299 Mass. 438 | Mass. | 1938
The plaintiffs seek to restrain the defendants from proceeding with a sale of certain real estate on levy of execution and for an accounting. The case was heard by a judge of the Superior Court, who made findings of facts in substance of this tenor: One Mary E. Byron died, testate, in October, 1927, leaving three parcels of real estate in Concord. Two of these parcels were specifically devised to certain plaintiffs, and the residue was devised in trust for certain minors whose guardian was a party to similar proceedings. The plaintiffs are devisees and representatives of devisees of these parcels of real estate. Charles M. Byron and the defendant Francis B. Byron were appointed executors of the will of the testatrix and qualified as such by giving bond on December 30, 1927. Charles M. Byron died on June 22, 1928, and since that time Francis B. Byron has been sole executor. At the time of the death of the testatrix, “she owed the defendant Concord National Bank the sum of $10,200 on a note secured collaterally by a mortgage. On January 21, 1928, the mortgage was paid and surrendered, and $6,700 was credited on the note.” One Prescott Keyes of Concord, an experienced attorney, was and still is the president of the Concord National Bank. He was also attorney for members of the Byron family and had the confidence of the family as a whole, and on the death of the testatrix became attorney for the executors of her
The appearance of the surviving executor and his consent to judgment were procured by and under the advice of Mr. Keyes. The executor knew that there was no defence on the merits to the claim of the bank, but he had no knowledge of the law as to his rights under the short statute of limitations. There was no valid reason for the delay in entering in court the case of the bank against the estate. The assent to the late entry given by the executor on December 29, 1928, became inoperative and valueless after the first Monday of March, 1929, which was the next entry day after the return day of the writ. Therefore, the executor might have had the action of the bank discontinued on motion, if properly advised. The trial judge found and ruled “that the appearance of the defendant executor on December 20, 1932, effected a waiver of his right to a discontinuance” and enabled the bank “to have the case proceed to judgment. At the time Mr. Keyes procured the appearance and confession of judgment by the executor, Mr. Keyes was both president of the plaintiff . . . and trusted attorney for the defendant executor. While acting in this dual capacity his advice to the executor resulted in the loss of a technical though substantial defence.” Judgment was entered in favor of the bank in accordance with an order of a judge of the Superior Court, and execution was taken out and given to the sheriff. There was no fraud on the part of Mr. Keyes in procuring the appearance and confession of judgment by the executor. He felt that the bank had a meritorious claim. In fact, it had such a claim. By reason of his relationship to both parties, Mr. Keyes was justified in having the claim of the bank “reduced to judgment. He knew or should have known the law in reference to the rights of an executor, and ... he [Mr. Keyes] was not justified in procuring the executor to appear and answer.” The bank “has obtained a valid and legal judgment. It is based on a meritorious claim. The executor might have avoided this judgment.” These facts must be accepted.
The trial judge made further findings as follows: “The remaining part of the case involves the failure of the executor Byron to sell the Main Street property shortly after the death of Mary E. Byron and while the real estate market was good so that the real estate devised to the specific devisees might have been exonerated. It is alleged that a conspiracy existed between the executor and his attorney, Mr. Keyes. I find no such conspiracy. At most, there was an error of judgment and it would be unfair to tax the executor in 1928 and 1929 with a knowledge which has only been gained by developments in the security market since then.”
A final decree was entered accordingly. The plaintiffs in one case did not perfect any appeal. That case need not be considered. It is provided by G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 197, § 9: “Except as provided in this chapter, an executor . . . shall not be held to answer to an action by a creditor of the deceased which is not commenced within one year from the time of his giving bond for the performance of his trust, or to such an action which is commenced but not entered within said year unless before the expiration thereof the writ in such action has been served by delivery in hand upon such executor ... or service thereof accepted by him.” The executor accepted service on the writ of the bank within the period prescribed by the short statute of limitations. It follows that no defence arising out of that statute was thereafter available to him. Garber v. Hirsh, 225 Mass. 422.
General appearance pro so, admission of the allegations of the declaration and “consent to judgment by an ordinary defendant, in an action at law in which the writ and declaration have been entered more than three years after the return day named in the writ, where service of the writ has been accepted prior to the return day, render valid and binding upon the defendant and upon persons in privity
The fact that the defendant was an executor does not prevent a judgment obtained in the circumstances here disclosed from binding the executor and the devisees under the will. G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 197, § 9. Garber v. Hirsh, 225 Mass. 422. The defences as to which an executor in good faith has power to bind devisees by waiver are broad enough to include the case at bar. Bullard v. Moor, 158 Mass. 418, 425. Henry v. Sweeney, 216 Mass. 112. See Walsh v. Packard, 165 Mass. 189, 192.
Courts of equity do not enjoin the enforcement of a judg
Decree dismissing bill affirmed with costs.