164 So. 797 | La. | 1935
Lead Opinion
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *778
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *779 This is plaintiff's second suit to gain possession of a one-third interest in the succession of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., who died testate in New Orleans on September 12, 1931. In her first suit she alleged that her mother and said Marinoni contracted a "common law marriage" in the state of Mississippi on August 25, 1900; that such *780 marriages, although not clothed with a formal ceremony, were recognized as valid under the laws of Mississippi and produced all the civil effects of a ceremonial marriage; that she was born of that marriage and was her father's only child and heir; that her father had attempted to dispose of all his property by last will in which she was not mentioned.
She alleged in that suit that said will was null and void in so far as it disposed of the entire interest in the succession and prayed that it be set aside "insofar as it fails to recognize your petitioner as sole and only legal heir at law of decedent and impinges your petitioner's legitime, and for further judgment decreeing that your petitioner is sole and only legitimate heir at law of decedent, and as such entitled to one third of decedent's estate."
That suit was finally dismissed by this court on exception of no cause of action. Succession of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr.,
The substance of the demand in this, her second suit, is the same as the first one, as is shown by the prayer taken in connection with the allegations of the petition. She prays in this, her second suit, "that the provisions of the last will of the deceased, disposing of petitioner's legitime, be annulled and that petitioner be declared entitled to inherit one third of her father's estate as the issue of a putative marriage contracted by her mother in good faith and in the full belief that she was legally married to Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., at the time of petitioner's conception, and be sent into *781 possession of the same, and for general and equitable relief."
In her former suit plaintiff alleged that her mother contracted a common-law marriage with said Marinoni in Mississippi on August 25, 1900. In the present suit she alleges that there was not in fact a marriage at that time, but that Marinoni told her mother that they were married and that her mother thought they were and in good faith cohabited with him, thinking she was his wife. Plaintiff alleges that she is a child of that so-called "putative" marriage and that under articles 117 and 118 of the Civil Code that "marriage" produced its civil effects as to her.
Defendants filed a plea of res adjudicata and an exception of no cause of action. The plea of res adjudicata was based on the holding of this court in the former suit, and was sustained by the trial court. The ruling of the court was correct. Article 539 of the Code of Practice reads as follows:
"Definitive or final judgments are such as decide all the points in controversy, between the parties. Definitive judgments are such as have the force of res judicata."
The parties to the former suit and the object of the demand were the same as in this suit and the cause of action is substantially the same. The only difference in the allegations made in the two suits is that in the former plaintiff alleged that she was the issue of a "common law marriage" contracted in the state of Mississippi and in this suit she alleges that she is the issue of a "putative marriage." *782
The facts and circumstances alleged in this second suit as a basis of plaintiff's right to inherit from the deceased are substantially the same as those alleged in the former suit, where she prayed for the same results.
In Pfister v. St. Bernard Cypress Co.,
In Myers v. Dawson,
Plaintiff's sole purpose in bringing the former suit and her purpose in bringing this one was to have it decreed that she is a legitimate heir of the deceased and as such entitled to inherit from him. In the former suit we disposed of every issue raised in the present suit.
It is argued by counsel for plaintiff that the cause of action in this suit is not the same as that set up in the former, in that here plaintiff claims to be an heir as the issue of a putative marriage and that in the former suit she alleged that she was the issue of a common-law marriage.
The fact is that in this suit plaintiff is presenting the same issue in a different *783
form. The rule is that where one claims a certain thing or seeks recognition of certain rights, he must assert all his pretensions, all his titles, in one suit. A plea of res adjudicata based on a former judgment between the parties on the same subject-matter bars a second suit for the same purpose, not only as to the titles specifically set up in the former suit, but as to those which might have been pleaded as well. A plaintiff cannot withhold grounds for relief which he should have asserted and then, when he loses, file another suit setting forth the facts originally alleged and those withheld. Brooks v. Magee,
In support of their contention that the plea of res adjudicata should be overruled, counsel cite the case of Kate McCaffrey v. John H. Benson, 40 La.Ann. 10, 3 So. 393, 394. That case is not in point. In that case the court said: "By the judgment of this court, in the case entitled McCaffrey v. Benson, reported at 38 La.Ann. 198, a marriage previously contracted between the parties to this litigation was declared a nullity, on the ground that plaintiff was incapacitated from contracting a lawful marriage at the time that she attempted to marry the defendant, Benson. Her object in the present suit is to judicially enforce the civil effects alleged to have resulted from said marriage, under the provisions of articles 117 and 118 of the Civil Code."
The fact that the marriage in that case was held to be void on account of the incapacity *784 of one of the parties was held to be no bar to a subsequent suit in which the innocent party sought to enforce the civil effects of that marriage, the same having been contracted in good faith on her part. The relief sought and the cause of action in the two cases were entirely separate and distinct.
For the reasons assigned the judgment sustaining the plea of res adjudicata and dismissing plaintiff's suit is correct and is therefore affirmed.
HIGGINS, J., absent.
Dissenting Opinion
On the question of res adjudicata I adhere to my original opinion. I thought when the case was before us originally and still think the exception of no cause of action should be sustained. I did not discuss that feature of the case because my associates thought it unnecessary.
It is stated in the majority opinion on rehearing that:
"Plaintiff does not pretend, on the above state of facts, that her mother was actually married to Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., and became his lawful wife. * * * Exceptors' argument that no ceremonial marriage was performed is beside the question. * * * A putative marriage is not founded on the actual marriage or the ceremonial marriage, but on the reasonable belief by one or both of the parties that they were honestly married and that their offspring came from a lawful and honorable union." *815
When plaintiff alleges that her mother was never actually married to Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., she alleges herself out of court. Her cause of action is based upon the theory that she is the child of a putative marriage between her mother and father. If there was no putative marriage, then she has not inherited from her father and her suit necessarily falls.
The statement in the majority opinion on rehearing that a "putative marriage is not founded on the actual marriage or the ceremonial marriage, but on the reasonable belief by one or both of the parties that they were honestly married," in my opinion finds support neither in our codal provisions, our own jurisprudence nor in the writings of the French authorities.
