| Iowa | Jun 26, 1857
Lead Opinion
Tbe deed from the defendants to the plaintiff, contains no express covenant that tbe premises are free from incumbrances; and tbe cause has been argued by tbe counsel on both sides, as though tbe conveyance was in tbe form given by tbe Code, (section 1232,) by which tbe grantor conveys tbe premises to tbe grantee, and covenants to “warrant tbe title against all persons whomsoever.” It is as to tbe meaning and effect of this covenant, that we are now to inquire, and to decide whether it includes a covenant that tbe premises are free and clear of incumbrances, at tbe date of tbe deed.
Tbe modern covenants for title, which have usurped tbe place of tbe common law wa/rrcmtia cha/rtce, are: 1. Seisin; 2. Right to convey; 3. Freedom from incumbrances; 4.
In the case of Funk v. Voneida., 11 S. & R., 109, it was held that where, under the law of Pennsylvania, the words “grant, Icwgaán, and sell, were a covenant against incumbrances done or suffered by the grantor, a mortgage upon the premises, at the time of the conveyance, was a subsisting incumbrance, and the covenant was broken without an eviction; that, when the mortgage money was not due, but the grantee chooses to pay it, he should be allowed, as damages, the fair price it necessarily cost him;
The question in this case is, whether the covenant of general warranty, in the form in which it is given in the Code, section 1232, includes a covenant against liens or incumbrances, outstanding at the time of the conveyance. We are of opinion that it does.
The covenant of warranty, by. all innovation upon the common law, has been converted into a personal covenant, and furnishes a remedy, as well against a defective ' title, as any disturbances thereupon. It is not used in conveyances in England, where the covenant for quiet enjoyment is the sweeping covenant in the deed, and the main assurance of title. In the United States, the covenant that the grantor will “warrant and defend the title,” is, (says Chancellor Kent), the concluding and sweeping covenant in a deed, 4 Kent’s Com., 472. This covenant is, in general, only broken by actual ouster, or eviction. As an eviction is, however, equally a breach of the other covenants of a deed, the covenant of general warranty, may, in a certain sense, be said to embrace them all. Technically, an eviction, is a lawful disturbance of possession, or dispossession by judgment of law. 2 Hiliard Real Prop’y, 404. Eviction by judgment of law, is not, however, necessary. The party may voluntarily yield the possession to him who has the better title, or may purchase and hold under it. This is a sufficient ouster or disturbance, to sustain an action on the warranty. Loomis v. Bedell, 11 N. H. 74; Greenvault v. Davis, 4 Hill, 643,
What interest in the property conveyed, passed to the grantee by the deed of the defendants ? Was it only the interest that the grantors had at the time, without reference to liens or incumbrances outstanding ? or was it the fee simple estate, indefeasible by any act done or suffered by the grantors ? The covenants are not to be so construed, as to enlarge the estate granted in the premises of the deed; but when a question arises as to the quantity and quality of the estate granted, theymay be resorted to, to help out the construction. If there is ambiguity, the construction is to be most strongly against the grantor. Where a party conveys all his right, title and interest in the lands described in the deed, and covenants to warrant and defend the premises against all lawful claims arising under him, the covenant refers to the lands described, and not to the right and title of the grantor. Loomis v. Bedel, 11 N. H. 74. So, where the party conveyed all the right and title to the lands described, which he owned by virtue of
The covenant of general warranty, is a warranty of not merely such title as the grantor has in the land, but of the title in fee simple. By the deed in this case, not the interest merely of the grantors passed to the grantee, but by their covenants they agree to warrant the title against all persons whomsoever. If the plaintiff had suffered the premises to be sold for taxes; if the purchaser had perfected his title under the tax sale, and the plaintiff had yielded the possession to the claimant under it, there can be no doubt but that the covenant of warranty would have been broken, even according to the narrowest construction sought to be given to it by the defendants. The lien of the taxes was of such a nature, that it might have ripened into a title paramount to that acquired by the plaintiff, under his deed. It is not claimed that the taxes on the property, paid by the plaintiff, were not a valid incumbrance and lien. See Code, section 195.
