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161 Mich. 80

Lamb v. Lamb

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided April 1, 1910

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1910-04-01

Trover by Nelson Lamb against Charles Lamb. A judgment for plaintiff is reviewed by defendant on writ of error. This is an action of trover, brought by plaintiff, to recover for a quantity of rye which he claims was unlawfully converted by defendant in the fall of 1908. Defendant had leased his farm to one Springs, who took possession thereof in March, 1906. Many controversies arose between defendant and Springs under the lease.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently October 1925

2 state decisions

Relies on Stevenson v. Woltman · Roush v. Darmstaetter

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Affirmed · Decided 1910-04-01

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Brooke, J.

¶1(after stating the facts). It is claimed by defendant that a verdict should have been directed in his favor, upon the ground that plaintiff, by his conduct at and before the time the contract (March 12, 1908) was entered into, has estopped himself from setting up any title to the rye in question. This point requires consideration only, if it is determined that Springs by his contract of March 12, 1908, attempted to convey his title to his one-half interest in the grain to defendant.

¶2It is not disputed by defendant that, either under the terms of the lease or of an oral agreement between himself and Springs, Springs owned a one-half interest therein at the time it was sown. Under familiar principles, this right of ownership would carry with it the right to harvest the grain, unless Springs parted with that right. Now, *84in March, with this 28 acres of rye growing upon defendant’s land, he and Springs enter into an agreement, under which Springs leaves his farm. Springs’ interest in the rye was of much greater value than any other single item on the place, yet no mention is made of it in the contract, while cattle, sheep, hogs, hay, and even chickens are carefully divided and accounted for. Nor does defendant claim that in the adjustment between himself and Springs any credit was allowed to Springs on account of his interest in the grain. He does claim, however, that the general language of the contract, “it shall be a full satisfaction of all claims, demands, suit, or any other demand whatsoever, manner or nature, which either party may have or believe he has against the other arising out of farm lease or otherwise,” clearly indicates that Springs intended (and he, defendant, so understood) to convey his title to the rye to defendant. We have been unable, after a careful reading of the entire record, to reach this conclusion. Defendant himself was not present when the division was made, and the contract executed by Springs. He was represented in the negotiations by his son and an attorney. It seems to us unlikely that the thing of most value which Springs possessed would have been omitted from the contract, if sale thereof had been contemplated by the parties. All those present at the time the contract was made agree that no mention whatever was made of the rye, either by defendant’s agents or by Springs or plaintiff. We conclude therefrom that in the settlement of March 12, 1908, no change in Springs’ title to the rye was intended to be effected. This conclusion renders it unnecessary to consider whether or not error was committed in the charge upon the question of estoppel.

¶3In this court defendant urges that plaintiff should have had recourse to the other property covered by his mortgage before proceeding against defendant for the value of the rye. *

¶4No requests to charge upon this point were preferred, and no error assigned. The question cannot now be raised *85in this court. Stevenson v. Woltman, 81 Mich. 200 (45 N. W. 825); Roush v. Darmstaetter, 113 Mich. 535 (71 N. W. 867); Cir. Ct. Rule 47 e. We find no prejudicial error.

¶5Judgment affirmed.

Hooker, Moore, McAlvay, and Stone, JJ., concurred.
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