Sumner v. Early. , 134 N.C. 233 ( 1904 )

This is a civil action, in which the plaintiffs aver that on 4 March, 1890, the plaintiffs and defendants entered into a written contract, set out in the complaint, whereby the plaintiffs, being the owners as tenants in common of certain lands described therein, and the defendants, being the owners of other lands, mutually agreed that all of said lands should be partitioned, and that they would select three disinterested men to make the partition, "as if they held said lands as tenants in common." The terms and provisions of said contract are set forth in detail in the paper writing, which is made a part of the complaint. The plaintiffs allege that the defendants refused to carry out and perform their part of the contract, whereas the plaintiffs have always been ready and willing to perform the contract on their part. They demand judgment that the contract be specifically performed, and that partition be made in accordance with the terms thereof. The defendants, in their answer, admit the execution of the contract, and aver matters in avoidance of the plaintiffs' right to have specific (234) performance and partition. At October Term, 1903, of the Superior Court of Hertford a jury was duly impaneled to try the issues raised by the pleadings whereupon the defendants moved to dismiss the action, for that the court had no jurisdiction the motion was allowed, and the plaintiffs appealed. The motion of the defendants is based upon the position that the plaintiffs' remedy for the refusal of the defendants to perform their contract was a special proceeding, of which the clerk had original jurisdiction. If the contract had contained appropriate words of conveyance, whereby the parties conveyed to each other the title to the lands described therein as tenants in common — that is, if it were an executed contract — the position of the defendants would have been correct. The contract is, however, executory, and the remedy upon it is for specific performance. If the court shall, upon a trial of the issues raised by the pleadings, adjudge that the plaintiffs are entitled to a decree, it will, in furtherance of the remedy, appoint commissioners to make partition, and thus give complete relief.

"When the title of a co-tenant is equitable merely, and he is entitled to a conveyance of the legal title, he may, by proper pleadings, assert his rights and obtain a decree of the court, compelling those in whom the legal title rests to convey according to the partition awarded. But when the sole purpose of the bill is to procure a partition, it will not be granted on the ground that the plaintiff is entitled to a conveyance. He must, first, in the same or an independent suit, obtain a decree declaring the right to a conveyance." Freeman on Co-tenants and Partition. sec. (235) 513. "A partition of lands among several joint owners will not be made unless those by whom the partition is sought have a legal title to the portions claimed by them. A party who has a mere equitable right to a conveyance of an undivided interest is not in a position to ask for a partition." Williams v. Wiggand, 53 Ill. 233. In that case it is said that in a bill for specific performance a prayer may be joined for partition, but when the sole purpose of the bill is for partition it will not be allowed merely on proof that the complainant is entitled to a conveyance.

No partition can be ordered until the equitable rights are determined and adjudged. It is well settled that the clerk, in the exercise of his statutory jurisdiction in special proceedings, may not administer equities or equitable relief. This jurisdiction is vested solely in the Superior Court in term. The language of Mr. Justice Davis, in Efland v. Efland,96 N.C. 488, is appropriate to and decisive of this appeal: "Equitable elements exist in this case and involve questions of law and fact which could not be adjudicated before the clerk, and which, under the old practice, would have been cognizable in a court of equity, and is properly a ``civil action,' within the definition of Pearson, C. J., in Tate v. Powe,64 N.C. 644." Pollard v. Slaughter 92 N.C. 72; 53 Am. Rep., 402; Partonv. Allison, 109 N.C. 674.

We therefore conclude that the action is properly brought. The defendants' motion to dismiss should have been denied. Judgment dismissing the action will be reversed, and the court will proceed to hear and determine the cause upon the pleadings.

Reversed. (236)