Our law considers marriage in no other view than as a civil contract (Civil Code, art.
While there are only two essential prerequisites to marriage, consent and ceremony evidencing that consent, there are three essentials to a valid marriage, to wit, consent, ability to contract, and the contract itself evidenced by some form or ceremony. Civil Code, art.
Parties may be married and not validly married. They may have been willing to contract, agreed to contract, and may have actually contracted pursuant to the forms and ceremonies prescribed by law but still not be validly married, because of some legal impediment to their marriage which destroys one of the essentials to a valid marriage, to wit, the ability to contract. Where the first and third essentials laid down by article 90 of the Code are present, that is, where the parties are willing to contract and do contract according to codal forms and ceremonies, the parties are married, but their marriage is not valid if the other essential, ability to contract, is not present. If the first and third essentials prescribed by article
Webster defines a putative marriage as "a marriage in due form
of parties between *817
whom existed any of certain impediments, as consanguinity, either or both acting in good faith." (Italics mine.) Webster's New International Dictionary, 1935. A putative marriage is a "marriage which is in reality null, but which has been contracted in good faith by the two parties, or by one of them." Matter of Hall,
That the term "putative marriage," as used in article
"Putative Marriages. The marriage which has been declared null produces nevertheless its civil effects as it relates to the parties and their children, if it has been contracted in good faith."
See Succession of Cusimano,
This article of the Code uses the word "contracted," which necessarily relates to the third essential of a valid marriage as defined by the Civil Code in article 90, which is that the parties "did contract pursuant to the forms and solemnities prescribed by law." Unless the parties have contracted, or "did contract," there is no marriage, putative or otherwise, and the only way they can contract under our law is to follow the forms prescribed by the Code.
The Civil Code, article 117, says that "the marriage, which has been declared null" produces its civil effects, etc. That *818 the word "marriage" as here used refers to one contracted in due form is shown not only by this article of the Code, but is shown by other articles where the word "marriage" is used. Article 110 under the general heading "Of the nullity of marriages" says that marriages celebrated without the free consent of the married persons can only be annulled upon application of both parties or of that one of them whose consent was not free, and where only one is mistaken, he alone can impeach the marriage.
Article 112 says that the marriage of minors, contracted without the consent of the father and mother, can not for that cause be annulled "if it is otherwise contracted with theformalities prescribed by law." (Italics mine.)
There can be no "impeachment" or action to "annul" a contract which never existed. An action to annul a marriage is based necessarily upon the theory that the parties did contract a marriage, but that the contract is null, void and of no effect on account of some physical, mental, or legal impediment disqualifying the parties, or one of them, from entering into marital relations.
The Civil Code, article 117, speaks of a marriage "which has been declared null," meaning adjudged null by a court of competent jurisdiction. The plaintiff claims that she has inherited from Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., her father, and yet says in her petition, and it is said by the court in its majority opinion, that her mother was never in fact married to her father. She says that her mother was in good faith and *819 thought she was married because Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., told her that they were married. But conceding that her mother thought she was married to her father and cohabited with him in good faith, that furnishes no reason why plaintiff should inherit from her father to the prejudice of his legitimate heirs. A woman who is not actually married and who permits herself to be deceived by a man into thinking she is his wife and cohabits with him under that belief is unfortunate indeed, to say nothing of her innocent offspring. But the law furnishes no relief to her or to the children. Our courts have granted relief in many cases where no actual marriage could be proved, but that was upon the ground that the parties had so lived together and held themselves out as husband and wife as to raise the presumption that they were married.
In Succession of Taylor, 39 La.Ann. 823, 2 So. 581, 583, J.C. Taylor and the widow McFarland were married by formal ceremony in Arkansas, while Taylor's first wife, Sarah Castelberry, was still living, and they were not divorced. Taylor told Mrs. McFarland that he was divorced from his first wife. All Mrs. McFarland, the second Mrs. Taylor, knew about whether Taylor was divorced from his first wife was what he told her. She married Taylor and said she was in good faith and claimed that her marriage to him produced its civil effects as provided in articles 117 and 118 of the Civil Code. Speaking of the trust which the second wife said she imposed in the man she married, Justice Poche, organ of the court, said: *820
"If such trust can be placed in the declaration of the man who seeks to deceive a woman into a reprobated marriage, it would be different to conceive of a case in which the woman could not be held to have acted in good faith. Such a conclusion would open the flood-gates of legalized concubinage, and the courts, in their eagerness to protect the offspring of null marriages, would thus lend a helping hand to the destruction of the respectability of society by sapping the only safe foundation of the purity of the family."
That is particularly applicable to the case at bar. The court in the Taylor Case refused to give civil effects to Mrs. McFarland's marriage to Taylor.
A reading of the cases beginning as far back as Clendenning v. Clendenning, 3 Mart.(N.S.) 438, holding that a putative marriage produced civil effects, will show that in each and every one of them where such ruling was made the court either had before it testimony showing that a marriage had been celebrated in due form or that fact was conceded. The very cases cited by the court in its majority opinion involve marriages shown to have been celebrated in due form of law or that fact was conceded.
One of the cases cited in the majority opinion is Succession of Buissiere, 41 La.Ann. 217, 5 So. 668. The facts in that case were that Romain Buissiere married his niece in contravention of a prohibitory law. The court held that, even so, the law creates an exception in case of marriages contracted in good faith in favor of the spouses, or one of them, and their issue, *821 but on page 220 of 41 La.Ann., 5 So. 668, 669, the opinion recites that the parties "left the state [Louisiana], and went to Bay St. Louis, Miss., where they were the objects of theceremonies of marriage, in December, 1882. They subsequently returned home, lived publicly and avowedly as husband and wife, and had two children." (Italics mine.)
Another case cited is Jones v. Squire,
"For upholding defendant's case we would have to believe him when he says that he obtained this license and went through this marriage ceremony knowing all the time that it was a farce."
