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12 N.H. 489

Leavitt v. Wallace

Superior Court of New Hampshire

Decided January 15, 1842

Superior Court of New Hampshire · decided 1842-01-15

Complaint, to recover the possession of a tract of land in Moultonborough, under the act of July 1, 1831, “ providing further remedies for landlofds and tenants.” The respondent, Meribah Wallace, pleaded that she held the land in her own right. The complainant replied an estoppel. The case was submitted to the determination of the court upon a statement of facts. The summons was dated December 21, 1839.

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1842-01-15

How this case has been cited

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently February 1926

3 state decisions

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Later decisions citing this case, by decade. The current decade is in progress, and our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so the latest bars are undercounted — not a real decline.

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Parker, C. J.

¶1The disclaimer of the respondent, in the action in favor of Moody, if regularly put in, is binding upon her, and she is estopped to set up any title against the complainant, who is privy in estate, unless it be one acquired subsequently. 4 N. H. Rep. 182, Hamilton vs. Elliot.

¶2If she were duly summoned in that suit, which has not been denied, the appearance by an attorney of the court must be taken to have been regularly made, at least until the contrary is shown. 9 Wheat. R. 830, Osborn vs. U. S. Bank; 1 Binn. R. 214, McCullock vs. Guetner.

¶3And it is said the court will not inquire whether the attorney had a good authority, if he be responsible, but leaves *493the party to his action against him. Com. Dig., Attorney, B. 7; 1 Salk. 86, Anon. ; 7 Pick. R. 137, Smith vs. Bowditch.

¶4But if the attorney be irresponsible, the court will set aside the judgment. 1 Salk. 88, Anon. So, if there be fraud, or collusion. Or the court may permit the defendant to come in and make a defence. 6 Johns. R. 296, Denton vs. Noyes.

¶5If the respondent did not authorize an appearance, a default and judgment against her should have been entered, which would have had the same operation upon the title.

¶6But the act of July 1, 1831, providing further remedies for landlords and tenants, is confined to those cases where there has been a tenancy, and is not to be applied to cases where the respondent holds adversely, and the relation of landlord and tenant has never existed. The title of the act indicates this. And the language in several places, in the act itself, shows that this is the true construction of it.

¶7As it appears here that no tenancy had ever existed, on the part of the respondent, under the title set up by the complainant, this proceeding cannot be sustained, notwithstanding the disclaimer.

¶8Judgment for the respondent.

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