131 Neb. 650 | Neb. | 1936
This is an action for the partition of lots 13, 14 and 15, in block 19, in the city of Neligh, Antelope county, Nebraska. From a decree granting a partition thereof and fixing the rights of the various parties in the property, the defendants have appealed.
The record discloses that after the death of Abner G. Winn in 1906 the widow and five children continued to live in the home located on the property involved in this action. Also located on the property were a blacksmith and repair shop that had been operated by Abner G. Winn with the help of his son Jesse G. Winn. Jesse G. Winn continued to operate the shop and support the family after the death of the father. During the lifetime of the mother, and prior to the final settlement of the estate of Abner G. Winn, Jesse G. Winn built a garage building on the lots, and, as business increased, enlarged it so that, at the time the estate of Abner G. Winn was finally closed in 1913, there was a building 48 feet by 142 feet extending across all three lots from north to south. Subsequent to the closing up of the estate of his father, he added additional space by erecting a building 80 feet long and 46 feet wide on the west side and at the north end of the existing garage building. The interests of the various parties in this building must necessarily be determined. The defendant contends that he also spent large sums óf money in repairing and remodeling the residence on the premises, as well as in the maintenance of the three sisters over a period of years. The plaintiffs con
The trial court ordered a partition of the real estate; denied the claim of a tax lien on the part of Augusta Winn on the theory that she purchased the tax sale certificate as the agent and with the money of her husband Jesse G. Winn; denied plaintiffs the right to an accounting against Jesse G. Winn, except for the last two years involved in the action; fixed the rental value of the garage at $25 a month during the two years; found that Jesse G. Winn is entitled to contribution from plaintiffs for the present value of the improvements placed on lots 13 and 14 after December 1, 1913, the date the final decree was signed in the probate of the Abner G. Winn estate, found the amount to be $1,109.24 and granted an equitable lien therefor; found that Jesse G. Winn is entitled to contribution for improvements placed on lot 15 after December 1, 1913, fixed the amount due at $856.31 and granted an equitable lien therefor; found that Jesse G. Winn is entitled to an equitable lien for the money represented by the tax certificate purchased by his wife, making $425.88 a lien on lot 15, and $851.76 a lien on lots 13 and 14; fixed the mortgage lien of Lyle E. Jackson as a. first lien upon an undivided two-fifths interest in all of said-
It will be noted in the case at bar that the defendant. Jesse G. Winn made improvements on the premises after the death of his father in 1906, and prior to the date of the filing of the final decree of distribution in 1913 in the proceedings wherein his father’s estate was probated. The trial court held that any claim for improvements made while the estate was being administered could not successfully be maintained against the other heirs at law. The other heirs at that time were not entitled to possession of the premises. Neither had it been determined by the probate court that there would be any interest remaining after the payment of debts and the costs of administration. The trial court correctly found that Jesse G. Winn had no claim for contribution ag’ainst the other heirs prior to December 1, 1913, the date the final decree in the probate of his father’s estate was filed.
The trial court found that the improvements placed on lots 13 and 14 after December 1, 1913, enhanced the value of the premises to the extent of $1,109.24, and the improvements placed on lot 15 during the same period enhanced the value of the premises to the extent of $856.31. The evidence was conflicting as to the amount that the improvements enhanced the value of the property. The trial -court heard the evidence and saw the witnesses on the witness-stand. Under these circumstances we conclude that the trial court is in a better position to determine the issue than is this court. The evidence in the record is amply sufficient to sustain the trial court’s finding. We -conclude, therefore, that the findings of the trial court with reference to the amounts that the improvements enhanced the value of the premises are correct.
It appears from the record that Jesse G. Winn paid the
The record further discloses that after December 1, 1913, and prior to the tax year 1925, the defendant Jesse G. Winn paid, taxes on the property in question in the amount of
Plaintiffs contend that they are entitled to rent during the time Jesse G. Winn was using their property. Defendant contends that cotenants- in j oint use and possession of property are not entitled to collect rent for the use of the common property in the absence of a showing that the co-tenant being charged wrongfully excluded other cotenants. We agree with this contention of the defendant. Do the facts in this case place it within the rule? We think not. The evidence shows that Jesse G. Winn at all times after December 1, 1913, was in the exclusive possession of the garage building on the lots in question. It is true that the record shows that two of the sisters worked in the garage office at times, but it is clear that they worked as employees and not by virtue of their interest in the real estate as tenants in common. It would appear, therefore, that the other cotenants in common would be entitled to a reasonable rental for the premises while they were occupied solely by
We therefore conclude that plaintiffs are entitled to a decree ordering a partition of the premises; the defendant Augusta Winn is entitled to a foreclosure of her tax sale certificate as a first lien; the intervener Lyle E. Jackson is entitled to a second lien on the two-fifths interest formerly owned by the defendant Jesse G. Winn, to be satisfied first from the sale of lots 13 and 14, and, if this be insufficient, the balance from the sale of lot 15; that the defendant Jesse G. Winn is entitled to contribution from his co-tenants in common for the taxes he advanced plus interest, to be decreed an equitable lien therefor in the manner and amount previously set out in this opinion; that the defendant Jesse G. Winn is entitled to contribution from his co-tenants for their proportionate share of the amount that the improvements enhanced the value of the premises in the manner and amount previously set out herein, and to an equitable lien against their interests in the. premises; that the plaintiffs are entitled to a judgment for rent in the amounts hereinbefore mentioned, to be offset, first, against defendant Jesse G. Winn’s equitable lien for taxes advanced, second, against the defendant Jesse G. Winn’s equitable lien for improvements made on the property, and, if there be a balance remaining unpaid, that it be an equitable lien against any interest the defendant Jesse G. Winn may have in said property.
■ The decree of the district court granting a partition of
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.