Bryar v. Bryar

78 F. 657, 1897 U.S. App. LEXIS 2493

• Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Western Pennsylvania
• Decided: February 5, 1897
• Status: Published

Opinions

ACHESON, Circuit Judge.

Pending this appeal, in the year 1880, Jane Bryar brought an action of ejectment in the court of common pleas No. 1, of Allegheny county, Pa., against Thomas Campbell and others, to recover the land here in controversy. That case was tried before a jury, and a verdict rendered in favor of the defendants in the action. Judgment upon the verdict having been entered, Mrs. Bryar sued out a writ of error, and, after argument, the supreme court of Pennsylvania affirmed the judgment of the court of common pleas. 30 Pittsb. Leg. J. 12. In that ejectment Mrs. Bryar set up against Thomas Campbell, as the basis of her right to recover, the same equitable title which was the foundation of her bill in equity in the United States district court, and which her heirs now assert against Campbell in this court. These facts, which have been brought upon the record by proofs and a written stipulation, are decisive, we think, against the heirs of Jane Bryar, the now appellees. Mrs. Bryar elected to have her rights determined in the state courts, and Campbell was compelled to defend in the state forum. Whether or not Campbell could have set up the pendency of the bill here in abatement or in bar of the action in the court of common pleas we need not inquire. It is enough that he did not attempt to do so, and the action proceeded in the state courts upon the merits to final judgment. As an adverse, decision there against Campbell would have concluded him, so the decision in his favor concluded Mrs. Bryar and her heirs. The ejectment brought by Mrs. Bryar was upon her equitable title, — a procedure allowable in the courts of Pennsylvania, where an equitable ejectment is the full equivalent of and substitute for a bill in equity, — and it is well settled that in ejectment upon an equitable title one verdict and judgment are conclusive of the title. Peterman v. Huling, 31 Pa. St. 432; Winpenny v. Winpenny, 92 Pa. St. 440. This being an established rule of property in Pennsylvania, an equally conclusive effect is to be given to sucb a verdict and judgment in the courts of the United States. Miles v. Caldwell, 2 Wall. 36. A complete defense to this bill is therefore shown, and that defense is available here under the present pleadings, supplemented by the stipulation of counsel.

BUFFINGTON, District Judge, concurs.