Copeland v. McAdory

100 Ala. 553

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: November 15, 1892
• Status: Published

Opinion

STONE, C. J.

The action was commenced against the appellant and his wife, to recover damages for alleged breaches of the covenants in a deed of bargain and sale, executed by them, conveying to the appelíees a certain lot or parcel of land in the city of Birmingham. There was judgment for the wife on her plea of coverture. The trial was had on an amended complaint having three counts. The first of these, alleges a breach of the covenant against incumbrances. The second complains of an alleged breach of the covenant that the grantors had good right to convey. The third alleges a breach of the general covenant to warrant and defend. The defect or insufficiency of the title of the grantors, alleged in each count, is that a part of the premises conveyed, particularly described, formed a part of a public street or avenue of the city of Birmingham, having been prior to the execution of the conveyance, dedicated to the public for such use, by the former owner, the Elyton Land Company, when mapping and laying out the city; and that the Mayor and Aldermen of the city had entered, taking possession thereof, and dispossessing the appellees. Demurrers to each count were interposed, assigning causes which are not very clearly expressed.

As we interpret them, the defect or insufficiency in each count charged to exist is, that the right and title of the Mayor and Aldermen, is not described with- sufficient cercertainty or particularity, and that it is not shown the apSellees were ousted or dispossessed by legal process. The emurrers were overruled, and the order overruling them is the matter of the first assignment of error.

.In considering the sufficiency of the complaint, we are confined to the causes of demurrer assigned. Though either count may be in any respect insufficient, if not subject to the objections stated, the demurrer was properly overruled. (Code, § 2690). The second count is founded on an alleged breach of the covenant of good right to convey, the equivalent of a covenant of seizin. In declaring for a breach of the covenant, all that is necessary is to negative the words of the covenant generally. No description of, or reference to the outstanding or permanent title is necessary ; nor is it necessary to aver an eviction or ouster. The covenant is broken, if at all, as soon as it is made, and not by the occurrence of any future event. The grantor is presumed to know the estate of which he is seized; the fact is peculiarly within his knowledge, and he must plead and prove it.—Rawle on Covenants (3rd Ed.) 53; Rickert v. Snyder, 9 Wend. 421; Anderson v. Knox, 20 Ala. 156. Whether the existence of a highway over a part of the premises conveyed, is a breach of this covenant is not a question raised by the demurrer, and of consequence is not now before us.

There is a marked distinction in pleading a breach of the covenant of seizin or of good right to convey, and of other covenants. It is not sufficient in declaring for a breach of the other covenants to negative merely the words of the covenant. The paramount title, or incumbrance, the existence of which is supposed to constitute a breach, must be stated. But it is not necessary, nor advisable to enter into any particular description of such incumbrance or title. The statement of it substantially, is all that is requisite. Rawle on Covenants for Title, 125 et seq. In the notes to 2 Greenl. Ev. §§ 242, 243, 244, the form of a count for a breach of the covenant against inincumbrances, of quiet enjoyment, and of general warranty, will be found. In each count there is no more than the averment that there was at the time of making the deed, an outstanding lawful right and title, and in whom it resided. In each of the counts of the complaint, in which it was necessary to state the existence of an incumbrance, or of a paramount title, that which is relied on, as constituting the breach of the covenant, is clearly stated ; its nature, character and origin ; and in this respect, the demurrer was not well taken.

The covenant of freedom from incumbrances, like the covenants of seizin and of good and lawful right to convey, is a covenant in presentí; it is broken as soon as made, if there is an outstanding older and better title, or an incumbrance diminishing the value or enjoyment of the land. Anderson v. Knox, 20 Ala. 156; Andrews v. McCoy, 8 Ala. 920; Clark v. Swift, 3 Metcalf, 390.