The next case cited is Succession of St. Ange,
Another case cited is Smith v. Smith, 43 La.Ann. 1140, 10 So. 248, 249. In this case a second wife claimed the marital fourth of her husband's estate. Her claim was resisted by the heirs of her husband on the ground that the second wife contracted *822 marriage in bad faith. The court said of the second marriage:
"In October, 1889, Alexander Smith married the plaintiff, Jessica McFarland, a young girl living in his immediate vicinity."
It was evidently conceded that this marriage was in due form of law.
Succession of Curtis,
In the Curtis Case it was said that "the presumption in favor of marriage and the legitimacy of children is one of the strongest known to the law." There is no presumption of marriage or of legitimacy involved in the case at bar. Plaintiff says, and it is said in the majority opinion, that there was no marriage.
Besides the cases cited in the majority opinion there are numerous others which have to do with putative marriages. In Hondlenk v. John,
"We are therefore of opinion that the second marriage of the mother to Eugene Robins was contracted in good faith and in the honest belief that her first husband was dead; and was therefore a putative marriage and produced all the civil effects of marriage." (Italics mine.) *823
The court here uses the word "contracted" with reference to this marriage.
In McCaffrey v. Benson, 40 La.Ann. 10, 3 So. 393, the court said the parties went through a "marriage ceremony." The marriage was declared null on the ground that the plaintiff was incapacitated from contracting a lawful marriage. McCaffrey v. Benson, 38 La.Ann. 198. The second marriage of plaintiff was especially referred to by the court as a putative marriage. The court held that even though the marriage was a nullity because at the time it was contracted by them the husband had a living wife from whom he was not divorced, yet the marriage was given its civil effects in so far as the wife was concerned, she having contracted the same in good faith.
A further review of the cases is unnecessary. I cite, however, the following: Patton v. Cities of Philadelphia New Orleans, 1 La.Ann. 98; Succession of Navarro, 24 La.Ann. 298; Jerman v. Tenneas, 44 La.Ann. 620, 11 So. 80; Succession of Benton,
Referring now to the French authorities cited in the majority opinion, a reading of the quotations will show that in a majority of them reference was made to marriages "contracted" or "celebrated." For instance, the quotation from Planiol, Droit Civil (3d Ed.) found at the bottom of page 10 of the opinion, is as follows:
"Good faith consists in being ignorant of the cause which prevents the forms of *824 the marriage or the defects of its celebration which caused its nullity."
I think the judgment sustaining the exception of no cause of action should be affirmed, as well as that sustaining the plea of res adjudicata.
Addendum
On the original hearing, the plea of res adjudicata was sustained in this case for the reason that: "The parties to the former suit and the object of the demand were the same as in this suit and the cause of action is substantially the same. The only difference in the allegations made in the two suits is that in the former plaintiff alleged that she was the issue of a `common law marriage' contracted in the State of Mississippi and in this suit she alleges that she is the issue of a `putative marriage.'"
Plaintiff alleged in the first suit, Succession of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr.,
"Petitioner avers that the sole and only issue of said marriage relationship is your petitioner, Rita Marinoni, who was born in the City of New Orleans on the 13th day of January, 1902, and is therefore a forced heir of your decedent. Petitioner avers that she is the only lawful child of petitioner and that petitioner never had any other children.
"That your petitioner alleges that her father, Ulysses Marinoni, Jr., died in the City of New Orleans on the 12th day of September 1931, leaving a will in the olographic form by which he makes various and sundry legacies, recognizes Adina Provosty ashis surviving wife, although your petitioner's mother wasdeceased's legal wife, and living, ignoring petitioner's legal rights as his sole heir, being the legitimate child of hismarriage with her said mother. That said statement contained in said will to the effect that deceased never had any children are (is) in error and untrue." Articles V, VI, and VII of petition. (Italics ours.)
Plaintiff prayed that: "Adina Provosty Marinoni, individually, as she is declared to be in the Succession proceedings of Ulysses Marinoni No. 193-524 of the docket of this Honorable Court, andW.T. Nolan and the Canal Bank Trust Company, executors, be dulycited to appear and answer this petition, and, after dueproceedings had, that there be judgment in favor *786 of your petitioner and against the said aforesaid, AdinaProvosty, individually, and W.T. Nolan and Canal Bank TrustCompany Testamentary Executors, declaring said last will and testament of decedent herein to be void and of no effect insofaras it purports to recognize Adina Provosty as decedent's wife andwidow in community, and insofar as it fails to recognize yourpetitioner as sole and only legal heir at law of decedent, andimpinges your petitioner's legitime, and for further judgment decreeing your petitioner as sole and only legitimate heir at lawof decedent, and as such is entitled to one-third of decedent'sestate, or such larger amount as deceased has not disposed of by particular legacy." (Italics ours.)
The prayer of plaintiff, in this, the second suit, is that:"The Executors of the within estate, William T. Nolan, the CanalBank and Trust Co., and Mrs. William T. Nolan, Universal Legatee of said within estate be duly cited to appear and answer this petition, and that after all due and legal proceedings had, the provisions of the last will of deceased, disposing of petitioner's legitime, be annulled and that petitioner be declared entitled to inherit one-third of her father's estate, asthe issue of a putative marriage contracted by her mother in goodfaith and in the full belief that she was legally married toUlisse Marinoni, Jr., at the time of petitioner's conception, and be sent into possession of same and for general relief." (Italics ours.)
It is to be observed that the prayer of plaintiff, in the first suit, is for judgment *787 "against Adina Provosty individually" and against the executors, declaring the last will and testament of decedent void and of no effect, in so far as it purports "to recognize Adina Provosty asdecedent's wife and widow in community, and insofar as it failsto recognize plaintiff as sole and only legal heir at law ofdecedent." (Italics ours.)
Mrs. Adina Provosty is not a party, either individually or as decedent's wife, to the present suit, in which plaintiff prays to have the will annulled, only to the extent of declaring her entitled to inherit one-third of decedent's estate, "as the issue of a putative marriage."
Mrs. William T. Nolan, universal legatee under decedent's will, is a party to the present suit, but is not a party to the first suit.
