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     This matter was called for trial on May 30, 2002. Plaintiff was represented by charlton Timothy. Clanry Likiaksa appeared for the Defendant. Takasy Shrew and Orlando Joseph testified on behalf of the Plaintiff. The Defendant did not present any witnesses.

     Based upon the evidence presented at trial, I conclude that the Defendant did commit the tort of trespass upon land owned by the Plaintiff, parcel 068-M-11, by planting crops. Defendant is liable to the Plaintiff for trespass. Accordingly, judgment must be entered in favor of the Plaintiff and against the Defendant. This Memorandum explains the Court’s reasoning for its decision and judgment.

     This case involves trespass claims. Plaintiff is the title holder to parcel 068-M-11, called

Takatae, Malem. The Certificate of Title to parcel 068-M-11 was issued to the Plaintiff in December 1997 by the Kosrae State Land Commission. Parcel 093-M-17 is located adjacent to parcel 068-M-11 and these two parcels share a common boundary. The Defendant is a claimant to ownership of parcel 093-M-17. A formal hearing took place in August 2000, however, no Determination of Ownership has been issued for parcel 093-M-17.

     The Defendant has planted crops on a portion of parcel 068-M-11, near the boundary with parcel 093-M-17. The Plaintiff did not give the Defendant permission to enter, clear, or plant crops on parcel 068-M-11.

      Plaintiff claims trespass by the Defendant. An action for trespass is a wrongful interference with another’s possessory interest in property. Jonah v. Kosrae, 9 FSM Intrm. 335 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 2000). The Court’s role in civil trespass is to determine which party has the greater possessory right to disputed property. Nelson v. Kosrae, 8 FSM Intrm. 397 (App. 1998). A trespass action is one for violation of possession, not for challenge to title. Ponape Enterprises v. Soumwei, 6 FSM Intrm. 341 (Pon. 1994).

     The Defendant has entered, cleared and planted crops inside the established boundaries of parcel 068-M-11, without consent of the owner, the Plaintiff. Through these actions, the Defendant has wrongfully interfered with the Plaintiff’s possessory interest in parcel 068-M-11.

     This Court’s role in this civil trespass action is to determine which party has the greater possessory interest to the disputed property. Based upon the Certificate of Title issued to the Plaintiff for parcel 068-M-11, the Plaintiff clearly has greater possessory interest to the disputed property. I conclude that the Defendant has trespassed upon and violated the possession of the Plaintiff’s property, parcel 068-M-11. The Defendant is therefore liable to the Plaintiff for his actions.

      Defendant raised the issue of due process as a defense to his clearing and planting activities on parcel 068-M-11. Defendant claims ownership of the adjacent parcel 093-M-17, for which a formal hearing took place in August, 2000. However, since no Determination of Ownership has been issued for that parcel, the Defendant remains merely a claimant for parcel 093-M-17 and holds no ownership status.

      Defendant claims that the Kosrae State Land Commission violated due process in the proceedings for parcel 068-M-11 because he, as a claimant to an adjacent parcel, was never given notice of hearing for parcel 068-M-11. This defense was never raised in the Defendant’s Answer. Indeed, Defendant’s Answer does not list any affirmative defenses. The Defendant’s Answer also does not raise any counterclaims, crossclaims or third party claims. The first time that Defendant raised this issue of due process was in Defendant’s Pre-trial Brief, filed shortly before trial.

      Defendant failed to raise any affirmative defenses in his answer, and failed to amend his answer to add any affirmative defenses. Defendant failed to assert any counterclaims, crossclaims or third party claims under KRCP Rules 13 and 14. Under KRCP 12(b), Defendant has waived and lost his right to assert affirmative defenses at trial. Defendant has also waived and lost his right to assert any counterclaims, cross-claims or third party claims at trial.

     A trespass action is one for violation of possession, not for challenge to title. Ponape Enterprises

v. Soumwei , 6 FSM Intrm. 341 (Pon. 1994). This proceeding, on Plaintiff’s claims for trespass, is not the proper proceeding to challenge Plaintiff’s title to parcel 068-M-11. The Defendant may challenge title to parcel 068-M-11 and allege due process violations through separate proceedings as appropriate.

       Judgment is entered in favor of the Plaintiff against the Defendant. The Plaintiff is the fee simple owner of parcel 068-M-11 and everything within its boundaries, as set forth in the Certificate of Title. A permanent injunction is hereby issued against the Defendant as follows:

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