An eviction or dispossession of the grantee, is not a constituent element of the breach. It is the defect of title or the burden of an incumbrance, existing when the conveyance is made which works the breach. It is said by Green-leaf : “The covenant of freedom from incumbrance is proved to have been broken, by any evidence showing that a third person had a right to, or an interest in the land granted, to the diminution of the value of the land, though consistent with the passing of the fee by the deed of conveyance. Therefore, a public highway over the land; a claim of dower, a private right of way; a lien by judgment, or by mortgage made by the grantor to the grantee, or any mortgage unless it is one which the covenantee is bound to pay ; or any other outstanding, older and better title—is a breach of this covenant.”—2 Greenl. Ev. § 247. The authorities generally recognize an outstanding easement of any kind as falling within the covenant, operating its breach. —Bawls on Covenants for Title, 113 et seq. Tiedeman on Real Property, § 850; Huyck v. Andrews, 113 N. Y. 81; (s. c. 10 Am. St. Rep. 432). The definition of an encumbrance expressed by Parson C. J. in the early case of Prescott v. Trueman 4 Mass 627 is that it is “every right to, or interest in the land granted, to the diminution of the value of the land, but consistent with the passing of the fee by the conveyance,” has frequently been cited and approved. An easment conferring upon its owner an interest in the land, the right to some profit, benefit, dominion, or lawful use out of or over the land, though it may be consistent with the passing of the fee by the conveyance, is a burden upon the estate granted, diminishing the full measure of its enjoyment. There is some conflict in the authorities, whether the existence of a public highway over the land, is an incumbrance, and a breach of this covenant. In the case of Kellogg v. Ingersoll, 2 Mass. 97, an action for a breach of the covenant, the breach assigned was the existence “of a public town road or way duly laid out by the town of A. for the use of all its inhabitants,” and it was held the breach was well assigned, that the existence of the road was an incumbrance. Parsons C. J. said: “It is a legal obstruction to the purchaser, to exercise that dominion over the land, to which the owner is entitled. An incumbrance of this nature may be a great damage to the purchaser, or the damage may be very inconsiderable, or merely nominal. The amount of the damage is a proper subject for the consideration of the jury who may assess them ; but it cannot affect the question whether a public town road is, in legal contemplation, an incumbrance of the land over which it is laid.” Though the doctrine of this cáse has been denied in New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, it has been adopted in all the New England states, and in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. Tiederman on Real Property, § 853 and notes. In Kellogg v. Malin, 50 Mo. 496, s. c. 11 Am. Rep. 426, it is said : “AÍ1 the authorities concur in holding that an easement constitutes an incumbrance. If a person acquires the fee to land free and unincumbered, he obtains the exclusive and absolute dominion over it, and may use, enjoy and appropriate it to any purpose he may see fit. But if it is subject to an easement or incumbrance it is not free, nor can he enjoy it to the fullest extent. If a public highway or railroad track run over it he cannot have its undisturbed enjoyment for it is used by others in defiance of his will.” The vendor of lands frames the covenants of the conveyance into which he enters. He may extend or limit them at pleasure ; or he may decline to introduce into the conveyance any covenants whatever, limiting the grant to such estate or interest only as he may have in the land and leaving the purchaser to take it with all the defects of title, and subject to all the incumbrances which affect or bind the estate. But if he enters into covenants, he must respond for all the damages resulting, if the covenants are in legal contemplation, and in fact, untrue. The existence of a public highway is a burden and an incumbrance, diminishing the enjoyment of the land, subjecting it to the dominion and use of the public. If it were a private right of way all authorities declare that it would be an incumbrance and a breach of the covenant. That it is public does not change the fact that there is an outstanding right to the use and to dominion over the land, which may continue forever, interrupting its quiet enjoyment.

