment had been accomplished, he asked for and was granted his discharge, without filing an inventory or taking any steps to protect the interests of the heirs. The law does not contemplate that an administrator can be appointed and be discharged without performing any of the duties that he is required to perform with reference to the property of the estate, and by the mere act of his appointment set in motion the statute of limitations, to the injury of those interested in the estate. For the reasons stated, in so 4 far as the issues in this case are concerned, the appointment of the former administrator of this estate may be considered as a nullity.

Eliminating the former probate proceedings that were had in the estate of Hannah Inglefield from the consideration of the case, is the defendant entitled to have title to the property in controversy quieted in him on the ground of adverse possession? The record discloses that the defendant purchased a tax deed from Utah county, and immediately thereafter, to wit, on the 2d day of July, 1907, entered into‘possession of the property in question; that he had paid taxes on the property during all the- years since that date; that he had made valuable improvements on the same; that he had held the same openly and notoriously. We are therefore clearly of the opinion that the record discloses that all of the requirements of the law necessary to establish title by adverse possession to the land in controversy have been complied with, in so far as those whom the law presumes to have had notice, or those who were not under some disability recognized by the law, are affected. The question therefore is: Is the defendant entitled to have title to all of the property in controversy quieted in him as against all of the heirs of Hannah Inglefield?

Section 6463, Comp. Laws Utab 1917, provides:

“If a person entitled to commence an action for the recovery of real property, or for the recovery of the possession thereof, or to make any entry or defense, founded on the title to real property, or to rents or services out of the same, he at the time such title shall first descend or accrue, either: (1) Within the age of majority; or (2) insane; or (3) imprisoned on a criminal charge, or in execution upon conviction of a criminal offense, for a term less than for life — the time during which such disability 'continues is not deemed any portion of the time in this chapter limited for the commencement of such actions, or the making of such entry or defense, but such action may be commenced, or entry or defense made, within the period of two years after such disability shall cease, or after the death of the person entitled, who shall die under such disability, but such action shall not be commenced, or entry or defense made, after that period.”

In Winters v. Hainer, 107 Tenn. 337, 64 S. W. 44, held: (1) Where defendants purchased a tract of land at a tax sale, the certificate describing the boundaries thereof, and took possession, inclosing a portion thereof, and afterwards inclosed the balance, the adverse possession extended to the whole tract, since the tax certificate was color of title, and the possession taken thereunder extended to the boundaries therein described; and (2) where plaintiffs were minors when defendant’s adverse possession began, and are still minors, their right to contest defendant’s right to land not barred. L. T. Lumber Co. v. Southern Pine Lumber Co. (Tex. Civ. App. 1912), 147 S. W. 604.

In Karris v. McCrary, 17 Idaho, 300, 105 Pac. 559 (1909), it was held, under section 4046, Rev. Code Idaho, which, in so far as the ease at bar is concerned, is the same as our section 6463, that title by adverse possession cannot be acquired against minors during minority. It is held in Pennington v. Earley, 43 Atl. 707 (N. J. Sup. 1899), that there can be no adverse possession of land while the title is in an infant.

In Cobb v. Klosterman, 58 Or. 211, 114 Pac. 96 (1911), under a statute providing that the time of disability of infancy shall not be a part of the time limited for the commencement of an action, etc., adverse possession is not available against infants. In Long v. Cummings, 91 S. C. 521, 75 (1912), held that, in an action to recover possession of land devised to plaintiffs by their father, while plaintiffs, at the time of trial, were only 22 and 24 years old, adverse possession, commenced after the father’s death, was not a defense. There had been a sale under execution. The court said:

“At the time of the sale, the plaintiffs were infants of tender years, and have hut recently attained their majority. Hence the defense of adverse possession cannot avail defendants.”

See Northrop v. Marquam (1888) 16 Or. 173, 18 Pac. 449, in which the question of adverse possession as affecting the rights of infants is discussed at considerable length.

