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4 Cal. 68

Hicks v. Davis

California Supreme Court

Decided January 15, 1854

California Supreme Court · decided 1854-01-15

<p>1 Ejectment — Possessson as Evidence oe Title__In actions for the recovery of land, possession is prima fade evidence of title, and this principle is firmly fixed in all common law jurisprudence.</p> <p>Idem — Possession a Question oe Pact. — To depart from the strictest simplicity and directness in the application of the rule, tends to destroy its value. The question as to the possession and identity of the land, should he left to the jury.</p> <p>Injunction — Natube oe Pbocess__The injunction is a mere remedial process, and when the party obtaining it has also obtained judgment upon his cause, the Court will not revise the propriety of granting the writ.</p>

Decided 1854-01-15

Mr. Justice Heydeneeldt

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.

Mr. Ch. J. Murray concurred.

¶2A great many questions were raised in the argument upon this record, but the simple proposition on which the case must be decided, makes it unnecessary to review them seriatim.

¶3The action is for the' recovery of land, upon a claim of title based upon prior uninterrupted possession for several years. We have always determined that possession is prima facie evidence of title, and this principle is firmly fixed in all common law jurisprudence. That its efficacy has been impaired by modifications and conditions, by some Judges, *70in other countries, is clearly manifested by the decisions But, unlike these, I see no reason to depart from the strictest simplicity and directness in the application of the [70] rule. If we should do * otherwise, we tend to destroy its value, and introduce perplexity and uncertainty, which must lead to endless and difficult refinements.

¶4' The question in this case was, then, properly left to the jury by the District Judge, as to the possession and the identity of the land, and upon the evidence, it was clearly the duty of the Court to refuse the nonsuit.

¶5To the shape of the verdict, to the mode of entering judgment, and to the decisions and charges of the Court, there are many exceptions, none of which, I conceive, are founded in sufficient good reason to require a separate consideration.

¶6The injunction is a merely remedial process, and where the party obtaining it has also obtained judgment upon his cause, thus establishing the right to the main relief applied for, we will not revise the propriety of granting the writ.

¶7Judgment affirmed.

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