Tatro v. Lehouiller

Defendants appeal from a superior court judgment finding them liable to plaintiffs for wrongfully resorting to self-help eviction. Defendants contend that the eviction comported with the rule of law laid down in Mead v. Owen, 80 Vt. 273, 67 A. 722 (1907), in that the relationship between the parties was that of master and servant rather than landlord and tenant as the trial court concluded. We disagree and affirm.

Plaintiff Maurice Tatro began working on defendants’ farm in April of 1981, receiving weekly wages and the right to occupy a tenant house on defendants’ farm in exchange for his…