It is plain, therefore, that the parties to the first and to the present suit are not the same in quality.
The thing demanded is not the same in the second suit as in the first, as is clearly shown by the prayer for judgment in each suit.
As declared in article 2286 of the Civil Code: "The authority of the thing adjudged takes place only with respect to what was the object of the judgment. The thing demanded must be the same;the demand must be founded on the same cause of action; the demand must be between the same parties, and formed by them against each other in the same quality." (Italics ours.) *788
Nor, in our opinion, is the thing demanded founded upon thesame cause of action.
It requires no great argument to prove that one claiming rights under a putative marriage is invoking a different cause of action than one who claims rights under a legal marriage. The difference was expressly recognized in McCaffrey v. Benson, 40 La.Ann. 10, 13, 3 So. 393.
In the year 1886, Mrs. McCaffrey married the defendant, Benson. At the time, her husband had left her and had disappeared, and, after several years, was reported dead, but reappeared after her marriage to Benson.
Plaintiff sued Benson for a separation from bed and board and for one-half of the property belonging to the community existing between her alleged husband and herself. Defendant first pleaded the general denial, and subsequently urged by way of peremptory exception that there was no legal marriage between him and plaintiff, for the reason that when he agreed to marry her, she was, by previous legal marriage, the wife of another man then living, and from whom she had never been legally separated. He prayed for judgment recognizing the nullity of his marriage with plaintiff. Judgment was rendered overruling his exception, and granting to plaintiff all the relief she prayed for.
On appeal to the Supreme Court, the marriage was decreed null and the exception maintained. McCaffrey v. Benson, 38 La.Ann. 198.
In the year 1888, Mrs. McCaffrey brought a second suit against Benson, alleging *789 that the marriage between defendant and herself was contracted in good faith, and that one of the civil effects which it produced was a community of acquêts and gains of which she became joint owner with defendant, in equal portions, of all the property acquired by him during the term of their cohabitation.
The defendant, Benson, pleaded res adjudicata to plaintiff's demand, predicated upon the judgment obtained by him decreeing the marriage a nullity. The plea was overruled and judgment rendered for plaintiff.
On appeal, this court said in McCaffrey v. Benson, 40 La.Ann. 10, 13, 3 So. 393, 394: "As in that case [McCaffrey v. Benson, 38 La.Ann. 198] plaintiff's demand was for a separation from bed and board, and for one-half of the property belonging to the community existing between her alleged husband and herself, and as her entire demand was rejected by our judgment, defendant argues that the said judgment is a complete bar to plaintiff's present action, which sets up the same demand, for the same cause of action, between the same parties, in the same capacity. Two of the essential requisites to the plea are to be found in the case;but the third is wanting, hence the exception is not good.
"In the previous suit the claim for the community was grounded on an alleged lawful marriage, and in the present action the community rights sought to be enforced spring, as alleged civileffects, from a marriage which has been declared null, but whichhad been contracted in good faith. It is therefore clear that thecause *790 of action is not identical in the two suits, and that thedistrict judge did not err in overruling the plea." (Italics ours.)
Likewise, the claims of plaintiff, Rita Marinoni, in the first suit were based upon an alleged valid, legal, common law marriage of her mother in the State of Mississippi. And in the present suit, they spring "as alleged civil effects" from a marriage alleged to have been contracted in good faith, a "putative marriage." C.C., arts. 117, 118.
The cause of action is not the same in the two suits.
The first suit is based solely and exclusively upon an alleged"valid, legal common law marriage" of plaintiff's mother in the state of Mississippi. There is not a single allegation in the petition in that case as to a marriage contracted in good faith, or a "putative marriage."
It is stated in the original opinion in the present case, however, that: "The rule is that where one claims a certain thing or seeks recognition of certain rights, he must assert all his pretensions, all his titles, in one suit. A plea of res adjudicata based on a former judgment between the parties on the same subject matter bars a second suit for the same purpose not only as to the titles specifically set up in the former suit, but as to those which might have been plead as well. A plaintiff can not withhold grounds for relief which he should have asserted and then, when he loses, file another suit setting forth the facts originally alleged and those withheld. Brooks v. Magee,
The doctrine above announced is too broadly stated, and is not in harmony with the latest decisions of this court on this point.
In Tennent v. Caffery,
In a still later case, State v. City of New Orleans,
Article 2286 of the Civil Code also specifically declares that "the demand must be founded on the same cause of action"; and the cause of action is not the same *792 in the two suits. The plea of res adjudicata is therefore overruled.
Defendants filed a plea of res adjudicata and also an exception of no cause of action in the present suit. The latter exception remains to be disposed of in this case. For the purpose of trying an exception of no cause of action, the well-pleaded facts set forth in the petition are accepted as true.
The main pertinent facts of the case, stated in narrative form, are as follows:
Josephine Bartoletti, the mother of plaintiff, Rita Marinoni, wife of John Lewis, was born and reared in Rome. From her birth to the present time she has borne a good reputation. She was only thirteen years old when she came to this country, and, when seventeen years old, she was courted by plaintiff's father, the late Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., who became engaged to marry her. Petition, art. 1.
Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., stated to plaintiff's mother that the only reason he did not wish their marriage to take place in the city of New Orleans was that his father was then in a dying condition from diabetes, and that the marriage of his only son to an utter stranger might hasten his death. Petition, art. 2.
Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., then requested plaintiff's mother, Josephine Bartoletti, to go to Gulfport, Miss., for the purpose of being married there. Petition, art. 3.
On August 23, 1900, plaintiff's mother and father went to Gulfport, Miss., the former being chaperoned by one of her *793 lady friends, who occupied the same room with her at Gulfport until after the afternoon of August 25, 1900. Petition, art. 4.
The parties agreed that no marriage should take place on August 24th, as Friday was an unlucky day to get married.
