210 So. 2d 120 | La. Ct. App. | 1968
Lead Opinion
Petitioner herein is the former wife of defendant. Of this union there were born four children, all being still in their minority.
On September 9, 1959, the plaintiff recovered a judgment of separation from bed and board against the defendant herein in Calcasieu Parish. By such judgment she was awarded the care, custody and control of the children.
Thereafter, on March 23, 1960, plaintiff and defendant entered into an agreement entitled “Settlement of Community” whereby they agreed that certain United States Savings Bonds, Series “E”, were the property of their minor children in certain listed numbers and denominations. The agreement also provided “ * * * that the bonds shall be held in trust for said children by James F. Gayle”.
Plaintiff later moved to the state of Arkansas and there filed suit against defendant asking for an absolute divorce in her favor. The complaint for divorce filed in Arkansas also prayed “ * * * that the division of property made by plaintiff and defendant be approved * * * ”. A certified copy of Settlement of Community was incorporated into the proceedings before the Arkansas court, and the divorce decree rendered provided, inter alia:
“That the property settlement made by plaintiff and defendant making a division of property between them should be approved, leaving no property rights to be adjudicated by this Court.”
On February 21, 1967, plaintiff instituted suit, individually, before the Fourteenth Judicial District Court setting forth the facts above recited, but further alleging that no valid trust was created by the execution of the Settlement of Community Agreement, that “ * * * the tutorship of the minors issue of her marriage to the defendant devolved upon her upon the rendition of the judgment of separation from the bed and board of the defendant which awarded her their custody and that as natural tutor to the minors she has the obligation of amassing and administering their property * * * ” and prayed, in forma pauperis, for the issuance of a rule nisi directed to James F. Gayle ordering him to show cause why the alleged trust should not be declared a nullity and why he should not be required to deliver to petitioner those United States Savings Bonds, Series “E”, which are the property of the four minor children.
Defendant answered, asking that the rule be denied and dismissed. Thereafter, defendant filed the peremptory exception
The trial court referred all exceptions to the merits and the matter was called to trial pursuant to regular assignment. At the outset, petitioner moved to offer, introduce and file in evidence certain letters of tutorship showing the appointment on June 6, 1967, of plaintiff as the natural tutrix of the four minor children.
Attorney for defendant strenuously objected to such offering, stating that such offering would be an amendment of the original petition setting forth an additional cause of action requiring service upon the defendant. This objection was overruled and the defendant was ordered to proceed to trial, which resulted in judgment in favor of plaintiff, ordering defendant to deliver to plaintiff the bonds in dispute. This appeal followed.
The trial judge held in effect that the father was not entitled to possession of the bonds under R.S. 9:736, which is the Louisiana Gift to Minors Act, because the procedures set forth in this act were not followed at the time the donation was made by Mr. Gayle and Mrs. Liebendorfer to their minor children.
Plaintiff cites Civil Code Article 1893, which states:
“An obligation without a cause, or with a false or unlawful cause can have no effect.”
as authority for the proposition that Mr. Gayle is not authorized to hold the bonds. With this the court cannot agree inasmuch as the cause for making the donation was reciprocal in nature, the mother donating her interest in return for the father donating his interest in the bonds. The cause for both parents agreeing to donate to their children was not a false or unlawful cause, and the donation is not an invalid obligation.
The court concluded that the mother, as tutrix of the minor children, was entitled to possession of the bonds under authority of Code of Civil Procedure, Article 4262, which states:
“The tutor shall take possession of, preserve, and administer the minor’s property. He shall enforce all obligations in favor of the minor and shall represent him in all civil matters. He shall act at all times as a prudent administrator, and shall be personally responsible for all damages resulting from his failure so to act.”
The issue in this case appears to be the question of whether or not the condition imposed by donors to the effect that Mr. Gayle would retain possession of the bonds is void as being against public policy or good morals. Civil Code Article 1527 states:
“The donor may impose on the donee any charges or conditions he pleases, provided they contain nothing contrary to law or good morals.”
In the opinion of this court, the mother and father as donors had the clear right to impose this condition in the act of donation.
Permitting Mr. Gayle to retain possession of these bonds on behalf of the minors does not constitute a violation of Code of Civil Procedure Article 4262. The tutor is only obligated to take possession of, preserve, and administer the minor’s interest in property.
In the instant case, the rights or interests of the minors consist of ownership of the bonds in question, which ownership is conditioned upon the bonds remaining in the possession of Mr. Gayle as set forth in the original act of donation.
“A summary proceeding may be commenced by the filing of a contradictory motion or by rule to show cause, except as otherwise provided by law.
“Exceptions to a contradictory motion, rule to show cause, opposition, or petition in a summary proceeding shall be filed prior to the time assigned for, and shall be disposed of on, the trial. An answer is not required, except as otherwise provided by law. No responsive pleadings to an exception are permitted.”
