Michels v. Pacific Tile & Porcelain Co.
Michels v. Pacific Tile & Porcelain Co.
Concurring Opinion
I am satisfied to concur in the judgment upon the sole ground that there was no prejudicial error. There is in the record a surfeit of procedural irregularity, but the appellant does not even claim in his
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal from an order of the probate court directing partial distribution of certain assets of the estate of John Michels, deceased, to respondent Pacific Tile & Porcelain Company. John Michels died intestate and Mary T. Michels, surviving spouse, was appointed administratrix of the estate. All of the property in question is community property and Mary T. Michels is sole heir. A contract was entered into on April 2,1935, by Mary T. Michels and Mary T. Michels as administratrix, designated as the first party, and Pacific Tile & Porcelain Company, designated as the second party, whereby the first party agreed to sell to the second party a number of promissory notes executed by Globe Tile & Porcelain Works, Inc. These notes, although barred by the statute of limitations, were secured by a trust deed upon certain real property. The real estate in question was not of sufficient value to pay the amount of these and other notes for which it had been made security. All of the notes in question together were appraised by the inheritance tax appraiser as of the value of $5,000. The party of the second part agreed to give its note in the sum of $5,000 in payment. It was provided that “this agreement is subject to the approval of the Probate Court of Los Angeles County, in the Matter of the Estate of John Michels, Deceased, and Party of the First
Appellant now contends that the issue between the parties concerns title to the notes and that the probate court did not have jurisdiction to pass upon this issue. No objection to the procedure followed was made in the trial court either by pleading or orally during the trial. The sole question presented for the determination of the trial court concerned the ownership of the notes. The trial court had general jurisdiction of the subject-matter. The appellant may not submit the question involved to the trial court without objection and, after an adverse judgment, raise on appeal for the first time the question of the jurisdiction of the court. (Imperial Valley L. Co. v. Globe G. & M. Co., 187 Cal. 352 [202 Pac. 129] ; Estate of Latour, 140 Cal. 414 [73 Pac. 1070, 74 Pac. 441] ; Miller v. Forster, 131 Cal. App. 509 [21 Pac. (2d) 678]; Estate of Dombrowski, 163 Cal. 290 [125 Pac. 233].)
Appellant attacks the order of the trial court approving the petition for compromise, contending that there was no basis for a compromise and that the order was invalid for the reason that compliance had not been made with certain provisions of the Probate Code. It is conceded by all parties that the assignment made by Mary T. Michels in her capacity as administratrix was invalid. Indeed the trial court in its order for partial distribution held that the transfer of the administratrix was ineffective. But the trial court found
After the contract of April 2, 1935, was executed the parties thereto agreed upon certain modifications of its terms whereby a different period was specified for the payment of the $5,000 note and certain shares of stock of the Globe Tile & Porcelain Works, Inc., were transferred by Mary T. Michels to respondent. This oral agreement for the modification of the original contract was executed and the stock delivered to Pacific Tile & Porcelain Company. The court properly held upon sufficient evidence that title to the stock had passed to respondent.
The order and judgment are affirmed.
MeComb, J., pro tem., concurred in the judgment.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In the Matter of the Estate of JOHN MICHELS, Deceased. PETER MICHELS, Appellant, v. PACIFIC TILE & PORCELAIN COMPANY, Respondent
- Cited By
- 9 cases
- Status
- Published