In re Estate of Levinson
In re Estate of Levinson
Opinion of the Court
Appeal by certain legatees named in the will of John Levinson, deceased, from an order settling the account of J. W. Goodwin, administrator with the will annexed of the estate of said deceased. The administrator was charged with misconduct in the discharge of his trust, and was cited to show cause why his letters should not be revoked; thereupon, on February 14, 1893, he filed the account in question, and tendered his resignation of his office of administrator. The order appealed from declared the charges against respondent to be without foundation, allowed his account as presented—with the exception of'a single item —and directed that upon the production of a receipt for the balance of funds of the estate in his hands, ascertained to be the sum of $4,729.94, from one Ira P. Rankin, who was appointed special administrator to succeed him, the respondent be discharged from further liability.
3. The legatees filed their exceptions to the account March 3, 1893; a hearing was had upon the objections thus made, and on September 12, 1893, the court orally announced its decision, stating the terms of the order to be drawn allowing the account; such order was signed by the judge and filed with the clerk September 16,1893, and was entered in the minute-book of the court October 6th following. The appeal was taken December 4, 1893. Respondent insists that the order is a judgment (Miller v. Lux, 100 Cal. 609); that the appeal was not taken “ within sixty days after the rendition of the judgment” (Code Cov. Proc., 939), and hence that the evidence upon which the decision rests cannot be reviewed. But this question has been made the subject of investigation by the court in Estate of Rose, 80 Cal. 166, and on the authority of that case we consider that the evidence here is open for examination.
3. Findings of fact were not waived, and the court made none. Appellants claim that for this reason the order should be reversed. The manner in which the account of an executor or administrator is usually made up, and the manner in which objections thereto are usually presented (and this case shows no exception), do not at all conduce to the development of issues such as arise upon the pleadings in a civil action, and to which findings are required to -be responsive. (Code Civ. Proc., 590, 633.) And it has been said here obiter, but we think correctly, that “ in such a proceeding it is not incumbent upon the court to make and file express findings.” (Miller v. Lux, supra.)
4. The court allowed to the respondent the sum of $343.91 as commissions. It appears that he was pre
Under the circumstances disclosed by the record nothing can be allowed respondent for commissions until the final settlement of the estate. (See Estate of Barton, 55 Cal. 87, and cases there cited.)
5. Eespondent engaged in litigation on behalf of the estate against William J. and Benjamin Newman, former partners, of decedent in the firm of Newman & Levinson, and employed certain expert accountants to examine the books of the partnership, for the purposes of such litigation. He claimed credit for $673.30 paid for the services of said experts. The payments to them, as shown by the account, were made in sums ranging from $25 to $80, beginning in January, 1892, and continuing at intervals for nearly a year following. Testimony was given that at first the money to pay said experts was furnished by the legatees. On cross-examination of the administrator as a witness at the hearing contest
The allowance of the further sum of $433.30 paid to said accountants was a matter committed to the sound discretion of the court; there is no proof that such discretion was abused. (See Estate of Moore, 72 Cal. 336.)
6. The following credit item appearing in the account was allowed: “ Dr. 0. F. Buckley, services, $50.00.” The administrator testified that payment thereof was made to Dr. Buckley for attendance as a witness on a motion for a receiver in a certain action instituted by the administrator; that he attended one day. The statute fixes the fees of witnesses at $2 per day. Why the further sum of $48 was paid does not appear in the record; its allowance was therefore erroneous.
7. The order appealed from directs that the sum of $500 be paid out of the estate to the law firm of Henley & MacSherry “ for services rendered the estate and the administrator in the management of the estate.” The services referred to were rendered in the conduct of the respondent’s suit against the Newmans. The claim is stated in the account as among the “ bills outstanding,” no sum being named; but at the hearing said attorneys presented a statement claiming an allowance of $1,000 for their services. The principal contest in the court
There was error, however, in the direction that the payment be made to the attorneys. Like other necessary expenses incurred in course of administration, the fees of counsel are to be allowed out of the estate to the executor or administrator; such is the reading of the statute (Code Civ. Proc., sec. 1616), and the effect of the decisions of this court. (Estate of Ogier, 101 Cal. 385; 40 Am. St. Rep. 61; Henry v. Superior Court, 93 Cal. 569; Estate of Blythe, 103 Cal. 350; Pennie v. Roach, 94 Cal. 515; Sharon v. Sharon, 75 Cal. 38.)
8. Since the court found that the charges of misfeasance against the respondent were false, it properly allowed him credit for the item of $100 paid for assist
The cause is remanded, with instructions to the superior court to modify the order appealed from in these particulars, viz: 1. Striking out therefrom all allowance for commissions, with leave to respondent to move for an allowance of his reasonable proportion of commissions upon the final settlement of the estate; 2. Allowing to respondent $500 for services of his attorneys, Henley & MacSherry, and striking out the allowance to said attorneys; 3. Allowing for services of experts $433.30, instead of $673.30; 4. Allowing for payment of Dr. Buckley $2, instead of $50. And as thus modified the order will stand affirmed.
