Randall v. Cleaveland

| Conn. | Jun 15, 1827

Daggett, J.

The objection to the declaration is broad, and goes to the merits of the action. The gravamen of the plaintiff, is, that while he had the reversionary interest in the land described in the declaration, and while the same land was in the possession and occupation of Charles Chase, as his tenant, the defendant, at the times mentioned, without lawful light, wrongfully ploughed up the turf, gravel and greensward of the land, and carried away more than 300 cart-loads thereof, to the injury of his reversionary interest and estate. The counsel for the plaintiff in error insisted, that a reversioner cannot sustain an action against a stranger for injuries to his reversion-ary estate ; that his tenant alone is responsible to him, in an action of waste ; that the relation of landlord and tenant is essential to the action of waste; and that the latter, in every case, is liable to the former, for all waste done by him, or by a stranger; and where committed by a stranger, that he is liable to the tenant, in an action of trespass. In support of these positions 1 Swift’s Digest 520. and Co. Litt. 54. b. were cited.

There is no doubt that by the common law, as also by the stat. of Gloucester, such is the doctrine in the action of waste ; and therefore, in all discussions as to the right of recovery in that action, the rule as stated, is laid down and applied. Lord Coke and Judge Swift, in their observations, are considering the law in the action of waste; in which trespass cannot be sustained, by the reversioner; for he is not in possession ; and in which the tenant is considered as responsible for waste done by himself, or a stranger. The action under consideration, however, is case in the nature of waste, and unlike the action of waste, in which treble damages were recovered, and by statute, the land also on which the waste was done. In this action, the recovery is for those equitable damages, which are commensurate with the injury. This action on the case in nature of waste, I am satisfied is sustainable at common law.

1. The facts alleged are, that the defendant took and carried away large quantities of the soil, earth and gravel from the land of the plaintiff, occupied by his tenant It is not, and cannot be denied, that these acts are injurious to the reversion-ary estate of the plaintiff. Unlike a bare wrongful entry on land, or mere outrage on the possession of the tenant, for which he might be compensated in the action of trespass, these are permanent injuries, and such as entitle the reversioner to damages from some body; and why not from him who caused the injury? The principle which lies at the foundation of the action on the case, seems broad enough to sustain this declaration. Chief Baron Comyns, tit. Action on the case, A. says: “In all cases, where a man has a temporal loss or damage, by the wrong of another, he may have an action upon the case to be repaired in damages.” The extent of the injury is the measure of damages. This appears to be an equitable and salutary rule of law.

2. The most approved books of precedents furnish the forms of writs in the action on the case in nature of waste. The declaration in question is agreeable to those forms. 3 Chitt. Plead. 434. 8 Went. Plead. 588. It is unaccountable that such forms should have been given, by writers of such distinction, if the action were not well known.

3. The doctrine urged by the defendant in error, and adopted by the Court, is directly established in Comyn’s Dig. tit. Action on the case, A. Jefferson v. Jefferson, 3 Lev. 131. Biddlesford v. Onslow, 3 Lev. 209. 2 Roll. Abr. 551. pl. 4, 5. 1 Chitt. Plead. 49. 2 Chitt. Plead. 371, 379. Jesser v. Gifford, 4 Burr. 2141. In the case last cited, the court say, that an action may be sustained, by one (that is, the tenant) in respect of his possession, and by the other, (that is, the reversioner) in respect to his inheritance, for the injury done to the value of it. The same general principle is laid down in 2 Wins. Saund. 252. b. in a note. In Jackson v. Pesked, 1 Mau. & Selw. 133. in the court of King’s Bench, in 1813, it was decided, on a motion in arrest of judgment for the insufficiency of the declaration, in an action on the case, by a reversioner against a stranger, for an injury to his reversionary interest, that the declaration must allege, that the injury was of such a permanent nature as to affect his reversionary right; and for want of such averment, the judgment was arrested. It is not credible, that such a question could have been made, and solemnly argued and decided, unless an action of this description had been familiar to the-courts of Westminster-Hall.

The counsel for the plaintiff in error have also cited the case of Altersoll v. Stevens, 1 Taun. 183. in support of their objection to this declaration. The marginal note of that case is thus : ‘‘I. T. demised land to the plaintiff at an annual rent for twenty one years, with liberty to dig half an acre of brick earth annually : the lessee covenanted that he would not dig more, or if he did, that he would pay an increased rent of 315l. per half acre, being after the same rale that the whole brick earth was sold for. A stranger dug and took away brick earth; the lessee recovered against him the full value of it. It was held, that he was entitled to retain the whole damages.”

The point now in judgment was not discussed in that case ; nor any opinion given in opposition to the doctrine here mentioned. Sir James Mansfield and Mr. Justice Heath supported a verdict in favour of the tenant for the whole damage done to the land. Chambre, the other Judge, was for granting a new trial. On an examination of the argument of the judges, it is apparent, that the decision proceeded on the ground of the peculiar covenant in the lease. Chambre was very explicit in maintaining the principle now asserted by the defendant in error ; and Sir James Mansfield, at the outset of his opinion, thus remarks: " I concur in far the greater part of the law stated by my brother Chambre; but on the frame of the covenants, I think the case tolerably clear in favour of the measure of damages adopted on this occasion.

The Court do not see, in this case, any principles adopted in opposition to the authorities cited. It is, then, quite clear, on established decisions, from the precedents of declarations and the sound rules of the common law, that this action on the case is warranted; and that there is, therefore, no error in the judgment of the superior court.

The other Judges were of the same opinion, except Brain-ard, J., who was absent.

Judgment affirmed.