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40 Mich. 639

Carpenter v. Smith

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided April 24, 1879

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1879-04-24

<p>Error to Kent.</p> <p>Trespass. Defendant brings error.</p>

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently October 1936

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1879-04-24

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Graves, J.

¶1The plaintiffs in error acting under authority of the officers of the school district proceeded to remove the school house from the site it had some time occupied, and defendant in error who held the fee simple of the site sued them in trespass. The case was sent to a referee, who found the facts and held as matter of law that Mrs. Smith was entitled to judgment for five dollars and costs of suit. The circuit court affirmed the report and entered judgment accordingly, and defendants brought error.

¶2The case appears plain. It is true Mrs. Smith had not leased the site, and in fact claimed the building and the right to enter. But the finding, we think, is clear that at the time of the alleged trespass, and for some years prior thereto, the district was in the actual entire and undisturbed possession.

¶3Such being the ease, the act of the plaintiffs in error under the authority of the district was not an act of *641unlawful force or of trespass against Mrs. Smith or any body else. Her possession was not disturbed, because she had none. The action was not maintainable. 1 Chitty’s Pl. [16 Am., from 7 Eng. ed.], pp. 71, 72 et seq.; Cooley on Torts, 437, 438; 1 Addison on Torts, 302, 289, 290; 2 Hilliard on Torts, 14.

¶4The judgment must be reversed, and one entered here for plaintiff in error with costs of both courts.

The other Justices concurred.
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