Must the grantee, then, whatever may be the incumbrance — whether a tax, judgment or mortgage — -wait until a perfect title has matured, and until he is disturbed or ousted of his possession, before the covenant is to be deemed broken, and before the grantor can be required to afford him any adequate indemnity ? We cannot think that such is the rule. It is not for the interest of either party, that such should be the law. If there is a valid incumbrance upon the estate, it is for the interest of both parties that it should be extinguished immediately. The important inquiry is, who shall discharge it ? Can it be insisted that the grantor in making, or the grantee in receiving, the
There bas been an evident disposition to encourage and promote greater simplicity in tbe forms of conveyances, not less in modern legislation, than in tbe later judicial decisions. In England, a system bas grown into favor unknown to tbe common law. In tbe United States, tbe covenant for further asstuance, in favor in England, bas gone into disuse, while tbe covenant of general warranty, unknown to English conveyancing, may be said to have been universally adopted, as tbe main assurance of a perfect title. The legislature bas provided in tbe Code, (section 1232,) suitable forms for conveyances, in apt words — short, simple and intelligible — free from tbe verbiage and formalities of tbe old system; but retaining all tbat was valuable or essential, in meaning or substance. Erom these, tbe form “ for a deed in fee, with warranty, ” bas been adopted by tbe present parties, with tbe covenant of warranty in tbe language of tbe statute. The form is not prescribed to be used by those who do not choose or prefer it; nor having adopted it, are parties precluded from inserting other covenant of warranty; or from restraining, in express terms, those adopted, as they may desire. All tbat is claimed for it is, tbat it shall have tbe very effect and meaning designed and understood by tbe parties, and contemplated by tbe legislature, viz: to include and imply all tbe usual covenants in a deed of conveyance in fee simple.
1. That the grantor at the time of the conveyance, was seized of an indefeasible estate in fee simple, in the premises granted.
2. That the estate was, at such time, free from incumbrance done or suffered by the grantor, or any one claiming under him.
3. Eor the further assurance to be made by the grantor and his heirs, to the grantee, his heirs and assigns.
These provisions were enacted in the law of February 16,1843, (Rev. Stat. of 1843, 204, section 6,) and it is declared that the deed may be sued upon in the same manner as if such covenants were expressly inserted in it. Such continued to be the law in this state, until the taking effect of the Code, by which the form of conveyance, with the covenant of warranty, is given as adopted by the parties to the present suit. Looking to the language used therein, and taking the same in connection with the law as it existed at the time of the adoption of the Code, we are of opinion, that the covenant given in the form “for a deed in fee, with warranty ” — wherein the grantor covenants to “ warrant the title against all persons whomsoever ” — was intended to include the usual covenant against incumbrances; by which we understand a covenant that .the estate was free, and should remain free from incumbrances done or suffered by the grantor, or those under whom he holds, and which was broken, iff the incumbrance existed at the time of the.conveyance, though there had been no interruption to the grantee, nor claim or demand made upon him on account of the same; and the measure of damages for the breach of which, is the amount paid to remove the incum
We think that defendants cannot complain that such effect is given to their covenant of warranty. They have undertaken to convey to plaintiff a fee simple title to the property, and to warrant the same to them against all persons whomsoever. This is the highest estate known to the law, and as it includes every lesser estate, so the covenant of general warranty, in the form and words of the statute, must be understood to include and imply every lesser covenant of title. It will not be permitted to the party, to allege that he covenanted against any eviction or disturbance, by paramount title, but not against incumbrances done or suffered by him, which in regular and legal sequence, may ripen into such title. If incumbrances exist, then the grantee does not acquire a perfect legal title, and the grantor must respond in such sum as shall be sufficient to make him whole, in the complete sense in which one' may claim to be made whole, who takes a conveyance for the fee simple title, with covenants of general warranty.
Judgment reversed.
Upon the filing of the foregoing opinion, Starr & Phelps, for the appellees, presented the following
Rehearing
PETITION FOR A RE-IiEARING:
We are not in the habit of complaining of the decisions of this Court, or of asking a re-hearing in doubtful cases. This is the first application of the kind we have ever made; and nothing but a perfect conviction that, in this case, the law is with us, has induced us to ask the Court to re-consider its decision. Although the amount in controversy is small, the question involved is of the highest importance. This consideration, together with the fact that our former argument was little more than the statement of a case, which seemed to us to argue itself, is, we trust, a sufficient apology for this petition/
Statement oe the Case. — July 6th, 1854, defendants
1. That the action was founded on an alleged breach of the covenant of general warranty, but did not set forth any breach of that covenant, or allege any eviction, actual or constructive.
2. That the petition showed on its face, that the taxes were, at most, a mere incumbrance on the land; that no sale for said taxes had taken place; that the incumbrance had not ripened into a title; and did not aver that there was, or had been, any superior title to the property.
The justice overruled the demurrer and rendered judgment for plaintiff. The defendants took the case to the District Court, by writ of error, where the decision below was reversed, and judgment entered for defendants. The plaintiff appealed to this Court, and assigned for error the sustaining of defendants’ demurrer.
Argument. — The sole question in this case is, whether thé form for a “deed in fee rvith warranty,-’ in section 1232 of the Code of Iowa, includes a covenant against incumbrances. The language of the Code is — “the following, or
“For a deed m fee simple without wa/rrwnty.
