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121 Mich. 206

Case v. Skinner

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided September 12, 1899

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1899-09-12

<p>1. Tax Sales — Validity of Degree — Collateral Attack.</p> <p>The question of the validity of the decree in a tax proceeding, because it does not show an adjudication of any sum of money against the land, may be raised in a suit to set aside the deed based upon the decree.</p> <p>2. Quieting Title — Possession.</p> <p>Possession of land which is only such as is incident to the removal of timber therefrom is not such possession as will prevent an adverse claimant from maintaining a bill to quiet his title.</p>

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently March 1900

1 state decisions

Relies on Millard v. Truax · Dawson v. Peter · McKinnon v. Meston

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Affirmed · Decided 1899-09-12

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Hooker, J.

¶1The complainant, being owner of the government title of the premises in controversy, consisting of wild land, filed the bill in this case to restrain the defendant from removing the timber therefrom, and to remove a cloud from the title, growing out of a tax deed held by the defendant.

¶2The decree upon which defendant’s deed rests is alleged to be void because it does not show an adjudication of any sum of money against the land. We do not see that this is disputed, but it is claimed that the question cannot be raised in this suit; but it is held otherwise in the cases of Millard v. Truax, 99 Mich. 157; Taylor v. Deveaux, 100 Mich. 582; McKinnon v. Meston, 104 Mich. 644; Dawson v. Peter, 119 Mich. 274.

¶3It is contended, further, that the bill should be dismissed because it appears that the defendant was in possession when the bill was filed, and therefore entitled to a trial of his right in a court of law. We are satisfied from the proofs that defendant’s alleged possession was only such as was incident to removing the timber,' which he appears to have prepared to do before he obtained his tax deed, and proceeded with expeditiously. As in the case of McKinnon v. Meston, supra,we think the court was justified in finding that the defendant was not in possession.

¶4The decree of the circuit court is affirmed, with costs.

The other Justices concurred.
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