Kauhane v. Laa

19 Haw. 223 | Haw. | 1908

OPINION OP THE COURT BY

BALLOU, J.

This was an áction of assumpsit for money had and received, being the rentals of certain lands which had been collected by the defendant. The land in question descended from the original patentee to Hao, who died intestate leaving a widow, Pelani, and three children, Solomon Kauhane, Hani, and the defendant Laa. Hani died, whether before or after attaining majority being in dispute on the evidence. Solomon Kauhane conveyed his interest to his mother Pelani, who was thereupon entitled to an undivided interest as tenant in common with her son the defendant. Pelani, with the consent and acquiescence of the defendant, leased the land to Su Chin Hoo. Thereafter Pelani reconveyed all her interest to Solomon Rauliane, who died soon afterwards leaving the plaintiff, Kapeka Baker, his widow, and the minor plaintiffs his heirs at law. Defendant claimed that the deed from Pelani to Solomon Kauhane though recorded was never delivered, and claims under a subsequent deed from Pelani to himself in which she reserved a life interest. The defendant collected the rents due under the lease and plaintiffs obtained a verdict against him for the full amount. The defendant brings exceptions, of which the most material are those to the giving of the following instructions by the court:

“If you find from the evidence that on April 2, 1898, Pelani was the owner of an interest in the land in question and that said Pelani on said date executed a lease to said land to Su Chin EIoo, with the consent of William Laa, her cotenant in common, you must find that the grantee of Pelani and his successor of successors in interest are entitled to all the rents due from said Su Chin Hoo by the terms of said lease.” Instruction 5.

“You are further instructed that whether Iiaui 2nd died a minor or after he had attained his majority has no bearing on the issues involved in this ease.” Instruction 6.

The usual rule is that tenants in common are entitled to the rentals of land leased to a stranger in proportion to their several interests. The fact that one cotenant alone signed the lease, the other acquiescing therein, is not sufficient to vary the usual rule. Pope v. Harkins, 16 Ala. 321. There was no evidence of any misrepresentation made by the defendant upon which Pelani or her grantee relied and therefore there is no element of estoppel. If the defendant waived his share of the rental in favor of his mother without consideration there would be no legal contract on which the plaintiffs could rely. A verdict for the entire rent based upon the fifth instruction cannot be sustained. It also follows that the quantum of interest held by Pelani and the defendant at the time of the lease was material, and as this depends upon whether Haui died a minor or after he attained his majority (R. L. Sec. 2510) the sixth instruction was also erroneous.

17. 17. Thayer for plaintiffs. 17. G. A chi for defendant.

It is unnecessay to pass in detail upon the exceptions relating to the exclusion of evidence offered in support of defendant’s theory that the deed from Pelani to Solomon Kauhane was not delivered, but we are of the opinion that some of the evidence excluded, though slight, tended to support the claim and should have gone to the jury.

The exceptions are sustained and a new trial ordered.