Stewart v. White

44 Ind. App. 87 | Ind. Ct. App. | 1909

Myers, J.

Appellant brought this action against John B. Unger as guardian of the estate of Elizabeth White, a person of unsound mind. A demurrer to the complaint for want of facts was sustained. Since the submission of this cause Unger resigned as such guardian, and appellee White, upon the order of this court, was substituted.

In the complaint it was in substance alleged that in January, 1900, Elizabeth White was notoriously and violently insane and at large in Wabash county, and wholly destitute of care and attention; that she was wholly incapacitated to contract for, and procure or to provide herself with, the necessaries of life; that she was without a guardian; that no person, either as a relative or otherwise, was caring or offering to care for her, and she was exposing herself to the severe winter weather, and was armed with an ax and other weapons, endangering the lives and property of herself and all other persons within her reach; that for her benefit and welfare appellant took her to his own home, and there provided her with suitable board, lodging, nursing and other necessaries, and continued to do so for sixty days; that continuously during that period she remained in said deranged mental condition, and was without a guardian, and without the care and attention of any other person, except appellant; that said services and provisions were unusual and necessary, and of the reasonable value of $5 per day. It was further alleged that in 1900 said Unger was duly appointed by the court below as guardian of the person and property of said Elizabeth White, and qualified as such guardian. The complaint shows payment demanded, its refusal, and that a stated sum of money is due and unpaid; that said Elizabeth White is the owner of property, from which ample proceeds can be derived to pay for said necessaries and services.

1. The appellee, by way of supporting the action of the court, contends that the pleading was in the form of a complaint in a civil action against the guardian, and was not in proper form for the settlement of a claim against the ward’s estate addressed to the court as a court of probate jurisdiction. In this State the practice requires that disputed claims against a ward’s estate, whether an infant or a person of unsound mind, be presented by a complaint or petition against the guardian in a court having jurisdiction of the ward’s estate and the person of the guardian. State, ex rel., v. Fitch (1888), 113 Ind. 478; Turner v. Flagg (1893), 6 Ind. App. 563; Rooker v. Rooker (1878), 60 Ind. 550; Gwaltney v. Cannon (1869), 31 Ind. 227.

In McNabb v. Clipp (1892), 5 Ind. App. 204, an action against a guardian upon her contract for board and lodging supplied to the ward, upon which the guardian was held personally liable, it was said that “under our code there is no such thing as filing a claim against a guardianship or against the estate of a ward. Hence the designation of the appellant as guardian must be treated as a mere descriptio personae.” Citing Clark v. Casler (1848) 1 Ind. 243; Lewis v. Edwards (1873), 44 Ind. 333; Elson v. Spraker (1885), 100 Ind. 374. Under the authorities before cited, it will be seen that this action was properly brought.

2. It has also been held that in a suit against a guardian for the allowance of a claim against the estate of his ward, and for an order directing payment by the guardian out of such estate, the ward is not a necessary party. Ray v. McGinnis (1882), 81 Ind. 451. See, also, Miller v. Hart (1893), 135 Ind. 201.

3. The real question in this case is whether the complaint sufficiently shows a valid claim against the estate of Elizabeth White. No contract between the appellant and Unger, either as guardian or personally, is shown by the complaint. It appears from that pleading that the person to whom appellant rendered the service stated was at the time well known by the appellant to be of unsound mind. He alleges that she was notoriously and violently insane, and describes open manifestation of her insanity. It is shown that because of her manifest insanity the services were rendered. She was incapable, as he knew, of binding herself or her estate by express contract, and the question is presented whether, upon the facts stated, a contract to pay for the services was created by law. The law is sensitive of the welfare of persons of unsound mind. The law is the real guardian of the insane, and the person nominated by the court as guardian is the agent of the law through the court.

The complaint does not show that at the time the appellant rendered the insane person the services alleged she had no relative or person upon whom she was entitled to rely for such services, or who was legally bound to render such services, or to pay for the same. It does not appear whether she was a minor daughter or the wife of a person competent to provide for her necessities. The complaint shows that at the time of the filing thereof the insane person had property. It does not show what was her condition in this respect when the services were rendered, and it does not appear that the services were rendered in reliance upon her ownership of property, or any expectation of being remunerated from her estate. For aught that appears in the allegations, the services were purely voluntary at the time they were rendered.

It is provided by statute that whenever “any person” shall by statement in writing represent to the court having probate jurisdiction in any county that any inhabitant of such county is a person of unsound mind and incapable of managing his own estate, such court shall cause such person to be produced in court, and shall cause an issue to be made by the clerk of such court denying the facts set forth in such statement. The issue thus formed shall be treated as in civil actions, and may be tried by the court or by a jury, and if such person is found to be of unsound mind, the court shall appoint a guardian for such person, who shall have the custody of his person and the management of his estate. §§3101, 3102 Burns 1908, Acts 1895, p. 205, §§1, 2. If a guardian be appointed he shall pay the expenses of the trial (§3104 Burns 1908, Acts 1895, p. 205, §3), and must pay the attorney prosecuting the proceeding a reasonable fee. Brownlee v. Switzer (1874), 49 Ind. 221; State, ex rel., v. Newlin (1879), 69 Ind. 108. “If it shall appear to the court that there is danger to the community in permitting such person of unsound mind to rim at large, the court shall make such order for his safe-keeping as may be necessary, and direct the expenses thereof to be paid out of the estate of such person; or, if that be insufficient, or necessary for the support of his family, then out of the county treasury.” §3111 Burns 1908, §2555 R. S. 1881. Provision is also made by statute (§3691 Burns 1908, §2842 R. S. 1881) whereby an insane person is entitled to be maintained and to receive medical treatment in the State Hospital for the Insane at the expense of the State upon the filing of a statement upon oath in writing by a respectable citizen of the proper county before a justice of the peace. §3692 Burns 1908, §2843 R. S. 1881. Other provision is made (§7879 et seq. Burns 1908, §5142 et seq. R. S. 1881) whereby, when complaint is made on oath before any justice of the peace that any person is insane and dangerous to the community if suffered to remain at large, the justice shall issue his warrant to the constable or sheriff for the apprehension of such person and bring him before the justice forthwith. If, in the proceedings thereupon, such person is found to be insane and dangerous to the community if suffered to remain at large, the justice is required to ' ‘ appoint some resident of the county to take charge of and confine such person, for which he shall receive a reasonable compensation from the board of commissioners of the county” out of the county treasury, and provision is made for refunding, under certain circumstances, such expenses out of the estate of said insane person. These statutory provisions, thus seeking to protect the insane and their estates, together with the community, are scarcely consistent with an intention that any respectable citizen voluntarily, and of his own motion, may take an insane person into his private custody, and so retain said person for two months, and then, upon the appointment of a guardian, through legal forms, may call upon such guardian for payment for such services out of the estate of the insane person.

It is not meant by us to pass upon the question not here presented, whether services rendered by a stranger for the protection of an insane person or his property may not, in some cases, be charged to the insane person’s estate. If no exigency is shown indicating sufficient reason for delay in resorting to the methods provided by statute, and no reason is given for interfering, because of the refusal of those having a prior duty toward the insane person, and it is not made to appear that reasonable efforts to save expense to the insane person were exhausted, and it is not shown that the services were not rendered voluntarily, we can find no sufficient reason for enforcing payment by the subsequently appointed guardian out of his ward’s estate.

Judgment affirmed.