Case ID: nj-eq_96/html/0244-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Ingersoll, V. C.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Bertha Emma Flett, complainant, v. South Jersey Title and Finance Company, &c., et al, defendants.
    [Decided March 31st, 1924.]
    1. J. H. Flett died testate, leaving all his estate to his wife and two sons by name, in equal parts, naming his wife as executrix. At the time of his death he was the holder of an option to purchase certain land. The widow exercised the option in her individual capacity and purchased the property, afterwards selling it at a profit.
    2. Shortly' after the death of Flett a son was born to his wife. Said, that the profits arising from the exercise of the option accrued to the estate and that the posthumous child, being entitled to a share of his father’s estate, had an interest in the option and of the profits arising therefrom.
    On bill for relief.
    
      Messrs. Cole & Cole, for the complainant.
    
      Mr. Charles C. Babcock, for the defendants.
   Ingersoll, V. C.

At the time of his death, one John H. Flett held an option to purchase certain property in Atlantic City. Flett died on May 14th, 1905, testate. By his will, which was probated May 25th, 1905, his property was given to his wife, Bertha Emma Flett, and his sons, John H. Flett,'Jr., and William John Flett, in equal parts, and Mrs. Flett was named as executrix of .the will and guardian of the two children. Charles Flett, the infant defendant, was born shortly after his father’s death.

On March 10th 1909, Mrs. Flett, in her individual capacity, exercised the option and purchased the property in question, taking the title thereto in her own name.

She afterwards sold the premises to parties by the name of James, at a very much higher valuation than paid for bv her. After examination of the records, the defendant title company set forth in its certificate of search as an exception the possible interests of the infant son of the complainant, the two other sons having previously quit-claimed to the mother “all their right, title and interest in the premises.”

At the time of the settlement with James, Mrs. Elett assigned to the title .company a mortgage of $45,000, which she received from James, as security against loss, and the company issued its policy insuring the title to said property without excepting the possible “interest of the infant son.”

The bill is filed praying for a decree “that said Charles Elett has not now nor ever had any interest in the premises described herein or in the mortgage referred to-, and that the South Jersey Title and Einance Company be required to reassign to her the bond and mortgage herein referred tp, and that she may have such other and further relief as may be agreeable to equity.”

There is no contention that the posthumous child was not entitled to his share in the estate of his father.

The only question to be determined isj Has the estate of Elett any equitable interest in the results obtained by Mrs. Elett’s exercise of the option above referred to in her individual capacity ?

An unexercised option to purchase goes primarily to the executor of the lessee and afterwards to' his legatee. McCormick v. Stephany, 57 N. J. Eq. 257.

It is unnecessary to cite authorities, that one who holds property in a fiduciary capacity cannot purchase that property at his own sale. Certainly an executor cannot refrain from selling a valuable right—in this case an option to purchase—or exercising that right in her fiduciary capacity, and then in her individual capacity exercise the same to her personal advantage.

The complainant insists that at no time was the estate in financial position to exercise the option. I am unable to now determine this question, even if it were necessary so to do.

This option remained an asset of the estate. The executor exercised it, and the advantage or profits arising therefrom must be held as profits accruing to the estate.

The infant child has an interest therein, and the defendant title company, having insured against such interest, is entitled to hold the mortgage assigned as security to it against loss by reason of such insurance.

A decree will be advised dismissing the bill.