Case ID: la-ann_14/html/0612-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Land, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Executors of Morgan v. C. D. Métayer.
    Tho death or insolvency of one debtor in solido does not release or extinguish the right of solidarity which the creditor has against tho others ; and the acknowledgment of a debt, by placing it on a tableau of distribution made by the syndic of a debtor in solido, who is insolvent, interrupts proscription as to the other debtors bound in solido with him.
    from the District Court of tlie Parish of Natchitoches, Chaplin, J.
    
      A. H. Pierson, for plaintiff. Kearney & Hamilton, for defendant and appellant.
   Land, J.

The only question in this case is, whether the acknowledgment of a • debt, and placing the same on a tableau of distribution, by the syndic of an insolvent debtor in solido, interrupts prescription as to the other debtors in solido.

It is a general rule that the service of citation upon one debtor in solido, or his acknowledgment of the debt, interrupts the prescription with regard to all the others, and even their heirs and sureties.

Pothier says, “ There is a great difference between an acknowledgment made after the time of the prescription is accomplished, so as to destroy it, and one made before, which has the effect only of interrupting it; the latter may be made not only by the debtor himself, but also by a tutor, curator, or person having a general procuration; it may be made by the debtor himself, though a minor, without his being entitled to restitution against it.” ITe further says, “ Any act by which the debtor acknowledges the debt interrupts the time of prescription, whether it be passed with the creditor, or without him. For instance, if in the inventory of the effects of the debtor, the debt is included amongst the charges (parmi lepas-sif), such inventory though not made with the concurrence of the creditor, is an act which recognizes the debt, and interrupts the prescription. Pothier on Obligations, Nos. 658, 665.

In this case, the syndic acknowledged the debt before the time of prescription had been accomplished, and in a mode that would have been obligatory on the debtor himself.

It is not disputed that a tutor, curator, or other administrator, under our jurisprudence, may acknowledge a debt so as to interrupt prescription; and consequently, when the debt is in solido, the legal effect of the acknowledgment, under the rule above mentioned, is to interrupt the prescription as to the other debtors in solido, their heirs and sureties. And we perceive no sufficient legal reason to induce us to hold that the syndic of an insolvent debtor in solido has not the same power as his legal representative in all rights of action, and of property, to interrupt prescription by an acknowledgment of the debt. So long as the liability is in solido, the acknowledgment of one debtor, or his legal representative, must have its legal effects, as to the others. The death or insolvency of one debtor in solido does not release or extinguish the right of solidarity which the creditor has against the others. This right can only be released or renounced by the consent or agreement of the creditor. Pothier on Ob., No. 277.

It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment be affirmed, with costs.