Josephine Bartoletti and her chaperone and Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., drove together to the courthouse of the circuit court of Harrison county, Miss., where Marinoni, Jr., in the presence of plaintiff's mother and her chaperone, Mrs. Victor Pelarogne, went into the office of F.S. Hewes, circuit court clerk of Harrison county, Miss., who had the power, jurisdiction, and authority to take affidavits and to issue marriage licenses, and Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., made two affidavits before the circuit court clerk, photostatic copies of which are annexed to and made part of plaintiff's petition. Petition, art. 5.
The petition contains no article 6.
One of the affidavits declaring that plaintiff's mother had reached the age of eighteen years was false and untrue to the knowledge of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr. Petition, art. 7.
Upon these affidavits, one of which was false and the other true, Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., obtained from the clerk of court a license authorizing him to marry plaintiff's mother, Josephine Bartoletti. Petition, art. 8.
Plaintiff's mother was "then an orphan and a minor, unable toread English at all, and who understood very little of theEnglish language, and nothing of the laws *794 and customs of this country." Petition, art. 9. (Italics ours.)
Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., imposing on the love and affection that plaintiff's mother had for him, "and on her ignorance of the lawsand customs of this country, then and there told her that thiswas all that was necessary to constitute a valid marriage betweenthem, and they would have the marriage blessed by a priestlater." Petition, art. 10.
Plaintiff's mother, an innocent girl, was then and there deceived by the statement of plaintiff's father, Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., and was thereby, during the latter part of the evening of August 25, 1900, induced to enter into the marriage relation with Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., and to cohabit with him at a hotel at Gulfport, Miss., and subsequently at Biloxi, and subsequently in New Orleans as man and wife. "Petitioner's mother * * * believingthat she was the true and actual wife of the said UlisseMarinoni, Jr., up to the month of December 1901," when Marinoni declared to her for the first time that he was not actually and truly married to her. Petition, art. 11. (Italics ours in quotations from petitions, arts. 10 and 11.)
Plaintiff was conceived in the city of New Orleans from the intercourse between her parents "and at that time when her motherbelieved in good faith that she was the true and lawful wife ofthe said Ulisse Marinoni, Jr." Petition, art. 12.
Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., contributed, during plaintiff's minority, considerable sums of money for her care and education, and she *795 frequently visited her father at his office during his lifetime. Petition, art. 21.
According to the affidavits made by Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., at the time he obtained the marriage license, he was over 21 years of age and there was no legal impediment to the marriage. He did not marry his present wife until December 23, 1901.
Plaintiff does not pretend, on the above state of facts, that her mother was actually married to Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., and became his lawful wife. But plaintiff does contend that thecircumstances were such as to make her mother honestly believe, before she had sexual intercourse with her father, which ultimately resulted in plaintiff's conception and birth, that she then was actually his true wife and that the marriage, at all events, was a "putative marriage," from which the legitimacy of plaintiff sprung "as a civil effect," under article 118 of the Civil Code of this state.
Exceptors' argument that no ceremonial marriage was performed is beside the question. As no disability attached to either, a ceremonial marriage would inevitably have made them legally man and wife. The vital question in the case is: Did she believe, honestly and reasonably, from all that had been said and done, that she was actually married to Ulisse Marinoni, Jr.?
A putative marriage is not founded on the actual marriage or the ceremonial marriage, but on the reasonable belief by one or both of the parties that they were *796 honestly married and that their offspring came from a lawful and honorable union.
The facts alleged, when taken as true, are indisputable that Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., courted plaintiff's mother; became engaged to marry her; took her and her chaperone to the courthouse of the circuit court of Harrison county, Miss., to be married; made the necessary affidavits before the clerk of the court, a public officer, to obtain the marriage license; secured the same in the presence of plaintiff's mother and chaperone; and informed plaintiff, who was unable to read English at all and whounderstood very little English, and who knew nothing of the lawsor customs of the country, that these formalities were all that were necessary to constitute a valid marriage between them; and that they would have the marriage blessed by a priest.
The fact that Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., was also of Italian descent, the fact that he was a distinguished member of the bar, and the fact that both were Roman Catholics, whose religion required the blessing of their union by the priest, without doubt satisfied and convinced the mother of plaintiff, a foreign-born woman of foreign tongue, and ignorant of the customs and laws of this country, that all the formalities of a civil marriage ceremony had been complied with and that her marriage to Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., was legal and valid.
The bad faith of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., is unimportant, since it cannot be well doubted that plaintiff's mother acted in good faith, and honestly believed, at the *797 time, and when her child was conceived, that she was the lawful wife of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr.
Article 118 of the Civil Code specifically provides that: "If only one of the parties acted in good faith, the marriage produces its civil effects only in his or her favor and in favor of the children born of the marriage." (Italics ours.)
Article
Articles 117 and 118 of our Civil Code are literal translations of articles 201 and 202 of the Code Napoleon, and the views of the French commentators on the latter are equally applicable to those in our own Code. McCaffrey v. Benson, 40 La.Ann. 10, 15, 3 So. 393.
In First Planiol, Droit Civil, 3d Ed.:
"No. 1096. Good faith consists in being ignorant of the cause which prevents the formation of the marriage or the defects inits celebration which caused its nullity."
"No. 1100. Formerly good faith alone was not sufficient. It was necessary, besides, for the party pleading it to show a justcause for having fallen into error.
"No. 1101. Modern jurisprudence does not exact this condition, because the text of the law speaks only of good faith." (Italics ours.)
2 Baudry-Lacontinerie et Houges-Fourcade (2d Ed.) Nos. 1898, 1899; 5 Aubry *798 Rau, vol. 7, 66, text and note 5, are to the same effect.
No minister of religion can celebrate a marriage in France, yet even in that country where the law as to ceremonies required for marriage is far stricter than in Louisiana, a marriage contracted in disregard of such ceremonies is held putative when the parties, or one of them, had reason to believe same was legal.
We cite the following translation from the edition of the Code Napoleon published in Parish in 1924 and called Dalloz' Small Code:
"The marriage contracted in good faith by one of the spouses, being considered as putative while it may be considered asbigamous on (the part of) one of the spouses, yet produces for the benefit of the children born of the connection the effects of a valid marriage and notably confers on them the right to succeed as the legitimate children, even of a spouse in bad faith." Dalloz' Small Code, 5th of January, 1910. (Italics ours.)