Hearing in Bank denied.
A motion having been made to recall the remittitur, the following opinion was rendered thereon on the 23d of November, 1895:
060remittitur
Motion to recall the remittitur herein for the purpose of securing a modifical of the direction made therein for the payment of the costs of the appeal.
Without reference to the merits of the motion, it comes too late. The remittitur was regularly issued on September 6, 1895, and this motion was not noticed until October 18th following. If respondent desired a modification of the judgment in any respect, the proper application should have been made before the going down of. the remittitur. (Gray v. Palmer, 11 Cal. 341.) When the remittitur has been duly and regularly issued, without inadvertence, we have no power to recall it. This court thereupon loses jurisdiction of the cause, except in a case of mistake, or of fraud or imposition practiced upon the court, neither of which elements appear in this case. (People v. Sprague, 57 Cal. 147; Rowland v. Kreyenhagen, 24 Cal. 52.)
Motion denied.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In the Matter of the Estate of JOHN LEVINSON
- Cited By
- 42 cases
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- Published
- Syllabus
- Estates of Deceased Persons—Order Settling Account of Administrator—Review upon Appeal—Construction of Code.—Upon appeal from an order settling the account of an administrator, taken more than sixty days after the order was signed and filed with the clerk, and less than sixty days after it was 'entered in the minute-book of the court, the evidence upon which the order was based is open for examination and review by the appellate court; and the provision of section 939 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that upon appeal from a judgment the evidence cannot be reviewed unless the appeal is taken within sixty days after the rendition of the judgment, does not apply to an appeal from such an order. Id.—Bill of Exceptions—Specifications of Insufficiency of Evidence —Items of Account.—The account of an administrator is a bill of items, and specifications of the insufficiency of the evidence to justify the decision settling the account are stated with sufficient particularity when the evidence is alleged to be insufficient to justify the decision allowing particular items of the account specified in the bill of exceptions. Id.—Settlement of Accounts—Findings not Required — Nonwaiver. The manner in which the account of an executor or administrator is usually made up, and the manner in which objections thereto are usually presented, do not at all conduce to the development of issues such as arise upon the pleadings in a civil action, and in such a proceeding it is not incumbent upon the court to make and file express findings; and the fact that findings were not waived, and that none were made, is not ground for the reversal of the order accepting the account. Id.—Change of Administration of Estate—Allowance of Commissions . —Presumption—Extraordinary Services not Claimed.—Where the executor of a will of a deceased nerson has resigned the administration of the estate, and has been allowed a certain sum on account of commissions thereon, and has paid over the balance of account to bis successor as administrator of the will, such successor is not entitled to the allowance of any further commissions until the final settlement of the estate; and it cannot be presumed in support of an allowance of commissions at the time of the tendering of his resignation as administrator, exceeding in addition to the amount allowed his predecessor the total commissions allowable under section 1618 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that any allowance was made to him for extraordinary services not claimed in the account. Id.—Payment for Services of Experts —Discretion- of Court.—The allowance of money paid by the administrator to expert accountants for examining the books of a partnership, of which the decedent was a member, for the purpose of litigation, is a matter committed to the sound discretion of the court. Id.—Money Paid by Legatees.—Where it appears that a portion of the money credited the administrator for the payment of accountants was furnished by the legatees, for which a receipt had been given to one of the legatees toward payment of expenses in experting the books, if the administrator does not explain the receipt, or show that the money evidenced by the receipt was used to pay for services in addition to those specified in the account, his credit should be reduced by the amount of the receipt. Id.—Physician Called as Witness—Improper Allowance. —Where a physician was called to attend as a witness on motion for a receiver in an action instituted by the administrator, he is only entitled to the statutory fees allowed to witnesses, and a credit of $50 paid to him for one day’s attendance cannot be allowed to the administrator. Id.—Allowance for Services of Attorney—Improper Direction of Payment.—The fees of counsel are to be allowed out of the estate to the executor or administrator like other necessary expenses incurred in the course of administration, and it is erroneous to direct that payment be made out of the estate to the attorneys. Id.—Value of Attorney’s Services—Conflicting Evidence—Proposition of Compromise.—Where there is conflicting evidence as to the value of the services rendered the estate by attorneys, and the amount allowed by the court finds support in the evidence, such amount will not be disturbed; and the fact that the attorneys did not agree with other counsel for the administration as to the policy to be pursued, and insisted on a proposed compromise, which, if effected, would have given the estate little more than the expenses of the action, does not deprive them of the value of their services, if it does not appear but that the course they recommended comported with the proper discharge of professional obligation, and if, in the light of the event, it appears to have been to the interest of the estate. Recalling Remittitur—Appeal—Jurisdiction.—When the remittitur has been duly and regularly issued, without inadvertence, the supreme court loses jurisdiction of the cause, and has no power to recall it, except in a case of mistake, or of fraud or imposition practiced upon the court.