Henderson v. Allen

Crocker, J. delivered the opinion of the Court—Norton, J. concurring.

This action was commenced before a Justice of the Peace, the plaintiff claiming to be the owner of a certain tract of land containing a coal mine, which he had leased to the defendant, Clark, under whom the other defendants claimed, and put him into possession, ■under an agreement by which the plaintiffwas to have one-third of the coal taken from the mine in opening the same. The complaint avers that the term of the lease had expired, and the defendants refused to surrender the possession, and prays for restitution. The defendants Allen and Lander, filed an answer, denying the allegations of the complaint, and set up that they were the owners of the premises ; that the title was necessarily involved, and prayed that the cause be certified to the District Court for trial. The cause was afterwards so transferred, and at the trial, in the District Court, a judgment of nonsuit was rendered against the plaintiff; from which, and from a motion refusing a new trial, he takes this appeal.

The first point we will notice is, that the District Court had no jurisdiction of the action, it having been commenced before a Justice of the Peace. It is doubtful whether, in an action purely for a forcible entry or detainer, the title can be involved in the controversy, the question being one relating solely to the possession. This Court seems to have held both ways upon this point. (Larue v. Gaskins, 5 Cal. 507; Dickinson v. Maguire, 9 Id. 50.) But where the action is against a tenant and others for unlawfully holding over lands after the termination of a lease, and other actions not founded upon a forcible entry or detainer, the title may properly become involved, in some cases, and the statute authorizing their removal to the District Court would be applicable. ( Cullen v. Langridge, 17 Cal. 67.) This point is therefore overruled.

It is objected that the plaintiff was entitled to a judgment in the Justice’s Court, for want of a sufficient answer. The answers deny generally the allegations of the complaint, and this was sufficient in [521]an action before a Justice of the Peace, where the strict rules of pleading do not apply. Secs. 19 and 20 of the act under which this action-was brought, fully provide for such cases, the latter providing that “ all matters of excuse, justification, or avoidance of the allegations of the complaint, may be given in evidence under the answer.” The objection that the defendants had no right to file an amended answer in the District Court, is not well taken.