In Re the Accounting of Syracuse Trust Co.

New York Court of Appeals
In Re the Accounting of Syracuse Trust Co., 72 N.E.2d 306 (N.Y. 1947)
296 N.Y. 244; 1947 N.Y. LEXIS 944
<italic>Per Curiam.</italic>

In Re the Accounting of Syracuse Trust Co.

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam.

Though the compromise agreement of January 7,1937, was made in violation of section 15 of the Personal Property Law and section 103 of the Real Property Law, the Surrogate’s decree of January 14, 1937, approving that agreement was nevertheless a conclusive adjudication of the validity thereof. The decree of January 14, 1937, was consented to by all parties in interest and no appeal therefrom was ever taken. Hence that decree was not open to the collateral attack that was made upon it by the appellants in this independent proceeding. (See Crouse v. McVickar, 207 N. Y. 213, 217; Schacht v. Schacht, 295 N. Y. 439; 1 Freeman on Judgments [5th ed.], § 357.) Douglas v. Cruger (80 N. Y. 15) is not authority for a contrary view. The determination that was under attack in the Douglas case was an order which had none of the attributes of a final adjudication. The relevant distinction is pointed out in Bannon v. Bannon (270 N. Y. 484). (See 2 Freeman on Judgments [5th ed.], § 667.)

We think the Appellate Division was right in its refusal to surcharge the trustee for the losses that resulted from the acquisition or retention of the railroad bonds in question.

The challenge to the allowances that were awarded to the referee and to the special guardian does not present any question of law.

The order should be affirmed, with costs to the respondent, payable out of the estate.

Loughran, Oh. J., Conway, Desmond, Thaoher, Dye and Fuld, JJ., concur; Lewis, J., taking no park

Order affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
In the Matter of the Accounting of Syracuse Trust Company, as Trustee Under the Will of Frank E. Wade, Deceased, Respondent. Margaret S. Wade Et Al., Appellants
Cited By
19 cases
Status
Published