"It is the same specially as to a marriage celebrated in the manner of Judaism between two Algerian Israelites when there exists as to this marriage an act in the form of a Katouba passed before a Rabbi in the presence of witnesses according to the forms of the Mosaic Law; when everything indicates that in the contracting of this union the wife was in good faith; that beingquite young when she was married, and having been brought up inthe faith of Mosaic customs, being ignorant of the laws andFrench customs, *799 one can admit that she did not know of the obstacles that would strike her marriage with nullity." Dalloz' Small Code, 5th of January, 1910. (Italics ours.)
"Under Article 202 (118 of our Code) good faith can exist in case of error of law without one being required to distinguish as to the error of law as to the form of the act or as to the capacity of the parties. (Atty. General Des Jardins, July 30th, 1900)." (Italics ours.)
"In consequence the applicability will not be disregarded on the pretext that it was a marriage which has been celebrated in France before the officer of vital statistics (an officer not authorized to perform the ceremony of marriage.) Dalloz' Small Code, July 30th, 1900.
"Good faith being always presumed it is incumbent on the party who alleges bad faith to prove it. (Italics ours.)
"In consequence it is not incumbent on the party who claims the civil effects of a void marriage by reason of faith of one of the spouses to produce proof of his good faith or to depend on such proof." Dalloz' Small Code, November 5, 1913, and note of Pierre Vinet. (Italics ours.)
Marcade, vol. 1, page 520, devotes much space to the proper construction of articles 201 and 202 of the Code Napoleon, which are the same as articles 117 and 118 of our Civil Code.
He takes the position that these articles apply to marriages absolutely null, ab initio, because not celebrated before a proper officer or not with the forms prescribed *800 by law. He quotes the debates on the articles by Napoleon and the framers of the Code Napoleon.
He says page 521 (translated):
"Otherwise what is definitive of the scope or rule of the two articles. It is a disposition of humanity, of pity for the unfortunate, of excuse for error, or, why has the legislator provided the means of good faith of the woman who is a wife. * * * The principles of equity join themselves then to all principles of right to demand that attribution of civil effects be given toall species of a null marriage." (Italics ours.)
On page 522, he says: "Thus principles of equity and both judicial and historical theories of the reduction of the Code all prove that null marriages, that is to say null ab initio as well as those rendered null by annulling will produce the civil effects of a valid marriage where they have been contracted ingood faith.
"It is under the condition of good faith of the spouses, or one of them, that the null marriage produces civil effects, and this condition, as we see in these two articles, is all that the law exacts. This good faith exists in the thought, erroneous, but reasonable in the person, that the marriage has been validly contracted before the law." (Italics ours.)
In Succession of Buissiere, 41 La.Ann. 217, 5 So. 668, 669, an uncle married a niece in Mississippi.
In that case this court said: "From the views expressed in France, by distinguished *801 commentators, as well as from the opinions there announced in some 10 cases, it appears that it is now a recognized and established principle that good faith may result as well from an error of law as from an error of fact, and that the parties contracting marriage, under circumstances from which such errors arise, are entitled to the relief allowed by law. [Italics ours.] Marcade on Art. 204; Duvergier Toullier 1, No. 651, note a; Demolombe 3, 357, 543 et seq.; Aubry Rau 5, p. 46, par. 460; Zachariæ 1, 125; Laurent 2, n. 504; Accollas 1 pp. 109, 181; Paris 9 Mess an XIII pp. 38, 1, 77; 18 Dec. 1837; 1938, p. 1, 78; Limoges 25 Aout 1841, p. 54, 1, 315; 5 Jan. 1842, also 1840; Aix, 11 Mar 1858, p. 58, 1082, 1860, 1871, 1880, and authorities in defendants' brief.
"There is no reason why this humane exposition of the law should be questioned, and still less why we should run counter to it.
"We therefore adhere to it, and hold that the principle ought to be applied to the instant case, and therefore that, if circumstances exist which were susceptible of inducing the belief in the wife that her marriage with her uncle could be valid, her good faith must protect her and her innocent offspring."
Under article
Under article 12 of our Code, it is declared that anything "done in contravention of a prohibitory law is void, although the nullity be not formally directed." *802
The Buissiere Case shows to what length this court will go to protect the innocent offspring of even an incestuous union.
The concurring opinion of Justice Fenner in the Buissiere Case is peculiarly applicable to the case now before us: "While the evidence is not altogether satisfactory to my mind, yet, considering the finding of my brethren; the minority and sex of the party; her ignorance of the English language; her nativity in France, where such marriages may be legalized; her recent arrival in this country; her seclusion in a convent; her subordination to the man who married her, who was greatly her senior, and to whose charge and protection she had been confided; the approval and advice, and participation given, by her parents to the marriage; and the fact that the marriage no longer exists, and no public interests are involved conflicting with those of the mother and her innocent offspring, — I find strong circumstances going to make the case peculiar and exceptional, and robbing it of serious danger as a precedent."
In Jones v. Squire,
"`The good faith referred to means an honest and reasonable belief that the marriage was valid and that there existed no legal impediment thereto.' Smith v. Smith, 43 La.Ann. [1140] 1148, 10 So. 248. * * * *803
"That this was an error makes no difference; for good faith in such a case results from an error of law as well as from an error of fact. Succession of Buissiere, 41 La.Ann. 217, 5 So. 668." (Italics ours.)
In Succession of St. Ange,
"Good faith in contracts is always presumed; the onus of proof is on him who alleges fraud or bad faith." Succession of Navarro, 24 La.Ann. 298, 299; Rogron, Code Napoleon, explique liv, 1, art. 201, Marcade Droit Civil, vol. 1 tet, v. du marriage p. 553. *804
In Smith v. Smith, 43 La.Ann. 1140, 1149, 10 So. 248, 250, it is said by this court: "The Code provides, as we have seen, that the putative marriage produces its `civil effects' as it relates to parties in good faith.
