Marlatt v. Marlatt , 4 Pennyp. 91 ( 1884 )

the opinion of the Court was delivered by

Sterrett, J.

In this action for use and occupation, it was incumbent on plaintiff below to prove that the relation of landlord and tenant existed between him and defendant; that the latter occupied the premises in question with the assent, express or implied, of the former, and in subordination to his title as tenant by the courtesy, not claiming in his own right or adversely to the plaintiff. The action is grounded on a contract relation, the essential characteristics of which are recognition by the occupant of the owner’s title, and possession in subordination thereto, with his express or implied assent. As was said in Brolasky v. Ferguson, 12 Wright, 434, the proof of such relation may be either direct or presumptive. If the occupant of the premises has been in possession by permission of the owner, the law will presume a promise to pay a reasonable rent, though none has been expressly agreed upon. In such case, the contract is deduced from the assent of the owner, and the acts of the occupant in pursuance thereof ; but, when the occupant enters without any understanding with the owner, and without ids knowledge, there can be no basis for any implication of a contract to pay for the use of the premises. Tested by these principles, plaintiff below had no case, and defendant’s fifth point, in which the court was requested to instruct the jury, “That under all the evidence their verdict should be for defendant,” should have been affirmed. In his examination-in-chief, plaintiff testified in substance that defendant took possession of the house and lot on the death of his mother, in 1878, and has lived there ever since; that at one time he demanded possession of the premises, but defendant refused to surrender the same. On cross-examination, lie was asked: “When did you first ask Henry for rent, if you ever did?” His answer was, “I did not ask him for rent, because lie would not give me any that I know of.” And to the question, ‘ ‘ Hid lie ever agree to pay you any rent ?’ ’ lie replied, “No; I made no arrangement with Mm. All I wanted was to board there somewhere.” In the face of this testimony, and plaintiff had nothing better on which to rely, it was clearly impossible for the jury to find that any s.uch relation as that of landlord and tenant existed between the parties. On the contrary, the only inference that could be legitimately drawn by the jury from the evidence was, that on the death of his mother, defendant, as her devisee of the premises in question took, and retained possession thereof, in his own right, and not in subordination to the title of Ms father or any one else. In other words, plaintiff below failed to make out such a case as warranted a verdict in his favor. It is unnecessary to consider the specifications of error in detail.

Judgment reversed.