Schwartz v. Stock , 26 Nev. 155 ( 1901 )

The facts sufficiently appear in the opinion. By this action, under the complaint as originally filed, the appellant seeks, as the surviving partner of the firm of Stock Schwartz, an alleged copartnership, to recover a judgment against the respondent, the executrix of the last will and testament of William Stock, the deceased partner, for the conversion of certain property alleged to be the property of said firm.

The answer makes the same issues as those presented in the case of Schwartz v. Stock (No. 1592) 65 P. 351, 26 Nev. 128, to recover the possession of certain alleged partnership property, submitted and decided at this term; and the record presents the same questions passed upon in that case, with one exception.

It will, therefore, be necessary to discuss but one question raised in this action in addition to the questions discussed and passed upon in the other case, and that question involves the statute of limitations interposed as a plea to the amended complaint, setting up the joint ownership of the property in controversy.

The original complaint alleging the copartnership was drawn upon the assumption that the respondent, as executrix, had converted the property for which judgment is asked, but the proof showed that William Stock, deceased, had, in his lifetime, sold and disposed of the same. Upon this showing the appellant was permitted to amend the complaint showing conversion by the deceased.

Not being willing or able to reverse the judgment upon the claim that the evidence established the partnership relation for the reasons given in the other appeal, the only question to be considered is, was the right to recover in this action for conversion barred by the four-year provision of Section 3722 of the Compiled Laws?

The facts controlling this question are the same as presented in the other appeal. The denial by Stock in August, 1895, of the title of Schwartz to the property, and his exclusion therefrom, and from the management and control thereof, and from the sharing of the necessary expenses thereto and the profits thereof, from that date, are presented by this record. Four years' time had not elapsed from the time of the exclusive appropriation of the property in 1895 to the time of Stock's death, or to the time of the filing the original complaint, but more than four years had elapsed from the time of such appropriation up to the time of filing the amended complaint, claiming right to recover as a cotenant.

In this case, as in the other, we do not decide, nor intend to decide, that, under the facts of the record, this action will lie; but, if the appellant had any right of action under a claim of joint ownership, it accrued on the 10th day of August, 1895, at the time of the exclusive appropriation by Stock.

It may be stated as a general rule that the action of trover will not lie in favor of one tenant against his cotenant for the mere detention or exclusive use of the common property, but it is otherwise where one tenant has lost or destroyed the property, or so converted it or appropriated it to his own use as to render any further enjoyment by his cotenant impossible, or when one tenant takes the exclusive possession of the common property, and denies the right or title of his cotenant thereto, as shown in this case. (Webb v. Mann, 3 Mich. 139;Bray v. Bray, 30 Mich. 479; Grove v. Wise, 39 Mich. 161; Williams v.Rogers, 110 Mich. 418; 17 Am. Eng. Enc. Law, 2d ed. 700, 701.)

The appellant never, so far as the record shows, sought to assert his right under the claim of joint ownership in the amended complaint until the 7th day of February, 1900, more than four years after the exclusive appropriation of the common property by William Stock; and it is well settled that, where a new cause of action is brought in by amendment, the statute runs until the amendment is made and filed. (Holmes v. Trout, 7 Pet. 171; Anderson v. Mayers, 50 Cal. 525; Atkinson v.Canal Co., 53 Cal. 102; Nugent v.Adsit, 93 Mich. 462; 1 Enc. Pl. Prac. 622, and cases cited in note.)

If this action will lie against the legal representative of William Stock, and if the running of the statute was interrupted by the death of Stock, under the provisions of Section 3727 of the Compiled Laws, even then it was barred, as the appellant did not assert his right to recover under the claim of joint ownership for more than a year after letters testamentary had been issued to the respondent. (Wick v. O'Neale, 2 Nev. 303.)

For the reasons given, the judgment and order of the lower court must be affirmed.