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50 Vt. 11

Avery v. Hall

Supreme Court of Vermont

Decided August 15, 1877

Supreme Court of Vermont · decided 1877-08-15

<p> Ejectment. Ouster. </p> <p>Plaintiff became entitled under levy of execution and set-off to an undivided part of certain land, tbe residue of which defendant owned and tlie whole of which she occupied. Afterwards, and before suit brought, plaintiff’s attorney demanded possession of the premises of defendant for plaintiff, according to plaintiff’s right; to which defendant replied that she wanted to pay the debt and judgment, and did not want to give up the premises. There was no other evidence that defendant had refused to allow plaintiff to enjoy the premises with her according to his right. Meld, no denial of plaintiff’s right, and no ouster.</p>

Relies on Dodge v. Page

Decided 1877-08-15

¶1The opinion of the court was delivered by

Barrett, J.

¶2From the time the plaintiff’s title accrued, he was entitled as tenant in common with the defendant. The defendant was then in possession, and continued thereafter in possession. She was holding for herself and co-tenant. She would not be holding adversely to him until she had manifested effectually that she was in fact holding in exclusion of him, and in denial of his right. The true idea is well illustrated in Dodge v. Page, 49 Vt. 137.

¶3In this case the evidence and facts fail to show or constitute a denial of his right by the defendant, or that she was claiming to be in possession in exclusion of him according to his right. She was rightfully in possession in virtue of her title as tenant in common, and was under no obligation to give up actual possession. She was holding ‘‘per my, et per tout," and was entitled so to hold till partition should be made. What she said, therefore, is to be construed as only expressing a hope that she might be able to pay off a debt and judgment in virtue of which the plaintiff had become tenant in common with her. This was no denial of right, or even of co-possession.

¶4Judgment reversed, and judgment for defendant.

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