Succession of Haile
Succession of Haile
Opinion of the Court
The case is before us on the appeal of a mortgage creditor of the succession from, a judgment allowing commissions to the administratrix, and a fee to her attorneys, his defense being that he, as mortgage creditor, should not be condemned to pay these charges. The facts are, that:
Mrs. Christopher V. Ilaile, widow of O. V. Haile, obtained letters of administration on February 1st, 1899, on a petition for the administration of the succession, alleging that the real estate inventoried was mortgaged for thirty-two thousand six hundred dollars, with interest, subject to a stated credit, and that there were no funds out of which to pay the debts. An order dated February 3rd, 1899, was issued by one of the divisions of the district court directing a sale of all the property of the succession to pay its debts. Under this order the property of the succession was advertised and sold. Nearly all the immovable property of the succession sold at this sale was adjudicated to the appellant and the aggregate amount of the sales of the different properties under this order was less than the amount of his mortgage.
On January 16th, 1899, the same day the notice of demand under the writ of seizure and sale was served, appellant sued to foreclose his mortgage via ejecutiva. No notice of the order of seizure and sale was given for the reason that the administratrix had not qualified in that capacity. On the 19th day of January, 1899, the administratrix having on that day taken out letters of administration, notice of demand of payment was addressed by the clerk of court to the administratrix, and on the third day of February following it was duly served. On February 3rd, a notice of seizure in the executory proceedings sued for by the appellant was duly served upon the administratrix.
On February 16th, McLellan, appellant here, took a rule upon the administratrix setting out that under a writ of executory process taken out in Division 0 of the district court, the property had been seized by the sheriff; that the order to sell the property to pay the debts granted in the probata proceedings in Division A of the court was granted after the order of seizure and sale, and that it was improperly granted. The trial of this rule went over until March 10th. On the trial of this rule on that day, the evidence shows that the petition for executory process was filed on the day before mentioned, and that the notice of seizure was served as before stated. It also appears that the property was ad
Advertising and expenses as per the auctioneer’s return.....$ 756.70
Administratrix’s commission ............................ 1005.21
Fee of attorney ........................................ 1674.21
The opposition to the first item is abandoned. The remaining issue is whether or not the mortgage creditor shall pay from the proceeds of the mortgaged property the second and third items just stated. Appellant chose to be present at the sale by public auction and to become the adjudicatee of the property mortgaged. * He did not object to the judgment on the rule, but remained entirely silent as relates to it until the account and tableau were filed, and then, for the first time, the objection before stated to two of the items was presented. Appellant seeks to meet the position that he had virtually abandoned all recourse under his writ of seizure and sale by appearing at the sale, and buying the property mortgaged, by urging that the rule having been decided when the sale was about to be made, he either had to protect himself by bidding at the sale or take the chances of having the property sacrificed at his expense. This being the position of the appellant, let rt: briefly
The complaint directed against, the administratrix as to the amount of her claim is completely met by referring to the law, which allows 2 1-2 per cent, on the amount of inventory, bad debts deducted. The amount of administratrix’s commission is sustained by Art. 1069 C. C. This brings us to a consideration of the amount charged as attorney’s fee.
With reference to the' fee of attorney, it is alleged that it is excessive. Under the principles laid clown in,'the Succession of Rabasse, 51st Ann., 590, and in Succession of Richards, 49th Ann., 1115, the court examined the pleadings and considered the value of the services Which the court
The administratrix carried an amount on her account as administratrix of one hundred and fifty-three 74-100 dollars, due to L. P. Larose. The judge of the District Court decided that this was an ordinary and not a privileged debt. Larose appealed from the decision. On appeal all the parties in interest consent to let this claim remain on the account with privilege as carried on the account. To this extent the judgment appealed from must be amended.
Eor reasons assigned, the judgment of the district court is affirmed, except as to the one hundred and fifty-three 74-100 dollars before mentioned.
It is ordered, adjudged and decreed as to this amount that it is secured as to its payment by privilege on the account of administration with rank as- set forth on said account. The fee of attorney is reduced to .one thousand one hundred and five dollars and thirty-six cents, secured by privilege. This amendment is made at the cost of appellee.
Rehearing refused.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Succession of Christopher V. Haile Opposition of Alden McLellan to Final Account of Administratrix
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Syllabus. Tlxe mortgage creditor who had undertaken to foreclose his mortgage filed a rule to set aside the probate order obtained by the administratrix to have the mortgaged property sold to pay the debts of the succession. The administratrix joined issue. The rule was decided on the day the property was offered for sale under the order of the Probate Court. The mortgage creditor did not move for an appeal, take out an injunction or do anything to have Ills right recognized as a seizing creditor. On the contrary, he bid in the property offered under the probate order, and, thereby, abandoned his rights under his order of foreclosure. Held : That the property mortgaged was properly assessed for the costs, including the commission of the administratrix and the fee of her counsel as fixed by the court on appeal.