In re the Estate of Kornacki
Opinion of the Court
Memorandum: Joseph Kornacki, as limited administrator (Surrogate’s Ct. Act, § 122), instituted an action in 1941 in the Supreme Court of Erie County, against Bernard Behringer, to recover damages for the alleged wrongful death of his infant son. In January, 1947, Hon. Wortley B. Paul, Surrogate of Erie County, entered an order authorizing the settlement and release of said cause of action for the sum of $400 and directing the removal of the limitations on the letters of administration. The decree from which this appeal is taken vacates the decree of former Surrogate Paul and orders that the action for wrongful death be restored to the Trial Calendar of the Supreme Court and directs the Clerk of Erie County to place said action on the Trial Calendar of causes of action now pending in Erie County. We think that the Surrogate exceeded his authority in the matter. First, the so-called “ order of settlement ” was merely permissive, and its only purpose under section 122 of the Surrogate’s Court Act is to determine the amount of security which a limited administrator must post before collecting fund for the estate (see Matter of Amo, 264
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.