Eames v. Armstrong.

55 S.E. 405, 142 N.C. 506, 1906 N.C. LEXIS 280

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: November 7, 1906
• Status: Published

Opinion

CoNNOR, J.,

after stating the case: The record in this case presents several interesting questions of practice. The learned counsel for plaintiff insisted and cited authorities which sustain his position that, upon showing his deed with covenant of seizin, he was entitled to judgment. That the burden of showing that there had been no breach of the covenant was cast upon the defendants. That by reason of the familiar rule of practice, when one has peculiar opportunity of knowing, and is in possession of the evidence showing how the fact in issue is, he will be called upon to do so, although it result in requiring him to prove a negative. That such was the rule, in actions upon covenants of seizin, in courts proceeding under the common-law practice, is shown by uniform authority. 4 Kent. Com., 479; 2 Devlin on Deeds, sec. 892; Eawle on Oov., sec. 65. Mr. Eawle, after stating the rule, says: “If, under statutory systems of pleading, the defendant is not required to set forth his title in his answer, but may rest upon a mere general denial of the plaintiff’s right to recover, the burden of proof is upon the plaintiff; and unless, at the trial, he establishes by evidence a prima facie case, the judgment will be for the defendant.”

In Ingalls v. Eaton, 25 Mich., 32, it was held that when the defendant made a general denial of a breach of his covenant of seizin, the burden of proof to show the breach was upon the plaintiff. With the exception hereafter noted, this is the only case cited by the text-books which holds contrary to the common-law rule. The Court rests its conclusion upon the statute which entitled the defendant to rely upon the general issue. Plaintiff relies, among other authorities, upon the case of Abbott v. Allen, 14 Johns (N. Y.), 248. The law was held i,n that case in accordance with plaintiff’s contention. In Wooley v. Newcombe, 87 N. Y., 605, it was held that, since the adoption of the Code of Civil Procedure, the rule of practice in respect to the burden of proof in an action upon a covenant of seizin had been changed. The facts in that case were very much as in the one before us. Plaintiff sued for breach of covenant of seizin and, after introducing his deed showing the covenant and the amount of the purchase-money, rested his case. The defendant introduced no evidence and moved for a dismissal of the complaint. The Court dismissed the complaint, and on appeal the judgment was affirmed.

Rapallo, J.,

referring to Abbott v. Allen, supra, says: “The case last cited involved only the question of pleading, but the matter of proof was also referred to, and Platt, J., in delivering the opinion of the Court, says that the marked distinction between a covenant of seizin and those for quiet enjoyment and general warranty, consists in this: that the covenant of seizin, if broken at all, must be so at the very instant it is made; whereas, in the latter covenants the breach depends upon the subsequent disturbance and eviction, which must be affirmatively alleged and proved by the party complaining of the breach. A grantor who gives either of these covenants is not bound to deliver to his grantee the title deeds and evidences of his title. Here the defendants covenanted that they had a good title. The legal presumption, therefore, is that they retain, or can produce, the evidence of that title, if any. The grantee relied on that covenant, and, until the grantors disclose their title, he holds the negative, and is not bound to aver or prove any fact in regard to an outstanding title. The rule of pleading sanctioned by this case, and which carried with it the rule as to the proofs, is very ancient, and wás that the plaintiff might assign the breach by simply negativing the words of the covenant. The defendant might plead that he was seized, etc., and in this particular kind of action issue might be joined by a replication simply reiterating the denial of seizin, without setting up that any other person was seized, or specifying any defect in the title. The plaintiff could, if he chose, assume the burden of attacking the title, but was not bound to do so.”

