Muirhead v. Vaughn

878 So. 2d 1028, 2004 WL 944068
CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedMay 4, 2004
Docket2002-CA-02034-COA
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 878 So. 2d 1028 (Muirhead v. Vaughn) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Muirhead v. Vaughn, 878 So. 2d 1028, 2004 WL 944068 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

878 So.2d 1028 (2004)

William F. MUIRHEAD and Ruby Faye Muirhead, Appellants,
v.
Tracy VAUGHN, Brad Vaughn and Bowman Timber Co., Inc., Appellees.

No. 2002-CA-02034-COA.

Court of Appeals of Mississippi.

May 4, 2004.
Certiorari Denied July 29, 2004.

*1029 David Michael Brisolara, attorney for appellants.

Ronald Stephen Wright, Kevin Ray Null, Ackerman, attorneys for appellees.

EN BANC.

MODIFIED OPINION ON MOTION FOR REHEARING

LEE, J., for the Court.

¶ 1. The Appellees' motion for rehearing is denied. The original opinion is withdrawn, and this opinion is substituted.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY AND FACTS

¶ 2. Appellants William and Ruby Muirhead filed a complaint in the Choctaw County Chancery Court seeking confirmation of title to land and damages for trees they claimed had been cut without their permission. Appellees Tracy and Brad Vaughn had granted co-appellee, Bowman Timber Company, a warranty deed in September 2000, and pursuant to that transfer, Bowman Timber cut trees from land the Muirheads claim belonged to them. Brad Vaughn testified that he had flagged the property. William Muirhead testified that the property had been flagged, but he did not know by whom. However, Mr. Muirhead also testified that, after the timber had been cut down, he reflagged the property, but those flags were later removed.

¶ 3. In their complaint, the Muirheads claimed they presented a 1919 deed to the Vaughns which proved that the supposed grantors of the land to the Vaughns never owned the property; thus, title never passed to the Vaughns. The Muirheads asked for damages pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated § 95-5-10(Rev.1994), which allows payment for trees cut, plus attorney's fees and expert fees at the court's discretion; and asked the chancellor to remove cloud on the title and to quiet title in them.

¶ 4. The Vaughns answered and also filed a counter-complaint alleging their ownership in the disputed property. Bowman Timber cross-claimed against the Vaughns seeking to be indemnified by the Vaughns in the event ownership of the property was found to be in the Muirheads and damages were awarded. Bowman Timber claimed the Vaughns were solely responsible for damages because Bowman Timber relied on the warranty deed from the Vaughns when they cut the timber from the disputed land.

¶ 5. The Muirheads filed a motion to dismiss the Vaughns's counter-complaint, which the chancellor granted. Bowman Timber and the Vaughns each filed motions to dismiss the Muirheads's complaint, and the chancellor granted the motions to the extent that the Muirheads were given thirty days to make their complaint comply with Mississippi Code Annotated § 11-17-35 (1972) to show deraignment of title or face dismissal without prejudice. The Muirheads filed an amended complaint thereafter within the specified time.

¶ 6. As explained in his opinion, the chancellor reviewed documents and testimony and determined that the Muirheads were the proper owners of the .2 acre parcel of land in dispute. Concerning alleged damages, the chancellor referred to Mississippi Code Annotated § 95-5-10(1)(Rev.1994) and found that although trees had indeed been cut from the Muirheads's property without their permission, the Muirheads failed to present evidence as to the fair market value of the trees or *1030 the costs of reforestation. The chancellor concluded that the trees were all so small that they had no market value; thus, damages were not warranted. The chancellor addressed section (2) of the statute which provides for enhanced or punitive damages if the cutting was done willfully or in reckless disregard for the rights of the owner of such trees. The chancellor found no evidence to suggest that the Vaughns or Bowman Timber knew that the Muirheads claimed the land before the timber was cut; thus, the chancellor declined to award damages pursuant to this section. The chancellor finally addressed section (3) of the statute which provides for recovery of expert witness fees and attorney's fees at the court's discretion. The chancellor declined to make such award, finding that since the Muirheads failed to show entitlement to recovery under sections (1) and (2) of the statute, recovery under section (3) would not be appropriate. The chancellor assessed court costs to the defendants equally.

¶ 7. The Muirheads filed a motion to reconsider the chancellor's failure to award damages, but the chancellor denied the motion. The Muirheads now appeal to this Court arguing the chancellor erred in failing to award damages. As explained herein, we find the chancellor erred, and we reverse and remand for reconsideration of damages and attorney's fees.

DISCUSSION

¶ 8. With their sole issue on appeal, the Muirheads contest the chancellor's ruling wherein he declined to award damages pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated § 95-5-10. We look to our familiar standard of review:

The findings of a chancellor will not be disturbed or set aside on appeal unless the decision of the trial court is manifestly wrong and not supported by substantial credible evidence or unless an erroneous legal standard was applied. Where there is substantial evidence to support the chancellor's findings, this Court is without the authority to disturb his conclusions, although this Court might have found otherwise as an original matter.

Memphis Hardwood Flooring Co. v. Daniel, 771 So.2d 924(¶ 18) (Miss.2000) (citations omitted).

¶ 9. At the outset, we cite the statute at issue in toto:

(1) If any person shall cut down, deaden, destroy or take away any tree without the consent of the owner of such tree, such person shall pay to the owner of such tree a sum equal to double the fair market value of the tree cut down, deadened, destroyed or taken away, together with the reasonable cost of reforestation, which cost shall not exceed Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) per acre. The liability for the damages established in this subsection shall be absolute and unconditional and the fact that a person cut down, deadened, destroyed or took away any tree in good faith or by honest mistake shall not be an exception or defense to liability. To establish a right of the owner prima facie to recover under the provisions of this subsection, the owner shall only be required to show that such timber belonged to such owner, and that such timber was cut down, deadened, destroyed or taken away by the defendant, his agents or employees, without the consent of such owner. The remedy provided for in this section shall be the exclusive remedy for the cutting down, deadening, destroying or taking away of trees and shall be in lieu of any other compensatory, punitive or exemplary damages for the cutting down, deadening, destroying or taking away of trees *1031 but shall not limit actions or awards for other damages caused by a person.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
878 So. 2d 1028, 2004 WL 944068, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/muirhead-v-vaughn-missctapp-2004.