Peck v. . Culberson

This action was begun in the Superior Court, and plaintiff asked judgment for $100 balance due on a note given for the purchase money of land, and that the land be condemned for the payment thereof. The defendant answered, admitting purchase of the land and execution of the notes, but alleged a failure of consideration, in that the plaintiff had falsely and fraudulently represented that the title to the land was perfect, when he well knew it was not, and by reason of such defective title he had been damaged more than the $100 balance claimed on the purchase money, and set up a counterclaim. The reply denied all the allegations of the answer. The plaintiff filed an amendment to the complaint, setting up that he had brought suit for this same cause (426) of action at first before a magistrate; that defendant had filed the same defense there as in this case, and in writing, and asked to have the action dismissed because title to real estate would come into controversy, and offered proof; that the magistrate had refused the motion and gave judgment for $100 in favor of plaintiff; that on appeal by defendant to the Superior Court, Gudger, J., had reversed the magistrate's judgment and dismissed the action on the ground that title to land was in controversy. Thereupon plaintiff had begun this action in the Superior Court, and he invoked the benefit of section 838 of the Code. There was no answer filed to the amended complaint. The presiding judge, being of the opinion that the complaint did not disclose any equitable element, but was a simple action for the recovery of a sum less than $200, held that the Superior Court had no original jurisdiction, and dismissed the action, and plaintiff appealed. This was an action for a balance of $100 due on a note given for the purchase money of land, and though the plaintiff asks in his complaint that the land be condemned for the payment of his debt, the jurisdiction is determined, not by the remedy he asks, but by what the facts alleged in his complaint will entitle him to demand. There is no vendor's lien for purchase money of land in this State. Womble v. Battle, 38 N.C. 182;Cameron v. Mason, 42 N.C. 187; Simmons v. Spruill, 56 N.C. 9. The Constitution does not change this, but simply provides that no property shall be exempt from sale under execution issued on a debt contracted for the purchase thereof. Smith v. High, 85 N.C. 93.

Upon the original complaint it is clear the Superior Court had (427) no jurisdiction unless title to land is in controversy, as there was no equitable element set out, and the "sum demanded" was less than $200. Code, sec. 834. The plaintiff relies upon his amended complaint, which is not denied, and claims that by reason of the judgment in the former action that title to land is in controversy, that fact is already adjudicated between the parties. Section 838 of the Code, in substance, provides that when an action is begun before a magistrate, and the defendant pleads that title to real estate is in controversy, and upon proof the action is dismissed upon that ground, the plaintiff may prosecute an action for the same cause in the Superior Court, and the defendant shall not be admitted in that court to deny the jurisdiction.

It is true that in this case the magistrate overruled the defendant's plea, but on an appeal by the defendant to the Superior Court that court found that the title to real estate was in controversy, and dismissed the action on that finding, as appears by the judgment. Such action of the Superior Court, reversing the magistrate's judgment, has in purview of section 838 exactly the same effect as if the judgment of dismissal had been originally entered in the magistrate's court, as the appellate court declared should have been done. The judgment that a magistrate's court did not have jurisdiction of this same cause of action, and that title to real estate would come in controversy, was procured by defendant's persistence, and in a suit between himself and the plaintiff. It is res judicata. It may be that such judgment was erroneously made, but that cannot be inquired into in this collateral way.

It would be hard to imagine a case in which section 838 would apply, if not to this. It would be a hardship if a defendant could have an action dismissed by a magistrate on his plea that title to real estate is in question, and then, when suit is brought by the same plaintiff for the same cause of action in the Superior Court, he should be allowed to plead that title to the land did not come in (428) controversy, and have the cause dismissed there. To prevent such absurdity this statute was passed, so that if, on defendant's motion, it is adjudged in the magistrate's court that title to real estate will come in controversy, such finding shall be conclusive between same parties in the new action. A somewhat similar rule prevails in criminal actions when the defendant pleads, in abatement to the jurisdiction, that the indictment is pending in the wrong county. If such plea is found for defendant, and the cause is removed to the county suggested by him, this is conclusive upon a trial in the latter county (Code, sec. 1194); and on a plea in abatement for a misnomer, if the name set up by defendant is admitted or found for him, it is conclusive and cannot be afterwards denied.

It was error to dismiss the action, and the court should have proceeded to a trial upon the merits.

Reversed.