“For the consideration of-dollars, I hereby con-
“ vey to A. B., the following tract of land, (describing it).
“For a deed in fee with wa/rra/nty.
“The same’ as the last preceding form, (i. e. the form “ above quoted,) adding the words, and I warrant the title “ against all persons whomsoever, (or other warranty as “the parties may desire.”
Section 26 of the Code, on the “ construction of statutes,” provides that “ technical words and phrases, and “ such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law, shall be construed according to “ such peculiar and appropriate meaning.” And to this rule no exception is made. If then the words and phrases contained in the form above given, have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law, this Court must construe them according to that meaning. This point was made in our former argument, and we cannot but remark, that in their opinion the Court have passed it over in silence. If this rule of construction does not apply to the form for deeds given by the Code, upon what principle does it apply to any other section ? It is the broad and only rule of construction given for technical words and phrases ; if the Court intends to limit its application, it is of the highest importance to the profession and the public, to know precisely how far it extends. If, on the other hand, the Court recognizes this rule, as applying to the entire Code, then, if we can show that the words and phrases used in the given form, have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law, we insist that they shall be construed according to such meaning.
I. Then, have the words “ deed in foe,” and the word “ convey,” acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law ? And if so, what is it ? The controlling word “fee,” or “ fee simple,” signifies simply an estate in lands in a man and his heirs forever; and is used in contradistinction
After reviewing the authorities, the learned judge (Kent) says: alt is a settled position, that an estate in fee, may “be created by the usual and solemn form of conveyance, “without any warranty, express or implied, and that a “conveyance in fee, does not ipso facto imply a warranty. “If it does, our books would be inconsistent and uninteli“gible on this subject.” Again, in the same case, he says: “They (the Court of King’s Bench, in Bree v. Holbech, “Doug. 454,) adopted the old rule, that if there be no covenant of title in a deed, the purchaser takes, at his own “risk, the goodness of the title. After this rule has been “so long understood and practised upon, it would be of the “most mischievous consequence to establish a contrary “doctrine. The parties to deeds, know that a covenant is “requisite to hold the seller, to warrant the title, and they regulate “their contracts accordingly;” and “If there be any “fraud in the sale, the purchaser has his remedy,” by action on the case for deceit. Again, in 4 Kent, 474, he says : “It may not be very inconvenient that these granting
The only word which has ever been held to imply a covenant for a title in a deed of real property, is, “dedi” or “give,” of which Rawle says, (p. 472), “it may be “doubted whether such an effect would be given even to “this word.” See also, Young v. Hargraves, adm'r, 7 Ohio, (part 2,) 63; Pringle v. Sturgeon, 6 Littell, 112; Black v. Gilmore, 9 Leigh, 449; Gee v. Pharr, 5 Ala. 588; Allen v. Sayward, 5 Greenl. 230; Deakins v. Hollis, 7 Gill and Johns. 311; Huntley v. Waddell, 12 Iredell, (Law) 33. See also, Funk v. Voneida, 11 Serg. and R. 112, cited in the opinion, in which the Court says: “The rule as to the vendee, is cameat emptorP The only case in this country, where this principle has been doubted, is Christine v. Whitehill, 16 Serg. & R. 111, which was decided by a bare majority of the Court, and was afterwards expressly overruled by the same Court, in Whitehill v. Gotwalt, 3 Penn. 326.
That the word “convey,” used in our form, was not intended to imply any warranty, or as a substitute for dedi, and that the conveyance of a fee simple title, and without covenants, was not designed to imply any warranty, is palpable, from the fact that the form provided for a conveyance
II. We proceed to inquire whether the words, “and I warrant the title against all persons whomsoever,” have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning at law; and if' so, what that meaning is. And here we premise, that the Code nowhere uses the words “general warranty;” it is simply “warranty.” The former statute provided that the words “ grant, bargain and sell,” should imply the five covenants of seizin, right to convey, quiet enjoyment, against incumbrances, and general warranty. This statute was repealed by the Code. Erom the expressions, “ other equivalent forms, varied to suit circumstances,” and “ or other warranty, as the parties may desire,” it is evident that the intent was, not to extend the. meaning of the particular words, or to attach any peculiar significance to the warranty, but simply to furnish a short 'form for conveying real estate, and to prune the common form “ of the prolixity of its provisions, and the usual redundancy of its language,” as sensibly suggested by Judge Kent, leaving the parties to make their own covenants. We cannot find a line or expression in the Code, which justifies any other conclusion, and had not our policy formerly been different, no other idea would, we think, have occurred to any one.
