{
  "id": 8682510,
  "name": "REBECCA A. CHEATHAM v. JAMES A. CREWS and others",
  "name_abbreviation": "Cheatham v. Crews",
  "decision_date": "1883-02",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "38",
  "last_page": "40",
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      "cite": "88 N.C. 38"
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  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
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    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
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    {
      "cite": "2 Jones' Eq., 230",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Jones Eq.",
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        8689223
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      "cite": "83 N. C., 313",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
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      "cite": "2 Jones' Eq., 230",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Jones Eq.",
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        8689223
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:18:01.131102+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "REBECCA A. CHEATHAM v. JAMES A. CREWS and others."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Smith, C. J.\nIn dividing the lands devised by James Crews to bis eight children in the manner pointed out in the will, the, plaintiff was awarded a share, lot No. 2, then supposed to contain 129 acres, and at a valuation by the acre amounting to the aggregate sum of $838.50. Some four years later, it was discovered that there was a mistake in the estimated number of acres, there being only 78^ acres in the lot and a deficiency of 50-J acres.\nTo correct this error and restore equality in the partition, the plaintiff instituted this action; and when the case was before us on a former appeal (83 N. C., 313), it was declared that: the apportionment must stand, and that the plaintiff was entitled to compensation in money for the value of the deficiency in the estimated area of her part.\nThe present appeal, from a ruling of the court sustaining the defendants\u2019 exception to the referee\u2019s report, in which the sum to be contributed for equality in the division is estimated upon the basis of the present value of the land, brings up for decision the question whether the land is to be valued as of the date of the partition, or at the period when the estimate is made by the referee. Upon the former basis, the sum to be contributed, as ascertained by the court, will be $328,25; upon the latter, in consequence of appreciation in value, it will be increased to $750.\nWe were referred to no adjudicated oases bearing upon the point, in the argument of counsel, and our own researches have been alike fruitless. \u25a0\nThe cases which have come under our observation recognize fully the right of a tenant in partition, whose share in part is found to consist of property not held in common, to seek redress for his loss in compensation obtained from the others, as in Dacre v. Gorges, 2 Sim. and Stu., 453; or in case of eviction from a portion by one having a superior title. Sawyer v. Cator, 8 Hump., 256; Ross v. Armstrong, 25 Texas, 372; Freeman on Co. and Part., \u00a7 533.\nThe right to compensation seems to be put upon the ground of an implied warranty attaching to each share from all the others.\nIn Nixon v. Lindsay, 2 Jones\u2019 Eq., 230, a partition of shares was made among the tenants in common by commissioners acting under a decree of the county court, and their report was confirmed. In the division were allotted to the plaintiff two slaves, one of whom, valued at $400, was then sick, but the disease was supposed to be temporary and not affecting her value. But it proved to be a deep and fatal disease, causing death in two mouths thereafter, notwithstanding the best medical treatment and care. The bill was filed to obtain contribution for the loss, and the plaintiff\u2019s equity declared, upon two grounds: 1st, of an implied warranty of title and soundness in the partition of chattels held in common as to each share; and 2d, of a mutual mistake, which will be corrected to give effect to the manifest intent of the parties. It was accordingly decreed that the plaintiff should have contribution from\u2019the others for the value of the slave, loss of services, and expenses incurred in the last illness of the slave. This value we suppose to be that fixed by the commissioners, or else there would not have been added the other loss in service and expenditure; and this seems to be the equitable and reasonable relief to which the plaintiff was entitled.\nIf the partition of the land in the present case had been made with full knowledge of the number of acres contained in the plaintiff\u2019s lot, and without objection thereto on her part, she being content to have it made equal in value to the others, by an assessment on them to be paid in money, it is obvious the estimate would have to be made of the value of the deficient land, as of the land divided, ascertained at the time.\nOur refusal to disturb the division, requires to be done now what ought.to have been done then, and this is to give the plaintiff a sum of money which would have produced equality in the division, when made, with interest since accrued.\nIf lands thus situated had fallen in market value, the plaintiff, who might have averted loss by converting her share into money, ought not to suffer loss from depreciation, and for the same reason she ought not to have an increase from their subsequent advancement. All that the plaintiff can reasonably ask in relief from the consequences of a common mistake, when a new partition cannot be made, is to be restored to the right of compensation as it then existed, and not as affected by subsequent events.\nWe therefore affirm the ruling of the court and declare there is no error.\nNo. error. Affirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Smith, C. J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Messrs. Merrimon & Fuller, for plaintiff.",
      "Mr. J. B. Batchelor, for defendants."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "REBECCA A. CHEATHAM v. JAMES A. CREWS and others.\nTenants in Common.\nIn partition of land, equality must be had by compensation in money for the deficiency, according to the value of the land at the time of division. The right to such compensation arises out of an implied- warranty attaching to each share from all the others.\n(Nixon v. Lindsay, 2 Jones\u2019 Eq., 230, cited and approved).\nCivil ActioN tried, upon exceptions to a referee\u2019s report, at Fall Term, 1882, of GRANVILLE Superior Court, before Shipp, J.\nPlaintiff appealed.\nMessrs. Merrimon & Fuller, for plaintiff.\nMr. J. B. Batchelor, for defendants."
  },
  "file_name": "0038-01",
  "first_page_order": 54,
  "last_page_order": 56
}