Christy v. Scott
United States Supreme Court
55 U.S. 282 (1852)
Christy (plaintiff) possessed a tract of land that Scott (defendant) forcibly took from him after the United States acquired the territory from Mexico; Christy sued for wrongful ejection, and Scott, rather than claiming his own title, argued that if Christy held any title at all, it was invalid because the State of Texas actually held true legal title — even though Scott himself had no connection to or authorization from Texas. The district court ruled for Scott, and Christy appealed.
Whether a person in possession of land without holding formal legal title may protect that possession against an intruder who also lacks title and who attempts to defend his intrusion by asserting a third party's superior title.