The form of warranty, given in the Code, is precisely in substance that of the covenant of general warranty at common law, as given by Rawle on Cov., 240; it warrants, in both cases, the “title” against “ all persons.” This covenant has, so far as we can ascertain,. universally received the same construction. There is scarcely a phrase in the English language, which has received so uniform a con
But what is this title ? It is the just means whereby the . owner of land has the possession of his property; Rawle on Cov., 48; 2 Bl., 195; or as Tomlin expresses it, “title is generally applied to signify the right to land and real effects.” 3 Tom. Law Dic., “Title,” 625. "When the grantor warrants the title, then, he simply guarantees the right by which he holds his land; that right is presumed to be good, until a superior adverse right is judicially established : therefore, say the authorities^!! plaintiff surrenders to a superior title, without judgment of law against him, the Burden of proof is on him, in an action on the covenant of warranty, to show that the title to which he surrendered is superior to his own. Hamilton v. Cutts, 4 Mass., 349" court="Mass." date_filed="1808-05-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/hamilton-v-cutts-6403223?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6403223">4 Mass., 349; Prescott v. Truman, Ib., 627; 4 Greenl. Cruise, marg., 378, n.; Stone v. Hooker, 9 Cow., 154. We need hardly say
It will not do, then, either upon authority or principle, to say, that plaintiff may sue on this covenant and recover, by showing that when he purchased, there was a mere incumbrance on the land, which he voluntarily paid off before it ripened into a superior title ; for, non constat, that defendant would have paid it, or that it would ever become a title, or a superior title. It would be a marvelous tax title, if it did. Again: suppose there had been a tax title on the land, and plaintiff had bought it in, without judgment, would he not have been compelled to show that the tax title was superior to defendants’ ? And could not the grantor have defended successfully, by showing that the tax was invalid? Tet, here he sues before there was any tax title for these taxes, let alone a good one. We conclude, then:
1. That the Code has repealed the old law, and in its place substituted the common law, shorn of its redundancies, but unchanged in its principles.
2. That in an action on a covenant of general warranty, plaintiff must aver and show an eviction by a superior title.
And here we might rest; but it may be advisable to advert to some of the positions contained in the opinion on file in this case. This we shall do frankly, but with the
Our reasoning brings us to directly the opposite conclusion. "We think that the repeal of the old law and the enacting of a new one, without any such provision, proves, that the legislature intended to abandon the doubtful policy of the former statute. In other words, that they repealed the old law, because they intended to repeal it, and did not re-enact it for the same reason. The history of this species of legislation shows, that wherever any State has adopted the policy of implying covenants, it has done so by enlarging the meaning of the granting words, and not by extending the covenant of general warranty. We can find no instance where the latter course has been pursued. Can we presume, then, that our legislature intended to adopt this novel policy, in the absence of any expression to that effect ? Would it not be indeed a “ trap,” for not only the “ ignorant and unwary,” but for the wise also? Who would suppose that the five covenants lay hidden beneath the well defined phraseology of the covenant of general warranty ? If one consults the common law, he finds a unanimous series of decisions as to its
Again; we would suggest, whether the reasoning of the opinion does not prove too much. If it is sound, it proves that a covenant of general warranty is broken by the voluntary payment by the purchaser of a mere incumbrance, which is in conflict with all the authorities we have cited on this point. "Ye have already referred to decisions in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Georgia, upon this point. In Maine, the same doctrine is recognized. In Curtis v. Deering, Fairfield, 501, cited in the opinion of this Court, the Court says : “ It is “ contended that plaintiff, having never entered into the “land, could not be evicted, and cases are cited to show “ that there must be an eviction by judgment of law, or “ or otherwise, or a voluntary surrender to a claim which “ could not be lawfully resisted, or a purchase and extin- “ guishment of the paramount title. This doctrine is well “ established by the authorities relied upon, and we are not “ disposed to question itP "Ye have carefully examined the authorities cited in the opinion, and respectfully suggest that they do not sustain the decision. 22 Pick, 490; 7 J. R. 358; 16 Ib. 122; 10 Pick, 204; 17 Mass., 213" court="Mass." date_filed="1821-09-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/chapel-v-bull-6404970?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6404970">17 Mass. 213; 4 Ib. 629; 22 Vt., 104; 10 Ohio, 317, and 11 S. & R., 109, are all actions on the covenant against incumbrances, and in every one, except the last, there was an express cove
It is said, that in a certain sense, the covenant of general warranty may be said to include all the others. It is true, that a breach of any other covenants, may result in a breach of the general warranty, but it- by no means follows that a breach of one of the former, is a breach of the latter. They are independent covenants; the first four were intro
It is also said that defendants ought to have paid this money, and that they cannot complain if plaintiff recovers. The premise may be true, but the conclusion is “ inconseqnent.” It is every man’s duty to pay his debts, but a third party cannot make himself his creditor, by voluntary payment of them. Defendants had their own time to pay the debt. 5 Cow., 195" court="N.Y. Sup. Ct." date_filed="1825-10-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/miller-v-watson-5464512?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="5464512">5 Cow., 195. They could pay before or at the sale, or redeem afterward, and non constat, but they would have done so. The plaintiff acted prematurely; he should have bid the land in at the sale, and then, if the title was superior, the breach would have been conrplete. It is also said that if incumbrances exist, the title is not perfect; upon this point we most respectfully differ with the Court.— .Within the meaning of this covenant, the title is always perfect and the covenant unbroken, until a superior title is found. What would be said of a lawyer, who in an action of right, would plead unpaid tmes, without sale, as a superior title. If not a superior title, the covenant is not broken, or the authorities cited above are not law.
