Flanders v. Sutton
Flanders v. Sutton
Opinion of the Court
The ordinary of Emanuel county, for the use of two named persons, “heirs of the estate of W. M. Sutton, deceased,” brought suit against the principal and sureties on the bond of the administrator of Sutton’s estate. It was alleged, that the two persons named as heirs had brought suit against the administrator in the court of ordinary for a settlement, and had recovered a judgment against him as administrator and personally for a stated sum; that execution had issued, and the sheriff had returned an entry of nulla bona both as to the property of the estate and as to the property of the administrator individually; and that the defendants were due to the two persons named the stated sum as principal, and interest, which the defendants refused to pay, and for which judgment was prayed. Held, that it was error to dismiss the action, on oral motion, “for the want of proper parties plaintiff.”
(а) The provision of the Civil Code (1910), § 4082, that when an administrator shall fail to settle an account with any distributee of the estate he represents, such distributee may institute suit on the bond of the administrator in the first instance, without a suit against the administrator in his representative capacity, confers a privilege upon such distributee, but does not prevent the bringing of a suit upon the bond in the name of the ordinary for the use of such distributee. Mathis v. Fordham, 114 Ga. 364 (40 S. E. 324).
(б) The bill of exceptions alleged, by way of recital, that the usees were
(c) The petition alleged that the usees were heirs of the intestate, and that they had cited the administrator to a settlement in the court of ordinary, and had obtained judgment fixing the amount due them. If they had been adjudged distributees of the estate, and the amount due to them had been settled, such a judgment could not be thus collaterally attacked. Judgment reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Flanders, ordinary, for use, etc. v. Sutton
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published