Succession of Hautau

32 La. Ann. 54 | La. | 1880

The opinion of the court was delivered by

White, J.

The account of the executrix was opposed by various creditors, the principal opposition being that of Mrs. Widow Le Franz. Some of the opponents withdrew their complaints before trial, which resulted in a judgment rejecting in the main the pretensions of Mrs-Le Franz, from which she appeals.

We will notice only those questions, twelve in number, urged in the-brief of counsel:

First. That the executrix is liable for the difference in value between the first appraisement of the property and the price for which it sold. The succession was opened in the month of December, 1878, and by the inventory, which was taken on the sixteenth of that month, the appraised value of the real estate was $11,300. Subsequently, in March,, upon representing that there was a mistake in the first inventory,, caused by the lines of the lots being erroneously mentioned, the court ordered a new appraisement and appointed experts for that purpose.. The property, it seems, was before this new appraisement examined by a surveyor, who made plans of it, by which it was redescribed and revalued on the 3d March, 1879, for $9800. This re-appraisement was-made pending an advertisement of the property for sale, the terms as-fixed by the order of court being one half cash, and the remainder at one and two years credit. In accordance with the advertisement, the-property was offered on the 11th March, and only one piece was sold,, in consequence of the inadequacy of the bids; the one sold having been bid in by the executrix for her own account at the price fixed by the second appraisement, which was two hundred dollars less than the first valuation. The executrix then prayed a second appraisement, averring ythat the valuation was so high that the property could not be sold under it. The property was under order re-appraised at $4200, and was re-advertised, the terms being one third cash, and the balance at one and two - years, and was sold on the 19th April for $5535. We are at a loss to-understand under this state of facts upon what principle the opponent expects to recover from the executrix the difference between the amount of the sales and the sum of the first appraisement. The second ap-praisement was rendered necessary by the error of description in the first inventory. Even granting the irregularity of the third, such state of things would not make the executrix personally liable in the absence of all proof of fraud or evidence of unfairness of price. The opponent does not attack the sales; on the contrary, ratifies them, and yet seeks to recover more than the price, upon the theory that the property did not ’ bring an adequate price, although the price equaled the estimated value of the last appraisement.

Second. That the executrix should be charged with 8412 47 rent collected, or which should have been collected. The court below found that the sum of 822 ought to be debited under this item, and a careful scrutiny of the testimony satisfies us as to the correctness of its conclusions.

Third. That the executrix has not sold the movables, but has charged herself with their inventoried value, 899. The court below finding that there was no proof of the inadequacy of the valuation in the inventory, and considering that this item had not been insisted on, overruled it. We think with the court below that there is no proof that the valuation in the inventory was unfair. We do not, however, consider that the executrix could become the owner by simply debiting herself with the price.

Fourth. De Armas’ plans, forty dollars, claimed as improperly allowed. The second description and re-appraisement was made on plans drawn by this surveyor. They were averred to be necessary in consequence of the irregularity of the lines ; by them the property was redescribed, re-appraised, advertised, and adjudicated. Under this condition of things, whatever may be ordinarily the right of an executor to incur the expense of making plans, we think the charge, which is shown to be reasonable, was properly allowed.

Fifth. The following items are objected to : Advertising, Times, $71 40 ; Picayune, 871 40 ; German Gazette, 826 60 ; posters and posting, 810. The court below reduced the amount as follows: Times, $35 70 ; German Gazette, 13 30 ; Picayune, 835 70 ; the charge for posting was allowed. There is before us no prayer for the amendment of the judgment, and the only question is, were the amounts properly allowed. The proof shows that the expenses for posting is usual, and was actually incurred. For the advertisements, the sum allowed by the lower court is less than the legal rate, the complaint before us being that the advertisements were inserted in more than one newspaper. The proof is that the advertisements were actually inserted by the auctioneer by order of the executrix, and the sums allowed were by him disbursed. It may well be that the insertion in more than one paper was of advantage to the estate. The law has, however, pointed out that legal advertisements are to be inserted in a " daily paper.” Acts of 1878, p. 157. "We cannot, therefore, allow for the publication in more than one daily paper. These items should, therefore, have been reduced to $85 70, for which sum the executrix was entitled to credit.

