Lafitte v. Daigre
Lafitte v. Daigre
Opinion of the Court
The issues involved in this case, with tho exception perhaps of one only, have been presented for the consideration of this court in two cases against the same defendants, at the suit of E. Fendler. See 19 An. 190 and 22 An. 289.
In this case the plaintiffs attack the account rendered to her children in 1861, the adjudication to herself at that time of certain property alleged to have belonged to her husband, and seek to have declared null, as simulated and fraudulent, the alienations and transfers of property made under sanction of the decree promulgating her account of tutorship.
It appears that Gilbert Daigre, husband of Mrs. Mary Daigre, one of the defendants, died in the year 1859. Mrs. Daigre became the tutrix of her minor children and in that capacity administered the
The plaintiffs hold claims against Mrs. Daigre arising from obligations contracted by her in the year 1863. These claims were sued upon and judgments obtained upon them in 1865. The two sales and the transfer made in satisfaction of the judgment obtained by the heirs against Mrs. Daigre, took place early in August, 1865, and the plaintiffs’ judgments were not rendered until the month of December following. This action to annul and set aside the various acts complained of by the creditors was not begun until the year 1870.
The creditors urge that the property they allege the defendant, Mrs. Daigre, sought to screen from their pursuit is more than sufficient to pay the whole amount she may justly owe the heirs upon a just settlement with them.
They allege that a large amount of the adjudication to the widow, in 1860, was illegally made up of the separate property of her husband which she had no legal right to have adjudicated to her. They also, contend that a large part in value of the property of the community which was legally adjudicated to her was composed of slaves, and to the extent of their value she was under no obligation to pay the heirs anything.
The defendants make a general denial and plead the prescription of one year in bar of the plaintiffs’ action to disturb the sales and transfer of the property they acquired in payment of their claims against Mrs. Daigre. There was judgment in favor of the defendants and the plaintiffs have appealed.
It is clear that the acts sought to be annulled and set aside in order
The prescription of one year within which the revocatory action must be brought therefore prevails in this case against the plaintiffs. Civil Code, articles 1987, 1994, 3978. The simulated sale transfers no title, it is not a contract, a mere spectre, an empty shadow without substance, an airy nothing, presenting no barrier to the creditor in pursuit of his pledge, the property of his debtor. The actual though fraudulent contract is an impediment in his way which he is compelled to remove before ho can continue his pursuit, and he must set about the work of removal within a year after it is interposed, otherwise the barrier becomes immovable.
The judgment of the lower court is correct, and it is therefore ordered that it be affirmed with costs.
Rehearing refused.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Charles Lafitte v. Mrs. M. C. Daigre
- Status
- Published