We have said all that seems necessary on this case, and we ask the Court to give our argument, and the authorities cited, a careful examination. We feel that a decision against defendants would not only do them injustice, but would reinstate a most mischievous policy, which we believe the Legislature have purposely repudiated. This is our apology for so extended a petition. We ask that the case may be rejieard.
The statement of facts contained in tbe petition 'for re-bearing, is correct so far as it goes. It should bave added, however, that payment of tbe taxes had been demanded of defendant, who had refused to pay them, before they were paid by plaintiff. "With this correction, the statement is tbe same as that given in tbe opinion of the Court. These facts being admitted to be true by the demurrer, we are relieved of the necessity of any inquiry into tbe fact, whether tbe tax was a valid tax or not; or whether, if tbe plaintiff bad purchased tbe property at the tax sale, tbe tax title would bave been a superior title to that conveyed to plaintiff by defendants. Certainly, if tbe tax was an incumbrance in the accepted meaning of tbe term, it was in a fair way to become the superior title. If tbe defendant, however, wished to contest that question, he should not bave rested bis case on tbe demurrer. It is hardly necessary for us to suggest, that there was a legitimate mode of testing the question of the regularity and validity of the tax.
Tbe question to be decided, is whether the form given by tbe Code, (section 1232), “for a deed in fee with warranty,” in which the covenant is to “warrant the title against all persons,” was intended to include a covenant that tbe premises are free from incumbrances. This covenant, it is admitted, is tbe same as the common law covenant of general warranty. It is needless, then, to inquire whether the effect of the statute .would have been different, bad tbe words “general warranty” been used by it, instead of tbe word “warranty” only. “General warranty” is used in contradistinction to “special warranty.” "Warranty, and general warranty, are the same in meaning. It is to be remarked, however, that the form given by tbe Code, is “to warrant the title against all per
We see no reason for yielding the position, endeavored to be maintained in the opinion of the Court, that the words, “deed in fee with warranty,” have acquired a “peculiar and appropriate meaning in law,” and are to be construed accordingly. This meaning, according to our. construction of the words, is a perfect title, and the title is not perfect, if incumbrances on the premises exist at the time of the conveyance. We say this much to relieve ourselves of any suspicion, of having designedly passed over in silence, without notice, the points and arguments of the counsel, against whom we were compelled to decide. Where the conveyance is to be by “good and sufficient deed,” or where it is to be a perfect legal title, wdiich a deed in fee simple with warranty, is understood to convey, the vendor will not be permitted to discharge his obligation with a conveyance, good in point of form. An agreement to convey land, by good and sufficient deed, is not complied with by tlie mere giving a warranty deed, where the grantor had no title to the land, or when his title is imperfect. It must be a deed, good and sufficient, both in form and substance, to convey a valid title to the land. Everson v. Kirtland, 4 Paige, 638; Fitch v. Casey, 2 G. Greene 300. The purchaser’s right to a title, clear of defects and incumbrances, is recognized and enforced, both in this country and in England. This right, (says Rawle, 566), is one, not growing out of the agreement of parties, but which is given by the law. Souter v. Drake, 6 B. & A. 999; 2 Sug. on Vend. 2; and it naturally follows, that a court of equity will not decree the specific performance of a contract, where the title is bad, or even where it is doubtful. Hence, when an incumbrance exists, which it was not agreed should enter into and form part of the consideration, the vendor must discharge it, before
The conclusion we seek to draw from these authorities, is that the perfect legal title does not pass where incumbrances exist, against the property conveyed; and that where a party makes a conveyance after the form termed by the statute, “a deed in fee, with warranty,” there is implied in the covenant therein given, every other covenant necessary to insure a perfect title to the grantee, as well as indemnity for its failure. •
It may be readily conceded, that the words, “grant, bargain, and sell,” in the creation of a fee-hold, by the common law, imply no warranty whatever, and that the conveyance of a foe, does not, ipso facto, imply any warranty. The question is, however, what the statute means by “a deed in fee, with warranty,” and what covenants of title the party agreeing to take such a deed, has a right to expect it shall contain. The legislature of Iowa, in 1843, had provided by statute, that the words “grant, bargain, and sell,” should be construed to be express covenants : 1. Of Seizen; 2. Against incumbrances done or suffered by the grantor or those claiming under him; and 3. For further assurance.
