Farr v. Saby

| Wis. | Jun 25, 1919

The following opinion was filed April 29, 1919:

Vinje, J.

The plaintiff contends that he gained a residence in La Crosse county after he was paroled from the asylum, and that under the provisions of sec. 587, Stats. 1915, the county court of that county had jurisdiction to determine his sanity. He further contends that the adjudication of the county court of La Crosse county that he was sane on July 18, 1916, when its judgment was entered, is conclusive proof and res judicata of the issues in this case as to his competency to manage his estate. The defendant denies the correctness of these contentions. In our view of the matter we do not find it necessary to decide the legal issue raised by the first contention, because, assuming the validity of the judgment of the county court of La Crosse county establishing plaintiff’s sanity on the 18th day of July, 1916, it by no means follows that he was competent to manage his estate in June, 1918, when the circuit judge made his findings. This is so for two reasons: First, because “sanity” and “competency to manage an estate” are not synonymous terms. A man may be sane in the sense that it is not necessary to incarcerate him in an asylum and yet be incompetent to manage an estate, even though he be not a spendthrift or a drunkard. And second, because a condition of sanity or competency to manage an estate is not a permanent, unchangeable condition. A man may be sane or competent at one time, and be insane or incompetent at a future time. Our statute, sec. 587c, upon which plaintiff relies for a presumption of sanity after two years from a parole, recognizes this fact, for it provides that “Upon the expiration of two years from the time of granting such parole, . . . the presumption of insanity against such person . . . shall cease, and until a nezu adjudication to the contrary, he shall be presumed sane.” This statute merely restores the presumption of sanity, which can be overcome by proof to the contrary just as in the first adjudication of insanity. In the absence of any adjudication to the contrary every person is presumed to be sane, and such presumption must be overcome by proof before an adjudication of insanity can lawfully be entered. That the statutory presumption is not conclusive is evidenced by the fact that it obtains only till a new adjudication to the contrary is made. And the statute recognizes the fact that a new adjudication can be made at any time.

When, therefore, plaintiff in June, 1918, asked the court to pass upon his then competency to manage his estate, the fact that he was sane twenty-three months prior thereto had but a probative effect upon the question at issue. It did not by any means determine it conclusively. So, too, the adjudication by any other competent court as to plaintiff’s sanity could not directly affect the status of or terminate the guardianship matter in the county court of Buffalo county. That court in the first instance was the only one having jurisdiction of that matter, and this fact the plaintiff recognized when he filed his petition therein to be restored to the right to manage his estate.

The circuit court found that plaintiff was incompetent to manage his estate, and this finding is assailed as being contrary to the evidence. Plaintiff was a witness in the case and the trial court had an opportunity to observe and judge his mental capacity. Our opportunity to do so is much more limited, being confined to the printed page. In coming to the conclusion that plaintiff was incompetent the trial court properly took into account the status of the estate at that time. It was in process of settlement. Many claims had been allowed, but none were paid. Mortgages to the amount of $13,000 were outstanding. It was the opinion of the trial court, and it so found, that it was for the best interest of the estate as well as the creditors that the guardian continue the administration of the estate. The condition of the estate is referred to because it shows that it required considerable mental capacity to intelligently and efficiently manage such, estate. The court found that plaintiff lacked such capacity, and from the evidence we cannot say the court erred in so finding.

The court also found that the guardian had managed the estate “fairly and reasonably and without fraud, collusion, dishonesty, or waste.” This finding must also be held to be sustained by the evidence. It would be profitless to the parties herein and to the legal profession to'enter into a detailed discussion relating to plaintiff’s alleged shortcomings of the guardian’s management, and the evidence to the contrary.

The sum of $500 allowed the’ guardian in full for his services and the sum of $890 allowed his attorney must be deemed to be reasonable. The services of both guardian and attorney were much increased by the ward’s conduct and litigation. By this statement no criticism is intended to be made of such conduct — only its result is reverted to for the purpose of showing a basis for the allowance.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.

A motion for a rehearing was denied, without costs, on June 25, 1919.