Saur v. Rexford

119 N.W.2d 669, 369 Mich. 338, 1963 Mich. LEXIS 473

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: February 7, 1963
• Docket: Calendar 102, Docket 49,113
• Status: Published

Opinions

Black, J.

Plaintiff Saur and defendant Rexford took legal title, as trustees,

* to the subject matter of this equity case. It consists of 120 acres of woodland in Marquette county. The tract was acquired by the 2 for themselves and 8 others, all being residents of Kent county, for hunting and fishing purposes. Over the years most of the 10 ceased using the tract for any purpose. Finally, in 1959, Saur filed this bill against Rexford and the latter’s wife, praying in the alternative for partition of or judicial sale of the subject premises; also for general relief.

The ease upon bill and answer went to due hearing. In the course of such hearing it was made to appear that all members of the club, except Saur and Rexford, had assigned and transferred their interests to Saur and, accordingly, that the legal and equitable rights.of all concerned parties were before the court for disposition by decree in personam.

The chancellor, finding himself “unable to appreciate the equities or to sympathize with either side of this ease”,. concluded nevertheless that the pleaded controversy should come to an end and that title to the tract should be made clear by judicially ordered sale to the party of greatest monetary interest. It was accordingly decreed that defendant Rexford should have “the privilege of purchasing the outstanding interest” by deed to be executed by the 2 trustees to himself as individual grantee, upon payment of the determined sum of $270 to plaintiff: Saur. The decree made due provision for the possibility that either Saur or Eexford might refuse to proceed as directed, but such provisions require no discussion. From such decree, plaintiff appeals.

The only question of importance brought here is whether plaintiff Saur is entitled to partition, under the statute, on theory that the parties in interest are tenants in common.

They are such tenants since neither the deed of 1930 nor any other instrument or agreement, oral or written, is shown as having imposed any duties upon the “trustee” grantees. Our statute of uses and trusts (CL 1948, § 551.1 et seq. [Stat Ann 1957 Rev §26.51 et seq.]) abolished passive or naked trusts and, therefore, upon delivery of the 1930 deed each member of the club, being entitled to possession and use of the lands, acquired a legal estate therein equal to his beneficial interest free of any active trust and subject to partition as was effectively decreed by the chancellor. See Burdeno v. Amperse, 14 Mich 91, 97 (90 Am Dec 225); Rothschild v. Dickinson, 169 Mich 200; and Woolfitt v. Histed, 208 Mich 308.

Finding no reason for disagreement with the chancellor’s findings and decree of disposition, same should be confirmed and affirmed. It is so ordered. No costs.

Carr, C. J., and Dethmers, Kelly, Kavanagh, Souris, and Otis M. Smith, JJ., concurred. O’Hara, J., took no part in the decision of this case.

Saur and Rexford acquired such title by deed dated July 14, 1930. The granting clause named them as “L. F. Saur and L. C. Kexford, Trustees.” The record discloses that title was taken by Saur and Rexford as trustees for the benefit of all 10 members of an informal fishing and hunting club.