Seaton v. Davis

Mullin, P. J.

By section 5, of title 1, of chapter 1, of part 2 of the Revised Statutes, it is enacted that whenever “an estate in lands shall become vested in an infant, the guardianship of such infant, with the rights, powers and duties of a guardian in socage, shall belong to the father of the infant. If there be no father, to the mother.” By section 6, of the same article, all statutory provisions that are or shall be in force shall be deemed to apply to such guardian. It is said in McPherson on Infancy, 28, that “ It is the duty of a guardian in socage to take possession of the heir’s person and of the lands and tenements which he has by descent, and to receive the rents and profits for the heir. He has an actual estate and interest in the land, though not to his own use. Such a guardian, after entry, has the legal possession of the land to the use of the infant. * * * He may in his own name bring trespass or ejectment, distrain for damage feasant, or make a lease for years, and he may avow in his own name and right for rent upon a lease.” McPherson, 35; Holmes v. Seely, 17 Wend. 75, 78; Beecher v. Crouse, 19 id. 306.

In Holmes v. Seely, the action was ejectment in the name of the guardian in socage, and he was held entitled to recover.' In Beecher v. Crouse, the plaintiffs were minors, and brought the action by prochein ami for conversion, among other things, of a portion of the crops growing on the farm which had descended to them from their father, and which had been raised subsequent to his decease. It was held they could not recover, the guardian in socage, as the general guardian, must sue for such property. The minor who has a guardian in socage has no right of action to recover the possession of his lands, or the rents or profits thereof. The guardian alone can sue. The provision of section 115 of the Code has no application to the case. That section applies to actions in which minors may maintain an action in their own names. Plaintiff’s counsel insists that if plaintiff was not the proper party to bring the action, the objection should have been taken by demurrer or answer, and not being taken by either it is waived. By section 144 of the Code, a defendant may demur to the complaint, when it appears on the face of it that plaintiff has not legal capacity to sue. It does appear on the face of this complaint that the plaintiff, a minor, brings an action of ejectment to recover the possession of land, and the rents and profits thereof. It is manifest that the plaintiff'could not maintain such an action. The mother being guardian in socage should have sued. If she refused, then a general guardian should have been appointed, and the suit brought by such guardian; as the R. S. (3 R. S. 243, §§ 3, 10), authorizes the general guardian to bring all such actions as guardian in socage might bring. The case was one m which it was necessary for defendant to demur, and not having done so, the objection is waived.

The plaintiff was permitted to prove the value of the apples raised on the farm in 1870. The use of the house was conceded to be worth $49 per year. The referee gave judgment for $50 damages. The action was brought in a month after plaintiff’s right accrued. The witnesses testify that there are some sixty or seventy trees in the orchard, and they yielded, in that season, three bushels per tree; they were worth two shillings per bushel. The use of the premises would be $40 per month; and if there were sixty trees in the orchard the apples would come to $45. The two amounts are within a fraction of the amount of the damages for which judgment was given. To recover mesne profits under the Code in an action of ejectment, there must be a separate count therefor in the complaint. There is no such count in this complaint, and the plaintiff was not entitled to recover. But no objection was taken on that ground, and it must be held to be waived. We must hold the plaintiff entitled to recover for mesne profits, to the same extent that her guardian would be entitled to recover, were she the party plaintiff. The plaintiff in such case may recover mesne profits on the value of the use of the land, and to this where the evidence authorizes it, may be added such damages for the unlawful entry and holding, as the jury may see fit to give. Sedg. on Dam. 133; Dewey v. Osborn, 4 Cow. 329; Adams on Eject. 391.

The measure of damages in an action for mesne profits, the court of appeals holds, is the same that it is in an action of assumpsit for use and occupation. Holmes v. Davis, 19 N. Y. 488. The referee was wrong in allowing plaintiff any thing for the apples. That he did make such allowance is demonstrated by the reception of the evidence, of their value, against the defendant’s objection, and by the data above given as to the quantity and value. ■ .

The defendant as tenant for life was not entitled to the apples — they belonged to the heir, and the guardian alone could recover for them. The defendant was not entitled to notice to quit. The precise point was decided in Livingston v. Tanner, 14 N. Y. 64; Torrey v. Torrey, id. 430.

The judgment must be reversed, and a new trial ordered before another referee, with costs to abide the event.