OCCUPANT

In a general sense. One who takes po e ion of a thing, o( which there is no owner; one who has the actual po e ion or control of a thing. In a special sense. One who takes po e ion of lands held pur autre vie, after the death of the tenant, and during the life ot the cestul que vie. -General occupant, At common law where a man was tenant pur autre vie or had an es- 1 tate granted to himself only (without mentioning his heirs) for the life of another man, and died without alienation during t!Ie life of cestwi. que vie, or him by whose life it was holden, he t!Iat could first enter on the land might lawfully retain the po e ion, s0; long as cuttd que vie lived, by right of occupancy, and was hence termed a "general" or common "occupant.". 1 Bteph. Comm. 415.-Special oaoupant. A 1,1ers on having a special right to enter upon and occupy lands granted pu.r a1'fre vie, on the death of the tenant, and during t!Ie life of r:estwi q1'6 vie. Where t!Ie grant is to a man ana his heir, during; the life of ceat114 q"" vie, the heir succeeds as special occupant, having a special exclusive right by t!Ie terms of the original grant. 2 BI. Comm. 259; 1 Steph. Comm. 416. Ooaupanth flu.at derellota. Things i,.bandoned _become the Pl'.Operty of the (first) o,<;i?upant. Taflor v. The Cato, 1 Pet. A4,m. 58, Fed. CU. ~o. l8,786. [s. 852]