The Court proceeded to give an interesting history of the method of pleading and proof in actions upon covenants of seizin based upon the right of the defendant, making such covenant, to retain his title-deeds to enable him to make good his covenant. There being then no statute requiring the registration of deeds, so that the state of the title should be made public, the covenantor was allowed to retain such deeds for tbe very purpose of answering to tbe covenants. In BuckTmrstfs case, 1 Co. Rep., 1, it was beld that if tbe grantor sold with warranty, be bad a right to retain all deeds and evidences necessary to maintain bis title. It was upon these reasons, and tbe peculiar rules of practice prevailing at common law in such actions, that tbe burden of proof, in actions upon a covenant of seizin, was cast upon tbe defendant. It was beld, however, that under tbe Code of Civil Procedure, tbe defendant not being required to set up in bis answer performance of tbe covenant, could rely upon a general denial and put in issue tbe allegation of tbe breach of. tbe covenant, casting upon the plaintiff tbe burden of proving it. Tbe case of Abbott v. Allen, supra, was practically overruled, or, at least, it was beld that tbe doctrine therein announced was changed by Tbe Code practice.

Plaintiff cites Britton v. Ruffin, 123 N. C., 70, to sustain bis contention. We do not find that tbe Court there discussed tbe question as to burden of proof. It was simply beld that tbe covenant was broken if tbe covenantors bad no title at tbe time tbe deed was executed. We are of the opinion that, for tbe reasons so clearly stated by tbe Court in Wooley v. Newcombe, supra, the burden of proof, in tbe absence of any admission showing a breach, is upon tbe plaintiff. This rule is in harmony with our Code system of pleading, which permits tbe defendant to deny any material averment in tbe complaint, avoiding tbe technical niceties often obstructing and sometimes defeating justice. Under our registration acts, it is always within tbe power of tbe grantee to make or require an abstract of tbe title of bis grantor, and to show if there be any outstanding paramount title; hence, tbe reason of tbe. ancient rule, wise enough when unrecorded title-deeds and muniments of title were concealed in trunks, tin-boxes and “family chests”: “Cessante ratione legis, cessat ipsa lex"

The plaintiff contends that, however this may be, the defendants have, in their answer, admitted that in regard to the “Coggins Meeting-IIonse” lot they had no title at the time of executing the deed, thereby admitting the breach of the covenant.

Defendants say that the admission, in that respect, must be taken in connection with and as explained by the matter set up in the third defense, and that, when thus considered, they show a perfect defense to the action.

It is clear that the defendants in responding to the allegations of the complaint expressly deny the breach of the covenant. It is elementary that the issues are made by the pleadings and arise out of allegations made by the plaintiff and denied by the defendant. In order to settle the issues, the Court must examine the pleadings to ascertain what allegations of fact are controverted. It is an idle thing to submit an issue in respect to an admitted fact. When the answer clearly admits facts which, as a matter of law, show plaintiff’s right to recover, it is immaterial how or in what manner the admission is made. If it be by way of confession and avoidance, the issue arises upon the new matter alleged in avoidance, the burden being upon defendant to show the truth of the new matter. Williamson v. Bryan, 142 N. C., 81.

In Reed v. Reed, 93 N. C., 462, the defendant denied the execution of the bond sued upon, and “for further defense” said that “the alleged bond” sued on, etc. The Court held that in the “further defense” the execution of the bond was not admitted. In our case the answer admits the execution of the deed, containing the covenant, and denies the breach. This was entirely proper, because the complaint alleged that two tracts of land were conveyed. It alleged a breach generally, that is, in regard to both tracts. The defendants properly denied the allegation as made, and could, if so advised, have rested their defense upon such denial. As we have seen, the plaintiff would have been compelled to show the breach, not necessarily to tlie extent charged, but to either of the tracts. The defendants, however, in their further defense, expressly admit the fact which establishes the breach as to the “Coggins Meeting-House” lot — thus removing from the plaintiff the necessity of proving it. The only issue, therefore, in respect to that lot was upon the new matter set up in avoidance of the plaintiff’s right of action. If plaintiff had so desired, he could have tendered an issue as to the breach of the covenant in regard to the other tract. It appears that, if such issue was submitted, he offered no testimony, hence the action was tried, so far as the record shows, only as to the small lot. In this condition of the case, the defendants offering no evidence in support of the defense, we are of the opinion that the plaintiff was entitled to judgment. 'Whether the new matter alleged, if established, would have been available as a defense to the action, or only in diminution of damages, we express no opinion.

