Sharon v. Tucker/Opinion of the Court

by Stephen Johnson Field

United States Supreme Court

144 U.S. 533

Sharon  v.  Tucker

The title of the complainants is founded upon the adverse possession of themselves and parties through whom the derive their interests, under claim and color of title, for a period exceeding the statutory time which bars an action for the recovery of land within the District of Columbia. The statute of limitation to such cases in force in the District is that of 21 James I. c. 16. That statute, passed 'for quieting of men's estates and avoiding of suits, among other things, declared that no person or persons should at any time thereafter make any entry into any lands, tenements, or hereditaments but within 20 years next after his or their right or title shall thereafter have first descended or accrued to the same, and that in default thereof such persons not entering, and their heirs, should be utterly excluded and debarred from such entry thereafter to be made, any former law or statute to the contrary notwithstanding.

Twenty years is therefore the period limited for entry upon any lands within this District after the claimant's title has accrued. After the lapse on that period, there is no right of entry upon lands against the party in possession, and all actions to enforce any such alleged right are barred. Complete possession, the character of which is hereafter stated, of real property in the District for that period, with a claim of ownership, operates, therefore, to give the occupant title to the premises. No one else, with certain exceptions,-as infants, married women, lunatics, and persons imprisoned or beyond the seas, who may bring their action within 10 years after the expiration of their disability,-can call his title in question. He can stand on his adverse possession as fully as if he had always held the undisputed title of record.

The decisions of the courts have determined the character of the possession which will thus bar the right of the former owner to recover real property. It must be an open, visible, continuous, and exclusive possession, with a claim of ownership, such as will notify parties seeking information upon the subject that the premises are not held in subordination to any title or claim of others, but adversely to all titles and all claimants. In the present cases the adverse possession of the grantors of the complainants, sufficient to bar the right of previous owners, is abundantly established, within the most strict definition of that term.

The objection of the defendants to the jurisdiction of a court of equity in this case arises from confounding it with a bill of peace and an ordinary bill quia timet, to neither of which classes does it belong, nor is it governed by the same principles. Bills of peace are of two kinds: First. Those which are brought to establish a right claimed by the plaintiff, but controverted by numerous parties having distinct interests originating in a common source. A right of fishery asserted by one party, and controverted by numerous riparian proprietors on the river, is an instance given by Story where such a bill will lie. In such cases a court of equity will interfere and bring all the claimants before it in one proceeding to avoid a multiplicity of suits. A separate action at law, with a single claimant, would determine nothing beyond the respective rights of the parties as against each other, and such a contest with each claimant might lead to interminable litigation. To put at rest the controversy. And determine the extent of the rights of the claimants of distinct interests in a common subject, the bill lies, which is thus essentially one for peace. Second. Bills of peace of the other kind lie where the right of the plaintiff to real property has been unsuccessfully assailed in different actions, and is liable to further actions of the same character, and are brought to put an end to the controversy. 'The equity of the plaintiff in such cases arose,' as we said in Holland v. Challen, 110 U.S. 15, 19, 3 Sup. Ct. Rep. 495, 'from the protracted litigation for the possession of the property which the action of ejectment at common law permitted. That action being founded upon a fictitious demise, between fictitious parties, a recovery in one action constituted no bar to another similar action, or to any number of such actions. A change in the date of the alleged demise was sufficient to support a new action. Thus the party in possession, though successful in every instance, might be harassed and vexed, if not ruined, by a litigation constantly renewed. To put an end to such litigation, and give repose to the successful party, courts of equity interfered and closed the controversy. To entitle the plaintiff to relief in such cases the concurrence of three particulars was essential: He must have been in possession of the property; he must have been disturbed in its possession by repeated actions at law; and he must have established his right by successive judgments in his favor. Upon these facts appearing, the court would interpose and grant a perpetual injunction to quiet the possession of the plaintiff against any further litigation from the same source. It was only in this way that adequate relief could be afforded against vexations litigation, and the irreparable mischief which it entailed. Adams, Eq. 202; Pom. Eq. Jur. § 248; Stark v. Starr, 6 Wall. 402; Curtis v. Sutter, 15 Cal. 259; Shepley v. Rangely, 2 Ware, 242; Devonsher v. Newenham, 2 Sch. & L. 199.' It is only where bills of peace of this kind-more commonly designated as bills to remove a cloud on title and quiet the possession to real property-are brought that proof of the complainant's actual possession is necessary to maintain the suit. Frost v. Spitley, 121 U.S. 552, 556, 7 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1129.