The covenant of quiet enjoyment and of warranty, are practically identical in operation; and whatever constitutes the breach of the one covenant, is a breach of the other. Either extends to all lawful outstanding adverse claims upon the premises conveyed. An easement, materially affecting the value, interfering with the use and possession of a part of the premises is a breach of the covenant.—Scriver v. Smith, 100 N. Y. 471; (s. c., 53 Am. Rep. 224.) A right of way, public or private, incumbering a part of the premises, is a breach of the covenant.—Russ v. Steele, 40 Vt. 310; Lamb v. Danforth, 59 Me. 322; (s. c., 8 Am. Rep. 426); Butt v. Riffe, 78 Ky. 352. An eviction, actual or constructive of the whole or a part of the premises, is an essential constituent of the breach. But it is not intended that there must be an eviction by legal process. If there is a hostile assertion of an irresistable, paramount title, the grantee may yield to it, not awaiting suit and judgment. If he yields, it is at his peril, and he takes upon himself in an action for a breach of the covenant, the burden of proving the title really paramount. Tiederman on Beal Property, § 855. Assuming the truth of the averments in the complaint, as must be done on demurrer, the paramount right and title to the part of the premises conveyed, which formed a part of the street or avenue; the paramount right to use and dominion over'them, resides in the mayor and aldermen, and they had the right to enter and take possession. It was not only the right, but the duty of the appellees, to surrender the possession. They were under no duty to the appellant to maintain a wrongful possession, subjecting themselves to be treated as trespassers. McGary v. Hastings, 39 Cal. 360; (s. c., 2 Am. Rep. 456.) The result of the views we have expressed, is, that the demurrer to the several counts of the complaint, for the causes assigned were properly overruled.

The demurrers to the two special pleas filed by the appellant do not appear in the record. "When such demurrers are sustained, the presumption on error, is, that causes of demurrer were specified, and covered whatever of objection or insufficiency may be found in the pleas. The first plea purports to be a plea of recoupment, and the matter of recoupment is, expenses incurred by the appellant in the employment of counsel to procure the correction of the misdescription in a deed executed by the appellees conveying to the appellant a lot, in exchange, or as the consideration for the lot conveyed by him to the appellees. It would scarcely be insisted that in a separate, independent action, such a claim or demand is recoverable. And it is now sufficient to say, that a claim or demand not recoverable in a separate independent action, can not be made tbe matter of a plea of recoupment.—3 Sedg. Dam. § 1061. Tbe second plea avers that at the time of tbe execution of tbe conveyance, tbe appellees bad full knowledge of tire claim of the mayor and aldermen of tbe city of Birmingham, and are therefore estopped from a recovery. But knowledge, or notice, however full, of an incumbrance, or of a paramount title, does not impair the right of recovery upon covenants of warranty. Tbe covenants are taken for protection and indemnity against known and unknown incumbrances or defects of title.—Tiederman on Real Property, § 853; Rawle on Covenants for Title, 128 et seq.; Dunn v. White, 1 Ala. 645.

Tbe measure of damages for a total breach of tbe covenants of seizin or of good right to convey, or of quiet enjoyment, or general warranty, is tbe purchase-money, or value of tbe consideration. If the failure of tbe title is partial, tbe measure of damages is tbe value of tbe parcel lost, measured by tbe consideration, or tbe value at the time of tbe eviction.—Kingsbury v. Milner, 69 Ala. 502; Bibb v. Freeman, 59 Ala. 612; Sutherland on Dam. 288; Mecklem v. Blake, 99 Am. Dec. note 78; Brooks v. Black, 24 Am. St. note 267. When, as in this case, there is not a failure of title, the fee remaining in the grantee, but a part of tbe land is subject to a perpetual easement, which may not be removed by tbe payment of money, tbe measure of damage is tbe depreciation in value of the land by reason of the incumbrance. 3 Sedg. Dam. § 972; Clark v. Ziegler, 79 Ala. 346; (s. c., 85 Ala. 154.) Consequential damages are not recoverable; nor is tbe value of improvements, tbe grantee may have made after tbe purchase, an element of damage ; if compensation is made for them, as has been properly said, it must be made by tbe evictor.—Mechlam v. Blake, 99 Am. Dec. note 73. There was error in tbe refusal of tbe first, second, third and fifth charges requested by tbe appellant. There was no error in the refusal of tbe fourth and sixth charges requested. Tbe appellees were under no duty to give notice to tbe appellant before surrendering possession to tbe mayor and aldermen, if their right and title was paramount. Having-surrendered without suit, as has already been said, in this action, tbe burden of proving the superiority of tbe title to which they yielded, rests upon tbe appellees. They are not bound to prove it conclusively, as is asserted in tbe sixth instruction. In all civil cases, tbe measure of proof, is that which produces in the minds of the jury, a reasonable conviction. The other matters assigned as error, will not arise again, and a consideration of them is unnecessary.

Beversed and remanded.