They had high precedent and sanction for such enactment. A similar provision had been made by act of Parliament in England, (6 Anne, ch. 35), in 1707. It was re-enacted in Pennsylvania, in 1715, and was subsequently adopted, almost without alteration, in the following states of the Union — Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and Iowa. For the construction given to this statute by this Court, see Brown v. Tomlinson, 2 G. Greene, [525.].The construction of the statute of Pennsylvania, was carefully considered by the Supreme Court of that state, in the case of Gratz v. Ewalt, 2 Binney, 98, and it was held, that none of the covenants implied by the statute, were to be construed as extending beyond the act of the covenantor. Chancellor Kent says, (4 Com. 474), “By this decision, the words of the statute
The danger, then, was no longer to be apprehended, of imposition upon the ignorant and unwary, from covenants being implied that are not stipulated in clear and precise terms, or making the words from which they were to be implied, operate as a trap to the unwary. The covenants thus created, are limited to the acts of the grantor and those claiming under him. The design of the act, to a groat extent, was to curtail the covenants for title, which had continued to increase until their length had been found to be oppressive. The more extended object was, however, to introduce into every conveyance of real estate, the usual covenant of title ; in other words, to make the conveyance itself the covenant of warranty. The statute of 6 Anne, eh. 35, was followed up in England, by the act of the 8 and 9 "Victoria, ch. 119, (1845), which defines the meaning and effect of the several covenants of a deed, and gives a form for each, shorn of all inconvenient prolixity. A short form of a deed is given, not unlike the ordinary deeds of bargain and sale in this country. By adopting the provisions of the English statute of Anne, into our system of conveyancing, the legislature made a commendable attempt to remedy the evils resulting from the prolixity and redundancy of the old system. By adopting the forms embodied in the Code, we think that, instead of resolving to go back to the old covenants of assurance, they essayed to take another step forward, and to imply the usual covenants of conveyance from the general covenant of warranty, rather than from the granting words of the deed.
By the petition for a re-hearing, it is claimed that in an action on a covenant of general warranty, the covenantee must aver and show an eviction by a superior title. We have endeavored to show in the opinion of the Court, that this position is not well taken, if by eviction is intended, actual dispossession. Rawle, in his work on covenants for title, cited by defendant, says (page 25†): “ There
The result of the authorities on the subject, is, that where the holder of the adverse title has the power to obtain possession under it, as by entry; or to deprive the purchaser of his possession, as by process under a writ of execution, and adversely asserts or prosecutes his right; the covenantee may anticipate its actual exercise, and voluntarily surrender the possession, by which ouster in pads, a sufficient eviction will be caused, to support an action on the covenant. The burden of proof is on him, however, to show that the results he anticipated were inevitable. Rawle, 265. Yirtual or constructive eviction, it is held, takes place:
1. Where the covenantee never has had actual possession, having never been able to obtain it, by reason of the adverse title. The existence of the better title, with actual possession under it in another, is, of itself, a breach of the covenant. Grist v. Hodges, 2 Devereux, 200. If the grantee finds the premises in possession of one claiming under a paramount title, the covenant for quiet enjoyment, or of warranty, will be held to be broken, without any other act on the part of either the grantee or the claimant, for the latter can do no more towards the assertion of his title, and as to the former, the law will compel
2. "Where the covenantee accepts a lease or other conveyance under an adverse title established by judgment, and remains in possession.
