Kennel v. Atlas Elevator Co.

147 N.W. 272, 34 S.D. 101, 1914 S.D. LEXIS 85

• Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: May 18, 1914
• Status: Published

Opinion

McCOY, J.

The complaint, in substance, alleges that defendant is a corporation; that plaintiff delivered to defendant at its elevator two hundred sixty-one bushels of flax of the value of $1.17 per bushel; that defendant did not issue storage or cash checks for said flax, but delivered the following receipt: “261 bushels of flax, net, delivered by S. Neitert for C. A. Kennel, and held for thresh bill of $242.00;” that plaintiff thereafter presented to defendant said receipt and notice showing that said alleged thresh bill had been paid, and demanded that defendant pay for said flax or deliver the same or a like amount to plaintiff, which defendant refused to do.; that defendant.has converted said flax to its own use; that the C. A. Kennel mentioned in said receipt is the same person as J. E. Kennel, this plaintiff, who' is the owner of said grain; wherefore plaintiff demands judgment against defendant for the delivery to him of two hundred sixty-one bushels of flax, net, of the'same grade deposited with it, or for the sum of $305.37, the value, thereof, together with interest and costs. To this complaint defendant interposed a demurrer on the grounds: (1) that it does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action; (2) that it appears that several causes of action have been improperly united therein. From an order overruling the demurrer defendant appeals.

[1] W'e are of the view that the complaint state a cause of action in conversion, and that it sufficiently states that plaintiff was the owner of said flax at the time of the alleged conversion. The complaint states that C. A. Kennel, who is the plaintiff, by his agent, delivered the flax to defendant, and -that thereafter de-m-and was made, and that plaintiff is the owner; this sufficiently alleges that plaintiff was the owner at the time of the demand 'at which time the conversion took place, if at all. If the thresh bill has not been paid or released it is a matter of defense, and not ■a necessary part of plaintiff’s cause of action. There was sufficient allegation of demand. That the complaint alleged more than one cause of action is not urged by appellant on appeal.

[2] The complaint is not sufficient as a complaint in replevin for the reason that there is no allegation that 'defendant was at the time of the commencement of the action in the actual or constructive possession of the property. Replevin is purely a possessory action.

[3] Trover or .conversion is a tort action for damages, the damage being the value or the property converted, with interest, or under some circumstances the highest market value without interest.

The order appealed from is affirmed.