There is no controversy such as here stated in the present case. The title of the complainants is not controverted by the defendants, nor is it assailed by any actions for the possession of the property, and this is not a suit to put an end to any litigation of the kind. It is a suit to establish the title of the complainants as matter of record,-that is, by a judicial determination of its validity,-and to enjoin the assertion by the defendants of a title to the same property from the former owners, which has been lost by the adverse possession of the parties through whom the complainants claim. The title by adverse possession, of course, rests on the recollection of witnesses; and, by a judicial determination of its validity against any claim under the former owners, record evidence will be substituted in its place. Embarrassments in the use of the property by the present owners will be thus removed. Actual possession of the property by the complainants is not essential to maintain a suit to obtain in this way record evidence of their title, to which they can refer in their efforts to dispose of the property.

The difference between this case and an ordinary bill quia timet is equally marked. A bill quia timet is generally brought to prevent future litigation as to property by removing existing causes of controversy as to its title. There is no controversy here as to the title of the complainants. The adverse possession of the parties through whom they claim was complete, within the most exacting judicial definition of the term. It is now well settled that, by adverse possession for the period, designated by the statute, not only is the remedy of the former owner gone, but his title has passed to the occupant, so that the latter can maintain ejectment for the possession against such former owner, should he intrude upon the premises. In several of the states this doctrine has become a positive rule by their statutes of limitations, declaring that uninterrupted possession for the period designated to bar an action for the recovery of land shall of itself constitute a complete title. Leffingwell v. Warren, 2 Black, 599; Campbell v. Holt, 115 U.S. 620, 623, 6 Sup. Ct. Rep. 209.

'As a general doctrine,' says Angell in his treatise on Limitations, 'it has too long been established to be now in the least degree controverted that what the law deems a perfect possession, if continued without interruption during the whole period which is prescribed by the statute for the enforcement of the right of entry, is evidence of a fee. Independently of positive or statute law, the possession supposes an acquiescence in all persons claiming an adverse interest; and upon this acquiescence is founded the presumption of the existence of some substantial reason, (though perhaps not known,) for which the claim of an adverse interest was forborne. Not only every legal presumption, but every consideration of public policy, requires that this evidence of right should be taken to be of very strong, if not of conclusive, force.' Page 384.

As the complainants have the legal right to the premises in controversy, and as no parties deriving title from the former owners can contest that title with them, there does not seem to be any just reason why the relief prayed should not be granted. Such relief is among the remedies often administered by a court of equity. It is a part of its ordinary jurisdiction to perfect and complete the means by which the right, estate, or interest of parties,-that is, their title,-may be proved or secured, or to remove obstacles which hinder its enjoyment. 1 Pom. Eq. Jur. § 171. The form of the remedy will vary according to the particular circumstances of each case. 'It is absolutely impossible,' says Pomeroy, in his treatise, 'to enumerate all the special kinds of relief which may be granted, or to place any bounds to the power of the courts in shaping the relief in accordance with the circumstances of particular cases. As the nature and incidents of proprietary rights and interests, and of the circumstances attending them, and of the relations arising from them, are practically unlimited, so are the kinds and forms of specific relief applicable to these circumstances and relations.'

In Blight's Heirs v. Banks, 6 Mon. 192, a bill was filed by the complainant to supply the want of certain records or conveyances under which he claimed title, said to have been executed and lost. A patent had been issued by the commonwealth of Virginia for a large amount of property, which, by various intermediate conveyances, had become vested in the complainant. These conveyances had not been recorded, and on that ground the complainant alleged that his title was in jeopardy from creditors and innocent purchasers; that with great difficulty any title could be established at law, because the conveyances could not be given in evidence without parol proof; and that some of the witnesses were dead, and some of the original conveyances were lost, and could not be found. His prayer was that his title might be rendered complete as a recorded title by the decree of the chancellor. The first question made in the case by the defendant was as to the jurisdiction of the court. It was contended that such omissions in completing a defective title were generally the fault of the grantees, and that equity would not sustain a bill for that purpose. But the court of appeals of Kentucky replied that it could not doubt the propriety of the interference of the chancellor in such case. 'Equity,' said the court,' will frequently interfere to removedi fficulties in land titles, where a party cannot proceed without difficulty at law, where the conveyances are lost or in the possession of the opposite party, or where the parties are numerous and the proof hard of access; and in many such cases it will lighten the burden, and settle many controversles, and bring them into a small scope. And where the title is purely legal, for such and similar causes to those we have enumerated, equity has carved out a branch of jurisdiction, and a class of bills, termed in the books 'ejectment bills,' in which not only the title is made clear, but the possession decreed also. No reason is perceived by us why the present case is not within the spirit of these cases. The difficulties in an unrecorded title, especially if it is derived through a long chain of conveyances, are familiar to our courts in this country. The danger to which the title is exposed from two classes of persons, creditors and subsequent purchasers, is often great, and the facilities afforded from a title which can be read in evidence without other proof than the authentication annexed are felt by every one who has to bring his title into court for attack or defense; and the present case will furnish a good comment on the propriety of the interference of the chancellor.' The court therefore decreed the relief prayed. On a petition for a rehearing it reviewed its former opinion, the main point of which was the jurisdiction of the court of equity over the bill, and said:

'It is true that bills to make legal titles which are valid against all the world, except two descriptions of persons, recorded titles, and thus to protect them from creditors and innocent purchasers, have not been frequent. But, if such bills cannot be allowed under one state of conveyances, it must certainly be said that there is a defect of justice in our country. A court of common law can give no relief in such a case; and, if equity cannot do it, then is the case a hopeless one. If, however, the principles which govern courts of equity are examined, it will be found that there are many circumstances in this case, independent of defective conveyances, which sustain the jurisdiction.' See, also, Coal Co. v. Doran, 142 U.S. 417, 419, 12 Sup. Ct. Rep. 239.

In Hord v. Baugh, 7 Humph. 576, a bill was filed by the complainant, asking the aid of a court of chancery to set up a deed of bargain and sale, which was lost or destroyed before registration; the bargainor having died without executing another. The chancellor below dismissed the bill upon the ground that the bargainor, having once conveyed the land, had parted with all his interest therein, and that the court had no jurisdiction of such a case. But the supreme court of Tennessee thought the chancellor erred, saying: 'The loss of the deed is a casualty seriously endangering the complainant's title, as he can maintain no action of ejectment without it. He then certainly must have a right to ask the aid of a court of chancery in his case, either by having the legal title vested in him as against the bargainor and his representatives, or by having the deed set up and established as in all other cases of lost deeds. The complainant may have his decree for either or both of these remedies.'

In Montgomery v. Kerr, 6 Cold. 199, the same court sustained a bill and established the complainant's title where a deed of the property had been lost. The decree was that the complainant was entitled, by virtue of and under his deed, to hold the premises in fee-simple, and that the defendant had no right, title, or interest therein.

In Bohart v. Chamberlain, 99 Mo. 622, 13 S. W. Rep. 85, the proof showed that a deed of trust which had been executed by defendant to the plaintiff had been subsequently lost without being recorded. The court, on being satisfied of the correctness of the finding of the lower court to this effect, said: 'No doubt is entertained that a court of equity would have jurisdiction to afford the relief prayed for in the petition. One of the most common interpositions of equity is in the case of lost deeds and instruments. A court of equity, in case of the loss of an instrument which affects the title or affords a security, will direct a reconveyance to be made. Citing Stokoe v. Robson, 19 Ves. 385; 1 Story, Eq. Jur. §§ 81, 84; Lawrence v. Lawrence, 42 N. H. 109; 1 Madd. Ch. Pr. 24; Fonbl. Eq. c. 1, § 3.' And the court added that 'under the authorities cited the lower court might have directed a re-execution of the deed of trust; but, as its powers were fiexible, it could accomplish the same object by a declaratory decree, establishing the existence of the deed in question. 2 Pom. Eq. Jur. § 827; Garrett v. Lynch, 45 Ala. 204; 1 Pom. Eq. Jur. §§ 171, 429.'

Many other authorities to the same purport might be cited. They are only illustrative of the remedies afforded by courts of equity to remove difficulties in the way of owners of property using and enjoying it fully, when, from causes beyond their control, such use and enjoyment are obstructed. The form of relief will always be adapted to the obstacles to be removed. The flexibility of decrees of a court of equity will enable it to meet every emergency. Here the embarrassments to the complainants in the use and enjoyment of their property are obvious and insuperable except by relief through that court. No existing rights of the defendants will be impaired by granting what is prayed, and the rights of the complainants will be placed in a condition to be available. The same principle which leads a court of equity, upon proper proof, to establish by its decree the existence of a lost deed, and thus make it a matter of record, must justify it, upon like proof, in declaring by its decree the validity of a title resting in the recollection of witnesses, and thus make the evidence of the title a matter of record. It is therefore ordered that the decree of the court below be reversed, and the cause remanded to that court, with directions to enter a decree declaring the title of the complainants to the premises described in their complaint, by adverse possession of the parties through whom they claim to be complete, and that the defendants be enjoined from asserting title to the said premises through their former owner. Each party to pay his own costs.

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