"The words `civil effects' are used without restriction, and necessarily embrace all civil effects given to marriage by the law; or, in the language of Marcade in commenting on the identical article in the French Code, such a marriage, `although actually null, has the same effects as if it were not null, — the ordinary effects of a valid marriage. * * * Every marriage, though invalid, if contracted in good faith, produces the effects of a valid marriage in the interval between the celebration and the judicial declaration of nullity. When once such declaration intervenes, the marriage produces no further effect; but, be it understood, the effects produced remain forever.' I Marcade, 525.
"The marriage of plaintiff was never declared null during the life of Alexander Smith. It existed as a putative marriage at theinstance of his death, and the civil effects resulting therefromwere then complete and indestructible." (Italics ours.)
"The law favors those who are deceived against those who deceive." Patton Case, 1 La.Ann. 98, 106.
In Succession of Curtis,
"The presumption of legitimacy is based upon broad principles of natural justice and the supposed virtue of the mother.
"`The presumption in favor of marriage and the legitimacy of children is one of the strongest known to the law, and in favor of a child asserting its legitimacy this presumption applies with peculiar force.' Teter v. Teter,
"In Ingersol v. McWillie,
"`The presumption of legitimacy is a constant presumption, and is to have weight and influence throughout the investigation, the weight of the presumption increasing with lapse of time.'"
The allegations in plaintiff's petition that, after what had transpired at the clerk's office where Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., informed plaintiff's mother that they were legally married, the parties immediately thereafter cohabited, as man and wife at Gulfport, and then at Biloxi, Miss., and later in the city of New Orleans, must be accepted as true, as far as the disposal of the exception of no cause or right of action is concerned.
Cohabitation as man and wife furnishes presumptive evidence of a preceding marriage, and is convincing proof that the circumstances which did exist induced the honest belief in the mother of plaintiff that she was legally married to Ulisse Marinoni, Jr. Her good faith must protect *806
her and her innocent offspring, to whom it is also alleged that her father, Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., contributed considerable sums of money, during her minority, for her care and education. Succession of St. Ange,
The good faith referred to as constituting a putative marriage means an honest and reasonable belief that the marriage was valid, and not that the marriage was actually and legally valid.
That this was an error on the part of plaintiff's mother makes no difference; for good faith in such a case results from error of law as well as from error of fact. Jones v. Squire,
"This good faith exists in thought, erroneous, but reasonable in the person, that the marriage has been validly contracted before the law." Marcade, vol. 1, p. 522. (Italics ours.)
"Good faith consists of being ignorant of the cause which prevents formation of the marriage, or the defects in itscelebration which cause its nullity." First Planiol, Droit Civil, 3d Ed. (Italics ours.)
Two exceptions of no cause or right of action were filed to the original and amended petitions; one by Olga Marinoni, wife of William T. Nolan, executor, which was maintained in a judgment of date May 14, 1934, and plaintiff's suit dismissed; the other exception was filed by William T. Nolan, executor, and not passed upon, and this defendant has filed an answer to the appeal, praying, in the alternative, that it be sustained by this court. *807
Accepting the state of facts alleged in plaintiff's petition as true, for the purpose only of disposing of the exceptions of no cause or right of action, our conclusion is, for reasons already assigned, that a cause or right of action has been set forth by plaintiff in her petition.
Necessarily, the judgment appealed from maintaining the exception of no cause or right of action must be reversed, and the similar exception filed by the executor must be overruled.
Two pleas of res adjudicata were also filed to the original and amended petitions; one by Mrs. Olga Marinoni Nolan, wife of William T. Nolan, executor, which was maintained in a judgment of date May 14, 1934, and plaintiff's suit was dismissed; the other plea of res adjudicata was filed to the original and amended petitions by William T. Nolan, executor, and was maintained in a judgment of date May 15, 1934, and plaintiff's suit dismissed. Each one of these judgments was appealed from separately by plaintiff, Rita Marinoni, wife of John Lewis.
In the original opinion it is stated: "Defendants filed a plea of res adjudicata and an exception of no cause of action."
However, the original decree reads as follows: "For the reasons assigned the judgment sustaining the plea of res adjudicata and dismissing plaintiff's suit is correct and is therefore affirmed." (Italics ours.)
In our opinion, for reasons already assigned, our original decree must be set *808 aside, and both judgments maintaining the pleas of res adjudicata must be reversed.
The plea of res adjudicata and the plea of no cause or right of action made by Olga Marinoni, wife of W.T. Nolan, executor, are both maintained in one and the same judgment of date May 14, 1934.
Exceptions of vagueness filed by defendants to plaintiff's original petition were maintained in the lower court, and, under leave of court, plaintiff filed an amended petition.
Additional exceptions of vagueness were filed by William T. Nolan, executor, and Olga Marinoni, wife of William T. Nolan, executor, to the original and amended petitions.
Defendants, in their answers to the appeal, assert that these exceptions were not passed upon in the lower court, and pray that, in the alternative, they be reserved in the event of a remand of this cause to that court.
We do not agree with this contention of defendants. The trial judge ordered the petition to be amended, because of the first exceptions of vagueness filed by defendants. Thereafter, he maintained the exception of no cause or right of action filed by Olga Marinoni, wife of William T. Nolan, executor. At that time, plaintiff had filed in the record the two affidavits made by Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., in his application for a marriage license. (T. 8) act of compromise annexed to and made part of the supplemental petition. (T. 12) Plaintiff had also enlarged and clarified the Plaintiff had also filed in the record the *809 allegations in the supplemental petition, by alleging: "That the statements and documents made by her mother when your petitioner was an infant and which your petitioner claims were false and untrue, and which were obtained by her father from her mother by reason of payment of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00), have been submitted to opposing counsel and are contained in the photostats in the brief filed by Mr. Oliver P. Carriere, attorney for Mrs. A.P. Provosty, and which is made a part of this petition to show the falsity and illegality of the statements contained in said photostats as far as petitioner is concerned, and in a certain act of compromise entered into between her mother and her father before Wm. J. Formento, Notary Public, dated March 31, 1902, which is equally false, misleading and purchased by the same bribe, and like aforesaid photostats is in no way binding on petitioner.
