Strickland v. Jackson, 134 S.E.2d 661 (N.C. 1964). · Go Syfert
Strickland v. Jackson, 134 S.E.2d 661 (N.C. 1964). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
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The jurisdictions noted in the annotation relieve a life tenant from legal liability to a contingent remainderman on various grounds, each tied to the uncertainty that the future interest ever will become possessory. 10 In order to prevent a contingent remainderman’s collection of damages “ ‘for that which may not be his’ ”; Sermon v. Sullivan, 640 S.W.2d 486, 487 (Mo. App. 1982); such jurisdictions limit contingent remaindermen to equitable remedies “ ‘to prevent the destruction of that which may become his.’ ” Id., 487-88 ; see Strickland v. Jackson, 261 N.C. 360, 361 , 134…
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HANNAH VESTER STRICKLAND and Husband, BOBBY STRICKLAND, JOHN MILTON VESTER and Wife, MADELINE VESTER, and FRANK LANE VESTER
v.
H. P. JACKSON and Wife, ANNIE S. JACKSON
94.
Supreme Court of North Carolina.
Feb 26, 1964.
134 S.E.2d 661
Sam B. Underwood, Jr., for plaintiff appellants. , James Hite for defendant appellees.
Per Curiam.
Cited by 3 opinions  |  Published
Per Curiam.

In 56 Am. Jur., Waste, section 13, page 459, it is said: “It is well settled that one entitled to a contingent remainder cannot maintain an action at law against the tenant in possession to recover damages for waste, for the reason that it cannot be known in advance of the happening of the contingency whether the contingent remainderman would suffer damage or loss by the waste; and if the estate never became vested in him, he would be paid for that which he had not lost.”

Plere, Thelma Jackson Yester was paid for that which she had not lost, since the contingent remainder never became vested in her. Strickland v. Jackson, supra.

This Court held in the case of Lumber Co. v. Lumber Co., 153 N.C. 49, 68 S.E. 929, that the life tenant and the remaindermen could by agree[*362] ment sell the timber on the lands occupied by the life tenant; but it is clear from the opinion that neither the life tenant nor the remaindermen could sell without the concurrence of the other.

In the instant case, the timber was sold pursuant to an agreement entered into between the life tenants and all the then surviving contingent remaindermen. Furthermore, there is no contention that the proceeds from the sale were not distributed pursuant to the terms of the agreement entered into by the interested parties. Such a sale would not constitute waste nor an irreparable injury to the inheritance within the accepted meaning of that term. Therefore, we hold that such a sale would not terminate the life tenancies or work a forfeiture thereof.

The order sustaining the demurrer is

Affirmed.