Case ID: iowa_83/html/0357-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Rothrock, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mary P. Heath, Appellant, v. T. Elliott, Appellee.
    Guardian and Ward: accounting: laches: limitation oe actions. Where a ward, delayed for more than twenty years after attaining her majority to ask'an accounting with her guardian, and the evidence showed that the latter had made a settlement with the court, though the record thereof was informal, held, that the ward’s action for an accounting was Barred By the statute of limitations.
    
      Appeal from Monona District Cov/rt. — Hon. Scott M. Ladd, Judge.
    Friday, October 9, 1891.
    This is an action to compel an accounting for money alleged to have been received by the defendant as guardian of the plaintiff during her minority. There was a trial upon' the merits, and the plaintiff’s petition was dismissed, and she appeals.
    
    Affirmed.
    
      Chas. MacKende and Dewell <& McCavren, for appellant.
    
      Chas. JE. Underhill and Craig 8. Wright, for appellee.
   Rothrock, J.

The plaintiff became of age in the year 1866. The defendant was her guardian for some four years before she arrived at her majority. It is claimed that the defendant failed to make a settlement of his guardianship, and failed to account for and pay to her the money which came into his hands; that there is a balance due her of between one hundred and two hundred dollars. The evidence shows that a settlement was made with the court, but the record thereof is somewhat informal. This suit was not commenced for more than twenty years after the plaintiff became of age. It is barred by the statute of limitations. The evidence does not show that the defendant practiced any fraud or made any fraudulent concealment of the state of his account, but it does show that the plaintiff, with the least degree of diligence, might have ascertained all of the facts now relied upon many years ago. The case demands no further attention. Aeeirmeu.