We are of the opinion that, under the section of our statute quoted, and the authorities, defendant’s right to have title .to the property in controversy ‘quieted in him should not prevail as against any of the heirs of the estate of Hannah Inglefield who did not attain their majority at a date 5 more than two years prior to the commencement of the action at bar. The decedent, Hannah Inglefield, at the time of her death, left surviving her as her heirs her widower and eight children. Under our law the widower was entitled to one-third of the estate and the children the remaining two-thirds. Under our view of the case, the defendant should prevail as against the interest in said real estate of those who were not under a disability for a period of two years prior to the commencement of the action at bar, to wit, John W. Inglefield, the widower, Mrs. Lottie Emmons, Mrs. Tillie Chivrell, Mrs. Stella Keplinger, Eva Inglefield, and Calvin Inglefield, but not as against Jefferson Inglefield, Thomas Inglefield, and Carl Inglefield. In other words, the defendant is entitled to have title quieted in three-fourths of the land, and the three children last named are each entitled to a one-twelfth interest in the land.

Much has been said on behalf of the defendant in this ease concerning the valuable improvements placed on the land in question by him, and, on the other hand, it is contended that the defendant sold much valuable material from the land. At the proper time the defendant will have the opportunity to sbow what amount was expended by him for improvements and taxes, and the heirs interested will likewise have the opportunity to show what, if anything, has been taken from the land by the defendant, by way of income, as reasonable rental value of the land, and for materials taken from the same.

In accordance with the views hereinbefore set forth we are of the opinion that the defendant is entitled to have title to three-fourths of the land quieted in him, and that the plaintiff, as administrator of the estate, is entitled to have title to one-fourth of the land in controversy quieted in him for the benefit of the three heirs, to wit, Jefferson Inglefield, Thomas Inglefield, and Carl Inglefield, subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth to be performed by the plaintiff as administrator of the estate, or by the heirs, subject, however, to the rights of the plaintiff as administrator of the estate.

In view of the peculiar history, circumstances, and facts of the case at bar, we feel constrained to make such an order as will effectually do equity to the parties concerned, and tend to prevent unnecessary delay and obviate further litigation ; but in making such order this court does not wish to be understood as establishing rules that shall be followed generally, or applied to any case where the facts and circumstances are dissimilar to those appearing in this case. We are therefore of the opinion that the judgment of the court below should be modified, and the case remanded, with the directions: To enter a judgment quieting title to three-fourths of the property in controversy in the defendant; to ascertain the market value of the property, exclusive of the improvements, at the 'time of the commencement of the action; to ascertain the amount of taxes, both special and general, assessed and levied against the land, and paid by the defendant; to ascertain the amount received by the defendant as rental value of the land and from the sale of materials from the land; to deduct the amount paid by the defendant in taxes and improvements, together with interest thereon at 8 per cent, per annum, less the amount received by him as income as reasonable rental value, and from the sale of materials, from such market value; to give the three heirs hereinbefore mentioned the option to pay the defendant, within 120 days after notice of such determination, the proportion of such difference that their interest bears to the entire land, and, if such payments are so made, then to enter a judgment quieting title to one-fourth of said property in said heirs, and, if the said heirs, or any of them, decline such option, then to sell the interest of the heir or heirs declining the option, and apply the proceeds of the sale, first to the cost of such sale, then pay to the defendant the proportion of the amount of such taxes and interest that the interest sold bears to the whole of the land, and then divide the balance of such proceeds between the heir or heirs declining the option and the defendant, in proportion of the market value of the land sold exclusive of improvements, at the time of the commencement of the action, and the value of the improvements chargeable to the land sold, less the proportion of the amount received by the defendant during his occupancy, as reasonable rental value, and from the sale of materials that the interest sold bears to the whole land. If it be determined that the amount received by defendant as reasonable rental value of the land, and from the sale of materials from the land, is in excess of the amount expended by the defendant in taxes and improvements, the trial court is directed to enter judgment quieting the title to o^s^fomrtli^of the land in controversy in the heirs, and a judgment in favor of the heirs and against the defendant for such proportion of such excess as the interest of the heirs bears to the whole land. Costs to appellant.

Such is the order.

FRICK, WEBER, GIDEON, and THURMAN, JJ., concur. CORFMAN, C. J., being disqualified, did not participate in the disposition of this cause.