Johnson v. . McArthur

64 N.C. 675

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: June 5, 1870
• Status: Published

Opinion

Dick, J.

The plaintiff alleges that he is seized and possessed of the land in question, under a deed from John L. McArthur, founded upon a bona fide and valuable consideration. The defendant also claims title from John L. Mc-Arthur, under a deed executed to Angus L. McArthur, which is prior in date to the deed of the plaintiff. Before the adoption of the Code of Civil Procedure, the defendant commenced an action of trespass, Q. C. E., and also an action of ejectment, to recover damages, and obtain possession of said land. The action of trespass, has been before this Court, and the title of the defendant has been declared valid at law: McArthur v. Johnson, Phil. 317.

These actions are still pending, and as the plaintiff in this case has no legal defence, he now seeks by this civil action, the equitable relief of having the deed of Angus L. McArthur cancelled for fraud in the consideration. If the said actions at law had been commenced after the adoption of the Code of Civil Procedure, the present plaintiff might have set up his equity as a counter-claim: O. C. P., sec. 101. But, as those .actions are to be governed by the laws existing at the time-they were commenced, a civil action in the nature of a bill in equity, is the only remedy which, the plaintiff can have, and it must he governed by the rules and principles formerly established and observed in Courts of Equity. A Court of Equity would not interfere by injunction to stay a trial at law, where a party was attempting to assert his legal title, but would stay the execution when an equitable element was involved, until the equities of the parties to the action at law were ascertained and adjusted.

The plaintiff’s ground for equitable relief in this case is, that he has the equitable title to the land, and cannot set up a legal defence to the actions of the defendant. He ought, therefore, to have submitted to a judgment in said actions, before he invoked the equitable jurisdiction of the Court to furnish the adequate relief which could not be obtained in the actions at law. He cannot be allowed, according to the course of the Court, to take his chances in two actions, respecting the same matter of controversy. These rules and principles of Courts of Equity are too well settled to need further discussion: Williams v. Sadler, 4 Jon. Eq. 378.

The injunction must be vacated, and the action dismissed.

Let this be certified, &c.

Pee Oueiam:. Ordered accordingly.