78 Ga. 742 | Ga. | 1887
The administrators filed a bill for direction and to marshal assets. To that bill a great number of creditors were parties defendant. The administrators were interested personally, they being creditors as well as representatives of the estate. The litigation was referred to an auditor, who made a report. That report settled the priorities of all the creditors, save one. The report was excepted to by the administrators, with regard to the standing of three of
The general rule that all parties below must be made parties here, is sought to be evaded on the theory that those not served are not interested in what is now going on, but it seems to us that they are vitally interested. They have a decree in their favor below; and if this writ of error prevails,, that decree will be opened. . They have a judgment settling their status ; with that they seem to be content. The suggestion that their interest is on the side of the plaintiffs in error, makes the plaintiffs in error judge of their interest, instead of leaving them to judge of it themselves. They must have thought that their interest was to abide by the decree; because they have not excepted to it. It will undoubtedly change their status for this decree to be opened; it will deprive them of the benefit of the decree, involve them in further litigation or in its consequences, and delay them in collecting their dues until that litigation is determined. The difference is between allowing them to abide by a judgment with which they are content, and destroying that judgment. If this writ of error does not result in affecting that judgment, of course it will be a fruitless writ of error; the effort is to open the decree and set the case adrift in the court below;
The act of 1880 (addenda to the code, page 9, §4:272(h) ) does not dispense with any party who is interested in sustaining the judgment of the court below. As to every such party, the act leaves the prior law untouched.
The motion to dismiss the writ of error is granted.
Writ of error dismissed.