Dana v. Dana

Supreme Court of Louisiana
Dana v. Dana, 43 La. Ann. 354 (La. 1891)
Breaux

Dana v. Dana

Opinion of the Court

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Breaux, J.

This suit was brought by one of the forced heirs of Marie Antoinette Dana, deceased, who sues in two capacities, personally, and as administrator of the succession of his late mother, to compel his brothers and sisters to collate each the sum of $575, alleged to have been received, by each, from their mother, as an advanced portion; also to recover of one of the defendants, Tony Dana, the. sum of $600 and certain personal effects, to be apportioned pro rata among the heirs.

Defendants Tony and John Dana pleaded an exception of no cause of action, which was overruled. Their answer contains a general denial. They, in addition, set forth that the personal effects claimed were delivered to plaintiff; further, that three of the defendants had been engaged in business as partners, and that on the dissolution, of the partnership, a partition was made, and an equal share was allowed to the mother.

From a judgment against Tony Dana for $600, in favor of plaintiff, and against all the other heirs ordering them to collate each the sum of $575, defendants Tony Dana and John Dana appealed.

The conflicting statements of the witnesses make it difficult to determine whether the property belonged to Marie Antoinette Dana, or to the partnership — of which three of her sons were the members. Their father died about three years before the suit was brought. His succession was never opened. A few of the witnesses testify that he had no property; others testify that he owned two luggers and other property which was taken possession of by their mother, after his death, and that under her management, with the aid of her sons, two of whom were minors, the property was made to increase. By dint of economy, a few months prior to her death she was enabled to donate a certain amount to four of her children, she retaining an amount similar to that donated to each, besides other property of little value.

There were six witnesses examined in the trial of the casq, all *357heirs except an nncle and the wife of one of the heirs, whose testimony we will hereafter refer to. Sam Dana, a partner of Tony and John, the appellants who claim the property as -belonging to the partnership, testifies that the business continued after their father’s death, controlled by the mother with the children. His testimony is not always consistent. Of the contradictory statements made, at least this clear portion of the testimony will be considered and some weight given, he .being interested as a member of the partnership claiming to be owner, and therefore against his interest; that the property was owned by their mother.

The other two partners testify that the property belonged to the partnership, and are pleased to testify that their father and mother had no property.

It is proven that the Aline, a lugger, was once owned by the father, afterward the Josephine,- another lugger. These were, purchased about six years before his death, and were owned by him at his death. This is, strange to say, uncontradicted.

These boats were the property of the father and mother, acquired by their joint labor and that of their children. The appellants were minors, at the time. The minors can not recover for their labor and change the ownership of property by proving that it contributed to its purchase. Ledbetter vs. Ledbetter, 2 An. 15.

From the amount realized in trading, and in selling these boats others were bought by the mother, who had the management of the business after the father died, and controlled it to her death.

The record discloses that she was thrifty.

The money realized by her can be accounted for only on the theory that it was invested in the store in Baton Rouge and in other property bought after all the luggers haS been sold.

After careful consideration we conclude that the partnership was not the liberal donor to the mother of one-fourth of its assets, but that on the contrary, she divided among her four children property which they had become accustomed to consider as property owned in common, and that for some unexplained reason, plaintiff was not included in the distribution made.

The amount received should be collated and included in the partition.

The other claim amounts to $600, alleged to be due by one of the defendants, Tony Dana, to the succession of his mother.

*358It is shown that this defendant bought property. One or two of the witnesses testify that at the time the amount of $600 was handed to him by his mother to make this purchase.

Conceding this to be a correct statement among the many that are, decidedly incorrect, as this amount was handed to him a short time, before the division made of the property, and as it is shown that all' the property was appraised and the amount received by each heir ■ was settled by reference to the value of the whole, we conclude that, this part of plaintiff’s demand should be rejected.

No reference in the testimony is made to $600, or to sums aggre-. gating that amount.

It is contended that as it is in evidence that $600 was handed to. one of the defendants, as before mentioned, it follows that he is indebted in the sum of $600.

The division of the property made by the mother included all the assets she had, except property of little value. It is not satisfactorily shown that she owned -besides a sum of $600 due by Tony Dana.

The testimony of the wife of one of the heirs has not been considered.

Our brother of the District Court correctly interpreted the law with reference to the testimony of the wife when the husband is interested, but erred in its application. The wife could not testify without testifying for or against the interest of her husband.

Properly, the witness was directed to testify only with reference to the amounts received by the co-heirs of her husband with the view to collation. But it was not possible to fix any amount without, affecting the husband’s interest, and therefore the wife’s testimony falls within the exclusion of Article 2282 of the Oivil Code and was not admissible.

Appellants have urged that one of the heirs, a married woman,, has not been cited and that no proof has been made establishing any indebtedness on her part.

The form of the citation is evidently an oversight. It can not be-of any avail. The interested party makes no defense. We are led to notice this objection only to state that a partition must be made-to settle the succession and establish that equality which should prevail among the heirs.

During our examination we were impressed with the necessity *359of this partition and were tempted to remand the case without further action to enable the heirs to make a partition.

We have decided the issues presented at this time, as it may facilitate an earlier settlement and thereby enable plaintiff, Joseph Dana, to get his own.

The judgment appealed from is hereby amended by deducting therefrom the $600 decreed in this judgment to be due by Tony Dana to the plaintiff.

After amendment the judgment appealed from is affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
Joseph Dana v. Tony Danas.
Status
Published