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27 Jones & S. 19

Townshend v. Bogert

The Superior Court of New York City

Decided January 5, 1891

The Superior Court of New York City · decided 1891-01-05

<p> Partition, action of proper parties thereto. </p> <p>This action is in partition and, as against the defendants, now appellants, the complaint alleges: “ That the said defendants claim some right, title or interest in said premises, the exact nature of which is unknown to plaintiff, and which is a cloud upon the title of said premises,” and asks •judgment that they have not any right, title or interest, claim or demand, of, to, or upon, or against said premises or any part thereof,” and that said defendants “ be forever barred and foreclosed by the sale,” etc. A good cause of action for partition is set forth as against the other defendants. The defendants (now appellants) demurred to the complaint (1.) That it did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. (2.) For improper joinder of causes of action not affecting all the parties. The court at special term overruled the demurrer.</p> <p>Held, That actions of partition are regulated by the Code of Civil Procedure, sections 3532 to 1595, inclusive. Sections 1538 to 1540, inclusive, contain the provisions as to the proper parties to such an action. Section 1538 provides who must be made parties, but the provisions of the latter section, do not apply to these defendants (appellants). Sections 1539 and 1540 provide who may be made parties (at the election of plaintiff). There is no provision made in any of these sections for making a person who merely claims an interest in the property a party. Before a person can be properly made a party to such an action, he must either have an estate in the premises or in some portion thereof, or he must have alien or interest which attaches to the entire property or to an undivided share or interest therein, and the share or interest of each defendant must appear from the complaint. Section 447 of the Code of Procedure does not permit the plaintiff in an action of partition to include and make a person a party to the action who claims adversely to the plaintiff and compel such person as a party to litigate his interest in the property in the action of partition. An action in partition cannot be instituted and maintained to determine the title to real property or to ascertain who holds the legal title thereto. It cannot be made a substitute for an action in ejectment or other action to establish the legal title of adverse claimants to real estate. If the allegations of the complaint were sufficient to maintain an action to declare the interest claimed by the defendant a cloud upon the title to the premises, or to compel a determination of a claim of defendant to some estate therein, ye.t neither of these causes of action could be joined with a cause of action for a partition of real estate. The demurrer should have been sustained.</p>

Relies on Van Schuyver v. . Mulford

Decided 1891-01-05

By the Court.—Ingraham, J.

¶1The action is for a partition of real property. The complaint alleges that the property described is held in common by the plaintiff and the defendants, Townshend and Lock-woods, and that the • appellants claim some “ right, title or interest in said premises, the exact nature of which is unknown to plaintiff and which is a cloud upon the title to said premises.” Judgment is demanded for a sale of the property, and that the proceeds thereof be divided among the parties named as the owners thereof, and that it be adjudged that this defendant has not - a right, title or interest, claim or demand for, to or in or upon or against said premises or any part thereof, and that the defendants and all *27persons claiming under or through them be barred of all right, title and interest in said premises in possession, reversion, remainder or otherwise.

¶2This defendant demurs on the grounds, first, that the complaint fails to state facts constituting a cause of action against this defendant, and, second, that causes of action have been improperly united. If the action be considered as an action of partition only, I do not think the complaint states a cause of action against the appellant. Actions of partition are regulated by the Code of Civil Procedure. Section 1532 to section 1595, inclusive; sections 1538 to 1540, inclusive, contain the provisions as to the proper parties to such an action. Section 1538 provides who must be made parties. The provisions of that section do not apply to this defendant. Section 1539 provides that plaintiff may at his election make a tenant in dower, or by curtesy, or for life, or for years, of the entire property, or a person having a lien or interest which attaches to the entire property, a defendant in the action. And section 1540 provides that a person having a lien on an undivided share or interest in the property may be made a defendant. It will be seen that no provision is made for making a person who merely claims an interest in the property a party. Before a person can be made a proper party to such an action, he must either have an estate in the premises or in some portion thereof, or he must have a lien or interest which attaches to the entire property, or to an undivided share or interest therein, and the share or interest of each defendant must appear from the complaint. Nor do I think that section 447 of the Code allows the plaintiff in an action of partition to make a person who claims adversely to the plaintiff’s title a party and compel him to litigate his interest in the property in such an action. That section provides that any person may be made a party defendant who has or claims an *28interest in the controversy adverse to the plaintiff:, or who is a necessary party defendant for the complete determination or settlement' of a question involved therein.

¶3There is no controversy involved in this action in which a person who claims adversely to the title of the plaintiff: and his co-tenants in common has an interest. The action is not to determine the title to real property, or to ascertain who holds the legal title.

¶4It is well-settled that an action for partition cannot be made a substitute for an action of ejectment or other action to establish the legal title of adverse claimants to real property (Van Schuyver v. Mulford, 59 N. Y. 430 ; Esterbrook v. Savage, 21 Hun, 151), and as no such issue can be tried in such an action there is no controversy therein in which a person who has a claim to the property adverse to the plaintiff’s title has an iiiterest.

¶5The allegations of the complaint are not sufficient to maintain an action to declare the interest claimed by this defendant a cloud upon the title, or an action to compel the determination of a claim to real property, but if the allegation were sufficient it is clear that neither of these causes of action could be joined with a cause of action for a partition. I think, therefore, that the order and judgment appealed from should be reversed and the demurrer sustained.

¶6Sedgwick, Ch. J., concurred.

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