3. Where he accepts the lease, although no judgment has established the adverse title. The case of Hamilton v. Cutts, 4 Mass., 350, first established the rule as to voluntary dispossession, or ouster in pais. That the law does not require the idle and expensive ceremony of being turned out by legal process, when that result would be inevitable, see Clark v. McAnulty, 3 Serg. & R., 372, and Greenvault v. Davis, 4 Hill, 646. The case of Sprague v. Baker, 17 Mass., 590, went still further, and the Court held, that where the deed contained covenants for quiet enjoyment and warranty, and the covenantee paid the amount of a mortgage, upon being threatened by the mortgagee to sue for the possession of the premises, it amounted to a disturbance of the possession; and if plaintiff had been compelled to purchase in another title, for his own security, and to avoid interruption, it was a breach of the covenant for quiet enjoyment. The mortgage was placed on the same footing as a paramount title established by judgment, and where such title has been established by a court of competent jurisdiction, there is no objection to a piurchase or lease of it being made by the covenantee, and the idle ceremony of actually and formally leaving the possession, in order formally to return to it, is unnecessary. In Whitney v. Dinsmore, 6 Cushing, 124, the same Court, in a similar case, said: “The premises were offered for sale at public auction, and if the plaintiff had not become a purchaser, he had a right to pxrcsume that he should be dispossessed by the purchaser, and he was justified in acting upon that piresumption; and the defendant could not be thereby injured, for undoubtedly, if the plaintiff had not become a purchaser, he would have been evicted, if he had refused to yield possession, and, in such case, the defend
No distinction is made between a voluntary retirement, when the paramount title is, and when it is not, established by a judgment of a competent court, it being sufficient, either that the holder of such title has the right to obtain possession himself, or deprive the purchaser of it. The only difference is, that the covenantee retires at his peril, when there is no such judgment, and is required to prove that the adverse title was such that he would have been compelled to yield to it. Rawle, page 289. If the covenantee purchase an outstanding paramount title, when that title is actually asserted, it is such an eviction as will entitle him to damages upon his covenants for quiet enjoyment and warranty, measured by the amount he has thus paid. The ease of Loomis v. Bedell, 11 N. H., 74, cited in the opinion of the Court, is in point here. There had been a prior conveyance by the covenantor, of part of the premises, to other parties. On the death of one of the prior grantees, his interest in the land being offered for sale by his administrator, was purchased by the plaintiff; and it was held that these facts constituted an eviction.
4. When the eviction is not of the land itself, but of something^ which represents it, or of some incident of its enjoyment. At common law, warranty extended to rents, commons, and all things issuing out of the land, and to incorporeal hereditaments. 2 Black. Com. 18; Co. Litt. 388. If a man grants all his lands, by the name of land, everything terrestrial passes, and when a warranty accompanies such a grant, it extends over the whole subject matter. The case of West v. Stewart, 7 Barr, 123, was an action against the grantor in a deed with covenant of warranty. There was a house on the premises at the date of the deed, which was afterwards removed by a tenant, under
The practical distinction between a covenant of warranty, and the covenant for seizin and against incumbrances, is stated to be this: that under the latter covenants, the purchase of an adverse claim has nothing to do with their breach. If the title be defective, or if an incumbrance exist, these covenants are broken as soon as made, and the purchaser’s right of action is not affected by the purchase of the paramount claim, — such a purchase merely affects the question of damages. It is sufficient to constitute a breach of the covenant of seizin or against incumbrances, that such claim or incumbrances exists, whether asserted or not. But to constitute a breach of the covenant of warranty, it is necessary that the adverse claim be hostilely asserted. It is not necessary that it be asserted by judgment, or even by a suit. The distinction is not, whether there has or has not been a judgment in favor of the paramount claim, but it is, whether such claim has or has not been adversely asserted. Rawle, 298.
It will thus be perceived, how the earlier and more rigid rules in relation to the covenant of warranty, have yielded to the current of authority in favor of a more liberal doctrine. When the courts have decided that, the eviction, necessary to constitute a breach of the covenant, may be either actual or constructive; that evidence of paramount title in another, and of possession yielded to it, is sufficient that if the paramount title be hostilely asserted, the covenantee need not wait for the premises to be offered for sale under execution — nor for judgment to be obtained — nor even for a suit to be brought — but may discharge the in. cumbrance, and resort to his covenant of warranty for indemnification, they have decided all that was necessary to
How does this case differ in principle from that of Sprague v. Baker, in which it was held that an outstanding mortgage, asserted by the mortgagee, who threatened to sue for the possession of the premises, was a lawful interruption and a breach of the covenant for quiet enjoyment ? "Wherein does it differ from that of Whitney v. Dinsmore, in which it was held, that if plaintiff had not purchased, he had a right to presume that he should be dispossessed by a purchaser, and to act on that presumption, and become the purchaser himself, in order to prevent actual eviction?— The incumbrance of the unpaid taxes, was certainly of as high a character as the outstanding mortgage. ' And when the petitioner urges that an incumbrance or lien, is not a superior title, and that it does not appear that it will ever become one, and that plaintiff acted prematurely in not waiting and bidding in the land at the tax sale, and then suing on his covenant of warranty, it > must be borne in mind, that by the demurrer, it is admitted that the tax was a valid incumbrance on the premises sold to plaintiff. If so, we are bound to look at the consequences that may legitimately and in the prescribed order of things, result from leaving the taxes unpaid. Such steps are required to be taken by the county treasurer, as that all lands, on which the taxes levied remain unpaid, are sold to the highest bidder, and the purchaser may institute such further proceedings, as that, if the land is not redeemed, he may acquire a title paramount to all others.
