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3 Johns. 471

Waldron v. M'Carty

New York Supreme Court

Decided November 15, 1808

New York Supreme Court · decided 1808-11-15

THIS was an action of covenant. The declaration set forth a deed, by which the defendant, on the 1st May, 1799, conveyed to the plaintiff, in fee, a certain parcel of land, and therein covenanted for himself and his heirs, “ the premises thereby bargained and conveyed, in the quiet and peaceable possession of the plaintiff, his heirs and assigns, forever to warrant and defend;” The plaintiff then averred, that at the time of executing the deed to him, the premiseS were…

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1808-11-15

How this case has been cited

Cited by 9 later decisions — most recently November 1904

8 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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Spencer, J.

¶1delivered the opinion of the court. The question submitted to our consideration is, whether, under the circumstances of this case, there is art eviction within the terms or spirit of the covenant. After a full examination of the cases relative to this point, and especially those cited on the argument, we do not find one, where an action of covenant has been brought on a covenant for quiet enjoyment, in which it is not expressly allegéd, that there was an entry and expulsion from the possession, or some actual disturbance in the possession. The allegation of an entry and expulsion are so much of the essence of the action, that there are several cases in which issue is taken on that fact, notwithstanding, in those very cases, a lawful title, superior to the one conveyed by the deed containing the covenant for quiet enjoyment, is alleged.* In good sense, the covenant for quiet enjoyment has reference merely to the undisturbed possession, and not to the grantor’s title. In the present case, judging from the deed, it was never the intention of the grantor to covenant, that the lands were free from incumbrance. From precedents, and as no authority has been shown, that the covenant for quiet enjoyment is broken by any othe? *474acts than an entry and eviction, or a disturbance of thq possession itself, we are of opinion that the demurrer is well taken. Whether there is any remedy by any other suit, or ^ an7 ot^er court, is not for us to inquire. It is enough that we are satisfied that the remedy now sought is not such as the law affords.

¶2The Court are, therefore, of opinion, that the defendí ant must have judgment.

¶3Judgment for the defendant.

¶4 1 Lev. 301. 2 Saund. 181 n. 10.

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