Comment (d) under this article states as follows:
“The defendant waives any objection to the improper use of summary procedure if he enters upon trial without excepting to the summary procedure.”
Numerous cases are cited after this comment.
For the above reasons, the judgment of the lower court is reversed and judgment is hereby entered rejecting the demands of plaintiff-appellee at her cost.
Reversed and rendered.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting).
The instant suit involves the legal interpretation of a settlement of community between the parties to this suit who entered into said agreement after plaintiff obtained a separation from bed and board against the defendant, together with a dissolution of the community of acquets and gains heretofore existing between the parties.
The record reveals that during the marriage, the parties to this suit donated to the children born of the union certain savings bonds. There is nothing in the record to show that the donation was made conditionally.
In the community settlement it was stipulated between the parties that defendant husband and father would hold the bonds in trust for said minor children.
Plaintiff filed the instant suit to declare the portion of the community settlement agreement entered between her and defendant to be null insofar as it granted to defendant the custody of the bonds and prayed that the district court decree the bonds be delivered to her. After the suit was filed, but before a trial on the merits, plaintiff qualified as tutrix to the minor children referred to in her suit.
•
After a trial on the merits in the district court, judgment was rendered in favor of plaintiff as prayed for. On appeal this Court reversed the lower court judgment.
On appeal defendant contends that he is entitled to retain custody of the bonds as custodian under the Gifts to Minors Act, LSA-R.S. 9:735 et seq. This contention is without merit for the reason that defendant did not comply with the provisions of said statute.
Under the provisions of LSA-C.C. Article 1284, the minors became the owners of the bonds at the moment they were donated to them by their parents. The above Civil Code article states that the donation of movable contains an absolute transfer of the rights of the donor to the donee in the movables given.
When plaintiff qualified as tutrix to the said minors, she was entitled to possession of the bonds in controversy.
LSA-C.C.P. Article 4262 states that the tutrix shall take possession of, preserve and administer the minors’ property. This is a mandatory duty imposed upon her by law.
For the reasons stated I dissent from the view expressed in the majority opinion.
En Banc.
Rehearing
We have reconsidered the judgment which was rendered in this case, and have concluded that it correctly disposes of the issues presented. Plaintiff’s application for a rehearing, therefore, will be denied. In this application for rehearing, however, a new issue has been raised which we think §hould be discussed.
Plaintiff argues now that~the provision in the “Settlement of Community” agreement to the effect that the United States Savings Bonds shall be held in trust for said children by defendant is “so vague and indefinite as to be impossible of administration.” She points out that although a fiduciary relationship exists between defendant and the children there are no provisions in that agreement which require him to administer the bonds or funds in his possession for the benefit of the minors. The agreement does not even specify the length of time during which defendant is to retain possession of the bonds. She argues that the laws of this state relating to tutorships and trusts indicate an intent on the part of the legislature to require the prudent administration of funds or property belonging to minors.
It is true that the Settlement of Community Agreement is silent as to the length of time the bonds are to remain in the custody of defendant, and as to how they are to be kept and administered. The parties have testified, however, that the bonds were donated to the minors and are being held by defendant “for the education of the children.” A fiduciary relationship exists between the defendant and the children, therefore, and in the absence of any other applicable laws on agreements the 'court may impose such requirements as may become necessary from time to time to insure the faithful administration of the securities belonging to the minors.
We have concluded that the condition imposed on the donation, that is that the bonds remain in the custody of defendant, is a valid condition, even though there was no compliance with the Louisiana Trust Code (LSA-R.S. 9:2061 et seq.) or the Louisiana Gifts to Minors Act (LSA-R.S. 9:736 et seq.). If we annulled the condition then we feel that the donation itself also would have have to be annulled. It would be inconsistent with the purpose of the donation and the fiduciary relationship which exists, however, to permit defendant to retain custody of the securities indefinitely, because that would defeat the very purpose of the donation, that is “for the education of the children.” Also, consistent with the obvious intent of the donors and the purpose of the donation, at some point in the life of each child all of the remaining bonds owned by him should be surrendered to him. Otherwise, his ownership of the bonds would be empty and of no effect.
In this proceeding the only relief sought by plaintiff is a judgment (1) annulling that portion of the Settlement of Community Agreement which provides that the bonds are to be held in trust for the children by defendant, and (2) ordering defendant to deliver all of these bonds to plaintiff. We are convinced that plaintiff is not entitled to that relief on the showing made here. In other appropriate proceedings, however, and upon proof that it is necessary that some of the bonds be surrendered or cashed to provide for the educational or other needs of the minors, then that type of relief may be granted. We thus make it clear now that the judgment which we have rendered in this proceeding is not intended to preclude other
The application for rehearing filed by plaintiff is denied.
