Johnson v. Johnson

| Me. | Jan 10, 1889

Emery, J.

The original action, of which a review is here sought, was brought by an administrator cum testamento annexo, against an alleged debtor to the estate. The petitioner is the residuary legatee under the will. The estate is sufficient to pay all debts and legacies, and leave a balance for the residuary legatee. The original action not having resulted so favorably for the estate, as the residuary legatee thinks it should, and, being directly interested in the fesult, she now petitions for leave to review the action. She bases her petition on the third paragraph of § 1, c. 89, R. S., and claims that upon the foregoing facts, she is “a party in interest, who was not a party to the record.”

There is 'no doubt, she is directly interested in the suit, but it does not follow that she is “a party in interest,” in the legal.sense of that phrase. There are many familiar cases where “the party to the record,” has no interest in the suit — is a mere nominal party, and some other person is the real party — the party in interest. An action by an assignee of a claim in the name of the assignor, is a familiar instance. He, who owns the claim, either by a legal or equitable title, is the party in interest to an action upon the claim, and, as such, must answer over to the nominal party, for any damages or costs occasioned him thereby. So, in actions against a sheriff for the default of a deputy, the deputy is a party in interest, as he must answer over to the sheriff.

A residuary legatee has, as such, no title legal, or equitable, to any particular, specific item of the assets of the estate, nor is he, as such, personally liable over for any damages or costs incurred by the executor. Until distribution, except as to specific legacies, the title to all the assets, including choses in action, is in the' executor. He alone can maintain actions at law for the recovery of assets. It is true, he is a representative party, but he is none the less the real party, the party in interest. The claim is his. The action is his. He controls it. Except so far as he is controlled by statute, he can dismiss the action and release the claim. Chase v. Bradley, 26 Maine, 531; Dalton v. Dalton, 51 Maine, 171; Carter v. Bank, 71 Maine, 448; Frost v. Libby, 79 Maine, 56.

If the action, in this case, were to be reviewed, the administrator own testamento annexo, would be still the real party. The court would recognize him as such, and (assuming his good faith) would recognize his right to prosecute, or dismiss the action, at his discretion, he being accountable over to the petitioner in the probate court for the proper exercise of that discretion. It is evident, therefore, that not every one interested in an action, or affected by its result, can be admitted to review it. Only a party to an action should have leave to bring an action of review. He may be a party by record, or a party in interest, but he should be a party, having the care or responsibility of the action. This petitioner, though interested, is clearly not a party in interest, such as the statute contemplates. t> .... 7. • 7 r Fetition dismissed.

Peters, C. J., Walton, Daneorth, Virgin and Foster, JJ., concurred.