Sixth. Four charges of twenty dollars each were allowed as fees to the experts who made the second and third appraisements. The lower court sustained the charges, on the theory that as the parties were not the appraisers appointed to take the inventory, their fees were not, therefore, governed by the law regulating those to be charged by appraisers. We are unable to grasp the distinction. The parties were certainly appraisers of succession property, and were appointed as such. The law fixes such fees at four dollars per vacation; there was one vacation, as is shown by the inventory, and one in making the re-ap-praisements. The sum of eighty dollars should be reduced to sixteen; that is four dollars for each of the appraisers for each appraisement.

Seventh. Clerk’s costs, $45 05, is opposed as being illegal. Counsel in their brief say that an examination of the fee-bill will disclose that this item is excessive. Nothing is said to indicate what items are excessive, and as the judge below allowed the amount, and no particular items are called to our attention, we will not disturb the judgment below. We cannot be expected to analyze and examine each and every item of a fee-bill where the parties or their counsel have not thought proper to do so.

Eighth, ninth, and tenth. Clerk’s costs, Third District Court, $22. C-authreaux, sheriff, $9 50 ; J. Meunier, $15. These items result as follows : Monoski, a mortgage creditor of the deceased, before the appointment of a tutor to the minors commenced proceedings via executiva to enforce his claim. The minors being unrepresented, a tutor ad hoc was appointed, and his fees, as well as the costs above mentioned, after being taxed were placed on the account as a privilege debt of the estate. They were correctly so placed. Rousseau vs. Creditors, 17 L. 206 ; Barkley vs His Creditors, 11R. 28. So far as the amount of the clerk’s bill is concerned, it is covered by what we have previously said.

Eleventh. The claim of the executrix for commissions, $284 97, was opposed as excessive, and because no commissions were due her, in consequence of maladministration. The court below, considering that no maladministration had been shown, did not reject the claim in toto but reduced it to $163 37, the reduction having been brought about by calculating the commission on the amount of the last appraisement. 'Whether the reduction was or not correctly made, is not before us for . review, no amendment of the judgment having been asked. We agree with the court below in thinking that the charged maladministration has not been proven. The charge of failure to deposit money in bank is, we think, removed by the fact that no money came into the hands ■of the executrix, unless it be the small sum collected for rent, to which we have previously adverted.

Twelfth. There were three mortgage creditors; the succession was insolvent, and it was necessary that one of them contribute to pay the privileges. The account placed the burden of so doing on the junior mortgage. It was properly so placed. Devron vs. His Creditors, 11 A. 482 ; Deverges vs. His Creditors, 18 A. 169 ; Succession of O’Laughlin, 18 A. 142 ; Ventress vs. Creditors, 20 A. 359 ; Succession of Rousseau, 23 A. 3; Succession of Marc, 29 A. 414. It is now said that the rule enunciated by the current of authority does not apply, because the creditors had different mortgages on different properties ; the argument is answered by the authorities quoted. True, Devron’s case was decided by a divided court, but the doctrine taught by it has been followed by too long a line of precedents to render a re-examination either necessary or proper. It is urged that this case does not fall within the rule, because the property upon which the junior mortgage rests did not belong to the debtor at the time the other property was mortgaged. ' The fact upon which the distinction is predicated is not sustained by the record; if it were, it would not be sufficient to take this case out of the rule first applied in Devron’s case, and since uniformly followed. That rule results from applying the maxim “ Qui prior esi tempore, potior est jure.” The test is not the date of the acquisitions, but of the mortgages. The reasoning of the court in the succession of Rousseau seems to us conclusive of this issue. ' *

It is therefore ordered, that in so far as the judgment below allowed for advertisements the sum of $84 70, it be reduced to $35 70 ; and that the amount allowed the experts be reduced from $80 to $16 ; -that the credit of $99 for the furniture be disallowed, and the executrix toe ordered to sell the furniture as required by law. That in all other gespects the judgment be affirmed, with costs in both courts, in favor of ■opponent.