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67 Ill. App. 346

Ward v. Montgomery

Appellate Court of Illinois

Decided November 21, 1896

Appellate Court of Illinois · decided 1896-11-21

<p>1. Waiver—Form of Action.—A person who is entitled to bring an action in tort for the conversion of property may waive the tort and bring the same in assumpsit.</p> <p>2. Justices’ Courts—But one Form of Action.—There is but one form of action in justices’ courts.</p> <p>3. Demand for Possession— When unnecessary.—When the circumstances óf a case clearly evince that a demand for possession of personal property would have been disregarded and entirely unavailing, a formal demand before bringing suit for its valuéis unnecessary.</p>

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently April 1926

1 state decisions

Relies on Keller v. Robinson & Co.

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Affirmed · Decided 1896-11-21

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Mr. Presiding Justice Boggs

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.

¶2Appellee might have brought his action in tort, but we feel concluded by the case of Elgin v. Joslyn, 136111. 532, to hold he could waive the tort and bring assumpsit.

¶3Aside from this the justice had jurisdiction in actions for taking or detaining personal property, and there is but one form of action in such courts.

¶4Appellant had possession of the building, exercised acts of exclusive dominion over it, in denial of the right of appellee, and his conduct and the letter written by him to appellee clearly evinced a demand for possession would have been disregarded and entirely unavailing.

¶5A formal demand was therefore unnecessary. Keller v. Robinson, 153 Ill. 458; Cooley on Torts, 524, 525; 5th Amer. & Eng. Ency. of Law, p. 528, note 2.

¶6The contention of appellant he held possession under agreement with appellee, he should do so in order to secure to him the repayment of taxes paid by him upon the house, it and the lot having been assessed and taxed together, was submitted to the jury under instructions which are not questioned.

¶7The testimony on the point whether he was so authorized to possess himself of the building, was conflicting, and no reason appears we should assume to interfere with the finding of the- jury upon it.

¶8The judgment is affirmed.

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