It is no answer to this, to urge that, if a tax title is bought in, the plaintiff, sueing on the covenant, must show that it was a superior title to that conveyed, nor that the grantor may defend successfully, by showing that the tax was invalid. The admission made by the demurrer, stands in the way of the necessity or admissibility of any such inquiry. Nor is it any answer to this, to urge that the superior title, whether in the shape of incumbrance, lien, or prior conveyance, must beadversarily asserted, before the plaintiff’s possession is disturbed. No demand for
Tbe defendant did not have bis own time, in wbicb to make payment. Tbe taxes were payable on tbe 15th of September after tbe date of tbe deed, If not paid by tbe first day of January thereafter, they should at least have been paid by defendant, when bis attention was.ealled to tbe subject by tbe plaintiff, and when be was required by him to pay them. By bis failure and refusal to do so, tbe plaintiff bad no alternative but to pay them himself. By suffering them to remain unpaid, and permitting tbe premises to be sold, and a title to mature under tbe tax sale, tbe objection urged by tbe petitioner, that his covenant was not against incumbrances, but only that there was no superior title, would clearly be obviated, but that was not necessary. Tbe taxes were to be paid; according to our understanding, they were to be paid by defendants, in order to assure to plaintiff a perfect legal title, wbicb defendant undertook to convey.. If tbe payment of them by plaintiff, prevents tbe maturing of an' outstanding paramount title in a purchaser at tbe Treasurer’s sale for taxes, whereby plaintiff may be ousted, and defendant rendered liable for tbe tbe whole purchase money and interests — in such case, we repeat, defendant is not injmed, and cannot complain. He cannot complain of being required to refund to plaintiff tbe amount paid by him, to remove the incumbrance. He will not be permitted to defeat plaintiff’s recovery, by alleging that bis covenant was against a superior title only and not against incumbrances or .unpaid taxes. "We think this mode of reasoning legitimate. "We find it adopted in Whitney v. Dinsmore, and by Parker, Ch. J., in Loomis v. Bedell.
It is Gibson, Ch. J. in Stewart v. West, 2 Harris, (Pa.) 338, who says of the covenant of general warranty, that “by reason of its straightness, it has given place in English conveyances, to the common covenants for title against particular defects which it does not reach. In Pennsylvania, it has been retained by unprofessed scriveners, as a nostrum supposed to contain the virtue of the whole five, but its potency has not been recognized by the bench.” And, again, in Dobbins v. Brown, 2 Jones, (Pa ) 75. “It has been thought by country scriveners, and even by members of the profession, to contain the elements of all the rest. But its terms are too specific to secure the grantee against every disturbance, by those who may have a better title.”
The learned author of the “ Treatise on the Law of Cove
Where such has become the practice of the State, it is suggested, that technical rules, based upon a different custom of conveyancing as respects these covenants, loso to some extent their application; and to say that the purchaser should have protected himself by other covenants, is to apply a hard rule in States, where those other covenants are never employed. Where the covenant of warranty, is habitually the only covenant for title contained in conveyances, such a construction should be given to that covenant, as will rather tend to indemnify the purchaser, than to protect the vendor. This may be done, without giving to the covenant of warranty the attributes of a covenant for seizin. But where a vendor has sold land with a defective title, and covenants, (according as the usage of the country interprets the covenant), that he will indemnify the purchaser against any loss consequent
In Oole v. Lee, 30 Maine, 396, the action was on a covenant of non-claim, between which and the ordinary covenant of warranty, no distinction has in any way been taken. The Court held that the purchaser was not bound to wait, until measures were taken to deprive him of possession, when his remedy would be fruitless. Put as, under a deed containing the common covenant of warranty against incumbrances,. he, as grantee, might remove them, and resort to the covenant of his warrantor for indemnification. In Leary v. Durham, 4 Georgia, 601, Lumpkin, J., says : “ I can' say with truth, after a practice of more than a quarter of a century, that I never saw a deed containing in so many words, definite and precise covenants of seizin, right to convey, for quiet enjoyment, against incumbrances, and for further assurance. These are all designed to be included in the general covenant of warranty against all claims.” In Caldwell v. Kirkpatrick, 6 Ala., 60" court="Ala." date_filed="1844-01-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/caldwell-v-kirkpatrick-6502103?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6502103">6 Ala., 60, it is held that a covenant of warranty, is equiv-' alent to a covenant for quiet enjoyment.
Upon a full consideration of all the authorities, we think, that the question arising in the present case, is left in little, or no doubt, independent of the statute. "When we refer to that, we think there is no room left ¡for doubt. The first consideration that presents itself to the mind, is as to the motive or reason which could have induced the legislature, to undertake to give us the forms of deeds of conveyance in the Code. Something more was intended, certainly, than to furnish to the people of the State appropriate forms for convenient reference in the conveyance of real estate. That would have been an idle task for the legislative assembly to engage in. Form books in abun
Petition for re-hearing over-ruled, and judgment reversed.