The defendants insist that plaintiff cannot maintain the action, because it is alleged he sold the land before bringing the action. It is sufficient to say that, although alleged, it is not admitted or proven. It is well settled, however, “both upon reason and authority,” that a covenant of seizin is broken, if at all, immediately upon the delivery of the deed, and the cause of action accrues at once. Markland v. Crump, 18 N. C., 94; Wilder v. Ireland, 53 N. C., 85 (90) ; Britton v. Ruffin, 123 N. C., 67. It is for this reason that the covenant of seizin, unlike a covenant for quiet enjoyment, wherein the cause of action does not accrue until eviction under paramount title, does not run with the land. The grantee of the covenantee, therefore, cannot sue upon the covenant. The doctrine and the reason upon which it is founded is thus stated in Jones on Oonv., sec. 851: “A covenantee may maintain a suit upon the covenant of seizin, although, at the time of bringing it, he had parted with his title to the land. The covenant, if broken at all, was broken at the time of the con veyance. The covenantee is the only person who can maintain an action for a breach of the covenant, wbicb is a nonassignable chose in action.”

The defendants further insist that the covenant of seizin does not include the “Coggins Meeting-House” lot; that it is confined to the “entire property known as the Russell Gold Mine.” It will be noted that neither tract is so designated in the descriptive language of the deed. The habendum refers to “the aforesaid tracts,” and the covenant, rather inartifi-cially drawn, is a continuation of the habendum. We cannot concur with defendants’ construction of. the deed in this respect.

Plaintiff insists that when he showed a breach of the covenant, and the amount of the purchase-money, he was entitled to judgment therefor. It is true that the measure of damage for breach of a covenant of seizin is the purchase-money and interest. This is well settled. The plaintiff does not allege that by reason of the breach he has been disturbed in his possession or called upon to pay out any money to perfect his title. It is clear that it is not necessary to aver either eviction or threatened litigation. The right of action is complete immediately upon the delivery of the deed. The same rule in regard to the measure of damages applies when there is a breach of a covenant of quiet enjoyment. Because the right of action accrues only upon an eviction under paramount title, but little difficulty is found in administering the remedy. Williams v. Beeman, 13 N. C., 483, cited by plaintiff, was an action upon a covenant of quiet enjoyment. It was there held that when there was an eviction from the whole estate, the purchase-money and interest was the measure of the recovery. It was also said by Henderson, G. J., that no rule had been prescribed by the Court as to the measure of damages when there was a partial eviction of the estate, or when the eviction was upon a life-estate or smaller interest than the fee. The only decisions of this Court in wbicb any suggestion is made in regard to any other measure of damages for breach of a covenant of seizin are Bank v. Glenn, 68 N. C., 35, and Price v. Deal, 90 N. C., 290, in both of which it is held that when the covenantee has purchased the outstanding title for less than the purchase price, he will recover only the amount paid therefor.' When the covenantee has lost the land or any part thereof, either in quantity or estate, there is no difficulty in applying the rule for measuring his damage. .When he, or his grantee, is, at the time of bringing the action, in possession, and no action has been taken or claim asserted against them, the courts have met with difficulty in adjusting the rights of the parties. An interesting discussion of the question will be found in Rawle on Cov., 176, et seq., and note; 2 Sutherland on Damages, sec. 597, et seq.

This case being before us on the exception to the judgment of nonsuit, we are not called upon, nor would it be proper for us, to enter into a discussion of the question of damages. We have considered and decided only those questions discussed by counsel bearing upon the exception. Eor the reasons given, we are of opinion that in directing a non-suit there was'error. There must be a

New Trial.