Brownell & Co. v. Fuller

83 N.W. 669, 60 Neb. 558, 1900 Neb. LEXIS 184
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 19, 1900
DocketNo. 11,265
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 83 N.W. 669 (Brownell & Co. v. Fuller) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brownell & Co. v. Fuller, 83 N.W. 669, 60 Neb. 558, 1900 Neb. LEXIS 184 (Neb. 1900).

Opinion

Holcomb, J.

Two assignments of error are argued by counsel for plaintiff in error and presented to us for consideration. Tbe first is that the court erred in one of its instructions to the jury, and the second, the verdict and judgment are not sustained by the evidence. The controversy involves the right to a portable engine and boiler claimed by the plaintiff in the court below, who is also plaintiff in error, by virtue of a chattel mortgage thereon executed by a partnership in the firm name of Silver & Smith. The defendant Fuller claims title to the property under what in law is denominated a “trade fixture.”

It appears from the evidence that Fuller was the owner of certain premises in South Omaha, occupied, equipped and used as a planing mill. Silver & Smith were in possession of the premises under a lease from the owner, and while thus in possession, during the term of their lease, erected an addition to the mill building in the alley abutting on the premises, placing therein, in proper position, and in a stable and substantial manner, the engine and boiler in controversy, for the purpose of furnishing the power to run the planing mill machinery, the engine and boiler on the premises having become worthless for such purpose. The evidence shows in detail, and with much mirmtia, the manner in which the disputed property was set on foundations prepared therefor; how attached to the soil; how braced and made stable and steady, so as to serve the purpose for .which it was constructed, and the alterations made in the buildings in erecting the «addition and in placing the machinery in position; and how connected with the machinery for power purposes. We will not undertake herein to give a resume of the testimony with reference to the matters alluded to, deeming it not required in properly disposing of the objections presented for consideration. The leased premises, with the property in controversy as placed thereon, were sur[561]*561rendered to the owner, the exact time being in dispute and covering a period from July 5 to the 17th of the same month. On the 8th day of July the mortgage, under which the plaintiff claims, was executed, and on the 11th was filed in the office of the county clerk.

Among other instructions to the jury, the following was given, which is excepted to: “There has been some testimony relative to the location of the boiler and engine in the alley. You are instructed that a tenant cannot deny the landlord’s title to premises which he obtains by virtue of- his lease. The shed or annex which Silver and Smith built and attached to the defendant Fuller’s planing mill became a part of said mill, and the ground on which it stood became a part of the defendant Fuller’s premises so far as Silver and Smith and their mortgagee, the plaintiff, are concerned. You are therefore instructed to disregard all of the testimony about the boiler and engine being in the alley, except so far as it has a bearing, if any at all, upon the question of whether said boiler and engine were trade fixtures or not.” We find no valid objection to this instruction. Counsel, if we understand them rightly, contend that the idea of the court is not clear from the language used, and that it implies that it had no bearing at all. If the instruction was not entirely satisfactory, counsel should have tendered one free from the uncertainty existing in the one given. Home Fire Ins. Co. v. Decker, 55 Nebr., 346; Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co. v. Oyster, 58 Nebr., 1. But we do not think the instruction merits the criticism urged against it. It was proper for the court to direct the jury as to the purpose and object of the evidence as to the location of the machinery in dispute. Without an instruction of the kind given, the jury would probably have entered into a consideration of the case with a view of its disposition upon the question as to whether the property was on defendant’s lot, and, if not, then he could have no valid claim to it. Such a view of the matter would not be in conformity with law. The rights of the parties in the property in dispute did not [562]*562depend on the question as to whether it was in the alley adjoining*the leased premises, but whether it was in fact a trade fixture. The court, by its instruction, limited the jury’s consideration of the evidence on this point to the only purpose for which it was applicable. The testimony as to the location of the property could have no other material bearing than in determining whether defendant’s contention that it was a trade fixture, and passed to him on the surrender of the premises, was'correct. Conceding the addition in which the machinery was located to be erected in the alley, this fact alone would not conclusively defeat the defendant’s right to the property. It would not disprove that the machinery was a trade fixture. Its location in the alley was important and material in so far only as it might assist in determining whether it was a trade fixture, and the evidence in relation thereto could serve no other purpose in the trial of the case. The addition in which the machinery was placed was a part of the leased premises. The tenants were not in a position to dispute the title of their landlord thereto. As between him and them, their possession was his also. The location of the addition, and the machinery therein, in the alley adjoining the leased, premises, did not thereby preclude the machinery from becoming a part of the leased premises, other requisites of a fixture being established by the evidence. As between the parties for all other purposes, its location in the alley made no difference; it belonged to, and formed a part of, the leased premises. Bliss v. Whitney, 9 Allen [Mass.], 114; Arnold v. Crowder, 81 Ill., 56; Redlon v. Barker, 4 Kan., 445; Haider v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 70 N. W. Rep. [Minn.], 805; McGorrish v. Dwyer, 78 Ia., 279. We do not regard the instruction given as being in conflict with the views of this court expressed in a former opinion in this same case. It was there said, “Whether the machinery was placed in Fuller’s building, or in a public alley joining his premises, was a question of fact for the jury to determine from the evidence.” 48 Nebr., 145, 151. [563]*563The language quoted was not directed to any point decided in that opinion. It may be regarded as obiter die-tum. But if it were relative to a question therein decided, it does not conflict with the instruction given. In a controversy as to the place of location of the addition containing the machinery, it is doubtless a question of fact to be determined by the jury, and yet this would not conflict with the rule laid down in the instruction limiting the purpose of such evidence to the one question of determining whether the machinery was a trade fixture. The instruction, upon the whole, is not open to the objections urged, and was as favorable to the plaintiff as he was entitled to under the evidence. We are justified on the record presented to us in sustaining the instruction, because there is presented no evidence of any alley adjoining the leased premises. While mention is made of the introduction of a plat of the city where the real estate is situated, none is incorporated in, or attached to, or made a'part of the bill of exceptions. We prefer, however, to consider the subject on the assumption that all the evidence which purports to be in the record is there.

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Bluebook (online)
83 N.W. 669, 60 Neb. 558, 1900 Neb. LEXIS 184, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brownell-co-v-fuller-neb-1900.