Salt Lake Investment Co. v. Fox

90 P. 564 | Utah | 1907

MeOAETY, C. J.

Plaintiff brought this action to quiet title to all of lots 25 to 36, in block 2 of South Lawn addition to Salt Lake city. The answer denies plaintiff’s ownership to the lots, and alleges the title and right of possession thereof to be in the defendant.

It is admitted that the record title to the lots in question is in the defendant. Plaintiff, however, claims1 title by adverse possession. The facts upon which plaintiff (responded here) bases its elaim of title by adverse possession are as follows: On January 4, 1896, the lots in question were sold for taxes to E. Martin, who received a tax sale certificate therefor. On December 31, 1896, Martin assigned the tax-sale certificate to M. C. Moon. On February 3, 1897,-the lots were again sold for taxes, and A. T. Moon, acting as the attorney and agent for M. C. Moon, his mother, bid in the lots for her and received a tax sale certificate issued in her name. In the spring of 1897, A. T. Moon, as agent for M. C. Moon, took possession of the lots under the tax-sale certificate mentioned, and leased them to one Souther, who farmed and cultivated the property from year to year until 1906. On July 5, 1898, M. 0. Moon received a tax deed for tbe lots; but plaintiff does not rely upon this deed as a muniment of title. It was offered and admitted in evidence only for tbe purpose of “showing the claim that M. C. Moon bad to the property and to tbe fact that she paid taxes in 1895.” On April 27, 1901, M. 0. Moon conveyed by warranty deed the lots in question to Lillian M. Moon, who, on June 6, 1904, conveyed them by warranty deed to tbe plaintiff. A. T. Moon testified: “I claimed title partly under these certificates. . I was renting my office from the Groesbecks, and they told me 'that this property would never be redeemed, and that I would own it, and acting on their advice, as they were the former owners of the property, I considered I owned the property.” And he further testified: “I based my claim of ownership on the tax titles, and the possession,, ami the assurances of the former owners.” The court, among other things, found: “That the possession of the plaintiff and its grantors has been open, continuous, peaceable,, and adverse to all persons for a period of more than seven years prior to the commencement of this action.” Judgment was accordingly entered in favor of plaintiff quieting its title in the lots mentioned, as against the defendant. To reverse this judgment defendant has appealed to this court.

The rule is element ~-y that possession, to be adverse, must not only be under claim of right, but hostile to and inconsistent v/ith the possession or right of possession of the true owner. (1 A. & E. Ency. L. [2d Ed.], 789; 1 Oyc. 1026.) Under the statutes of this state in force at the time of the first tax sale (January 4, 1896), the owner of the lots in question had a right to redeem them at any time within two years from the date of sale. The law then in force was repealed April 5, 1896, and the time for redemption of real estate sold for taxes extended to four years. Therefore the possession of the plaintiff and its grantors of the lote during the period of redemption was not adverse, but subject to and consistent with the title of defendant and his grantors. The fact that Moon went into possession under and by virtue of tbe tax sale certificate was, in effect, an admission on bis part t-bat be beld tbe property subject to tbe owner’s right of redemption. (Pease v. Lawson, 33 Mo. 35; McKeighan v. Hopkins, 14 Neb. 361, 15 N. W. 711; Bowman v. Wettig, 39 Ill. 416.)

We- are of tbe opinion, and so bold, that tbe evidence is insufficient to support tbe finding, and tbe judgment based tbereon, that respondent acquired title to tbe premises in question by adverse possession.

The cause is reversed, witb directions to tbe lower court to grant a new trial; costs of this appeal to be taxed against respondent.

STRAIJP and ERICK, II., concur.