"That petitioner annexes said brief containing said photostats and said act of compromise hereto as Exhibits 1 and 2 and makes the same a part of this petition as Rem Ipsam, and prays for citation of defendant and for judgment as stated in her original petition and equitable relief." (T. 11)
The main pertinent allegations of the petition have already been copied in this opinion. With the additional data furnished, we fail to see wherein the petition can be made amenable to the charge of vagueness. It cannot be presumed that a judge would sustain an exception of no cause or right of action, in the face of an *810 exception of vagueness, and leave that exception standing, if he thought it should be maintained. His action in the matter must be construed as overruling the additional exceptions of vagueness, and we find no error in his ruling.
Mrs. Olga Marinoni Nolan, sister of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., and universal legatee under his will, excepted to plaintiff's petitions, original and amended, on the ground that exceptor, not having accepted or rejected the succession of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., and the succession still being under administration, is not a proper party defendant in this suit. Defendant prays, in the alternative, that this exception, not passed upon in the lower court, be maintained.
The exception of nonjoinder is without merit, for the plain reason that Mrs. Olga Marinoni Nolan, in her capacity as universal legatee, is here defending this suit, and has filed exceptions of vagueness, no cause of action, and res adjudicata, and all of these exceptions were maintained in the lower court.
The will of the late Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., is dated November 17, 1930, and was probated September 18, 1931. The present suit was not filed until June 14, 1933. Mrs. Olga Marinoni Nolan has not yet renounced her rights as universal legatee in the estate of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr. She is not presumed to renounce such rights, and there is no suggestion of any reason why she should do so. As universal legatee, she is necessarily a proper party to this suit. It may well be that such interest might impinge upon the légitime claimed *811 by plaintiff as a civil effect flowing from the alleged putative marriage of her mother in this case.
The exception of nonjoinder is not well taken and is overruled.
Olga Marinoni, wife of William T. Nolan, and William T. Nolan, executor, also filed exceptions to the original and amended petitions on the ground of nonjoinder of proper parties, in that the mother of plaintiff, Mrs. Josephine Bartoletti, is not made a party to these proceedings. These exceptions were not passed upon in the lower court, and defendants pray, in the alternative, that these exceptions be maintained.
The prayer of the plaintiff is "that the provisions of the last will and testament of the deceased, disposing of petitioner'slegitime, be annulled and that petitioner be declared entitled toinherit one-third of her said father's estate as the issue of a putative marriage contracted by her mother in good faith and in the full belief that she was legally married to Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., at the time of petitioner's conception, and be sent into possession of same and for general and equitable relief." (T. 7) (Italics ours.)
The plaintiff is a married woman. Her mother has no present interest whatever in any légitime plaintiff may recover, nor is her mother named as legatee, or otherwise, in the last will of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr. Plaintiff prays for judgment against the executor and the universal legatee under the will. *812
The decedent has had no children born of his present wife, Mrs. Adina Provosty Marinoni, but states in his will that he has adopted a baby boy named Oliver Otes Provosty Marinoni. The Civil Code (article 214) specifically declares that "such adoption shall not interfere with the rights of forced heirs," and plaintiff alleges herself to be a forced heir as the civil effect of the putative marriage of her mother to Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., deceased.
The exceptions of nonjoinder are overruled.
On July 17, 1935, Mrs. Olga Marinoni Nolan, wife of William T. Nolan, departed this life, since this appeal was taken, and, by order of this court of date October 8, 1935, Anita Marinoni Nolan, Ulisse Marinoni Nolan, Katharine Elizabeth Nolan, and Olga Nolan, wife of William J. Crutcher, the sole heirs of Mrs. Olga Marinoni Nolan, deceased, appellee herein, were substituted appellees in the place of their deceased mother.
This litigation has been a war of exceptions, dilatory and peremptory. This case has been pending in the courts for more than two years and the merits have not yet been reached. It is a matter of public policy that there shall be an end of lawsuits.
It is therefore ordered that our original decree be and is hereby annulled and reversed, and that the judgment of the lower court, of date May 14, 1934, maintaining the exception of no cause or right of action and the plea of res adjudicata, made by Olga Marinoni, wife of William T. Nolan, *813 executor, be and is hereby also annulled and reversed.
It is further ordered that the judgment, of date May 15, 1934, maintaining the plea of res adjudicata made by William T. Nolan, executor, be and is hereby also annulled and reversed.
It is now ordered that there be judgment in favor of plaintiff, Rita Marinoni, wife of John Lewis, and against William T. Nolan, executor, and the substituted appellees, Anita Marinoni Nolan, Ulisse Marinoni Nolan, Katharine Elizabeth Nolan and Olga Nolan, wife of William J. Crutcher, the sole heirs of Mrs. Olga Marinoni Nolan, deceased, overruling the exception of no cause or right of action herein filed by William T. Nolan, executor; also the additional exceptions of vagueness, filed by Mrs. Olga Marinoni Nolan, wife of William T. Nolan, and by William T. Nolan, executor; also the exception of nonjoinder filed by Mrs. Olga Marinoni Nolan, wife of William T. Nolan, executor, that exceptor not having accepted or rejected the succession of Ulisse Marinoni, Jr., and said succession still being in administration, exceptor is not a proper party defendant in this suit; also the exceptions of nonjoinder of proper parties, filed by Mrs. Olga Marinoni Nolan, wife of William T. Nolan, and by William T. Nolan, executor, in that the mother of plaintiff, Mrs. Josephine Bartoletti, is not made a party to these proceedings.
It is further ordered that this case be remanded to the lower court to be proceeded *814 with in due course, and in accordance with the views herein expressed.
The right to apply for rehearing is reserved as to all matters herein decided, except as to the pleas of res adjudicata.
O'NIELL, C.J., dissents, especially from the ruling that there can be a putative marriage, where there is in fact no marriage at all.
ROGERS, J., dissents.
ODOM, J., dissents and hands down reasons.