Hancock Oil Co. v. Independent Distributing Co.
Supreme Court of California
150 P.2d 463 (Cal. 1944)
Relevant factsFree
Hancock Oil Co. and R.R. Bush Oil Co. (plaintiffs) leased land from the Hopkinses (defendants), and $1,500 in landowner's royalties accrued. Independent Distributing Co. (defendant) sued, claiming the Hopkinses held the property in trust for it and that it was owed the royalties instead. The lessee-plaintiffs sought to interplead the Hopkinses and Independent to determine who was truly owed the rent. The trial court sustained the defendants' demurrers to the interpleader action, and the plaintiffs appealed.
IssueFree
Whether a plaintiff's obligation to pay rent to one of the parties it seeks to interplead constitutes an independent liability for purposes of deciding whether to allow the interpleader.