Casanave v. Spear

23 La. Ann. 519

• Court: Supreme Court of Louisiana
• Decided: May 15, 1871
• Docket: No. 2262
• Status: Published

Opinions

IIowe, J.

This is a suit which is apparently petitory in its character. 'The plaintiff, alleging that he acquired the property in dispute by probate sale in Iho succession of Mathildo Durel, and has been owner and possessor of it for upwards of a year, avers that August Cheval and Leonide Cheval are about to offer the same for sale, through the -agency of Placide J. Spear, auctioneer, in violation of petitioner’s right of ownership. Ho prayed for an injunction to restrain these parties from attempting to sell the property, or to take possession .¡thereof, and from disturbing the plaintiff in the quiet ownership thereof; and prayed to be declared by judgment the true and lawful owner of said property.

The Chevals answered by a general denial, and the averment that -they wore the lawful heirs of Mathildo Durel, and had been put in possession of her succession, and prayed for a dissolution of the injunction granted with damages, etc., and to be quieted in their possession of the lot in dispute.

There was judgment dissolving the injunction and “reserving plaintiff’s rights to sue in the Second District Court,” and the plaintiff alone appealed. The only question, therefore, before us, is the propriety of the decree dissolving the injunction.

The suit is rather anomalous. The plaintiff alleges himself to be ■in possession of the lot in question, and the evidence shows he has been so for more than ten years, paying tases and receiving- rents. His right to bring a petitory action might well be doubted. Again, ike asks no damages as for slander of title, or for any other reason, and it is questionable if an injunction should issue to restrain such acts a» he details. But taking his suit as petitory (C. P. 54), since he claims the ownership, he fails on the merits to make out a case.

The Chevals appear as heirs of Mathilde Durel, placed in possession of the property of her succession. He does not show that the title of the succession has been legally divested. It appears that his father, P. Casanave, applied to be appointed administrator of Mathilde Durel, and his application was granted, upon his giving bond. He never gave bond, and no letters were ever issued to him. A sale of tbe property being directed to be made in the same order, it was sold, and the administratpr bought it, took possession of it, and paid the price for it, for the plaintiff, his son. We do not think the court a qua.evved in dissolving an injunction sued out by a plaintiff whose title exhibits, such grave defects.

Judgment affirmed.