Case ID: nc_14/html/0251-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Henderson, Chief-Justice,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Jacob Conrad v. David Dalton.
    A sci. fa. suggesting a devastavit by an administrator does not survive against ljis executor.
    This was a scire facias, reciting that the plaintiff obtained a judgment against Isaac Dalton, administrator of Jonathan Dalton, upon which a fi.fa. had issued, which was returned nulla bona ; and it ivas suggested that assets of the said Jonathan had come to the hands of the said Isaac, and had been by him wasted. After the return of this writ the death of Isaac ivas suggested, and process issued to revive the suit against the defendant, his executor. The defendant appeared to this process, and filed a general demurrer ; which was sustained by his Honor Judge MaNgum, and thereupon the plaintiff appealed.
    The case was submitted without argument by Devó-renos for the plaintiff, and Nash for the defendant,
    
      In no case is the executor of an administrator hable at law to the creditors of the intestate.
    But upon a proper case he may be made responsible in equity, on the ground that he is in the possession of the fund liable to the payment of debts.
    Is there any remedy against the executor of an administrator for a devastavit, by the destruction of assets ? Quere.
    
   Henderson, Chief-Justice,

after stating the substance of the pleadings, as above set forth, proceeded: This is an attempt by the creditor to reach the assets of the debtor, (.Jonathan Ballon,) in the hands of the executor of the administrator; which certainly cannot he done at law. For neither the administrator of the executor, nor the executor of the administrator represents the first testator or intestate. The unadministered a.ssets belong to the administrator de honis non of the first dead man, and may be recovered by him, and when so recovered are assets in his hands. And if he neglects to recover them, it is a devastavit, and he is responsible for their value; viz: for what he might have recovered. Where the goods have actually, been wasted by the first executor or administrator. I am at a loss to say, what is to he done. For a devastavit is in tori, which dies with the person. Perhaps our acts of Assembly, reviving all causes of action, where property is the subject of controversy, that is, all which are not merely vindictive, will enable the administrator dc bonis non to sustain an action, even where there has been an actual devastavit. Where the goods remain in kind, and are unadministered, there can be no doubt, that the administrator de bonis non may recover them. But in -no case which I can conceive, is the administrator of the executor, or the executor of the administrator liable, at law, to the actions of creditors of the first testator or intestate. Where the executor or administrator becomes fixed with assets, it is then his pwn debt; and his executor or administrator is liable. Property or debts, in compensation foradmusi<mf,'may, in equity afford ground of relief to creditors, legatees and distributees upon a proper case. But the executor of the executor, where there is only one executor of the first testator, or of the surviving executor, where there are more, is liable at law. For in fact, he is the executor of the first testator.

When I say, that independently of our acts of Assembly keeping alive actions for torts, where property is the subject matter of them, I am at a loss to say how in the case of a waste of property by the executor or first administrator, the administrator de bonis non could obtain satisfaction, I mean where the property has been destroyed. If the executor or administrator has converted the goods into money, and failed to apply it to the uses of the es.tate, it is so much money in his hands, for which the administrator de bonis non may support an action, I suppose, for s.uch money received to his use. But this is rather straining the action for money liad and received. For it cannot, otherwise than by a fiction, be said to have been received to the use of the administrator de bonis non. To sustain the action, we must personify the estate ; and as the administrator de bonis non represents the estate, give the action to him. There is no difficulty when the property remains in kind. And I believe, by a justifiable extension of our acts before mentioned, they may embrace cases of actual waste.

But if the administrator has converted the assets to his own use, it seems the administrator de bonis non may recover against his executor for money had and received.

Pur Curiam. — Judgment affirmed.