Case Name: Succession of James Peter Curley
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1866-12
Citations: 18 La. Ann. 728
Docket Number: 
Parties: Succession of James Peter Curley.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 18
Pages: 728–729

Head Matter:
Succession of James Peter Curley.
A sale of real estate bolonging to a succession, without appraisement, is null and void, and tho purchaser is not bound to comply with tho adjudication.
Tho general rulo requires succession proporty to bo sold, aftor advertisomónt of ten days for movables and thirty days for real estate.
Tlio expression, in tho Act of 17th January, 1838,' “ that the curator so appointod shall causo tho ollocts of said succession to be sold, and the proceeds to beapplied to the payment of the debts of tho dooeasod; the whole lo bo dono in as summary a manner as possible, to diminish costs, and under tho immediate direction'of the Judge,” does not convey any such meaning, nor substitute tho will of tho officer in lieu of tho law passed to protect tho creditor and the heirs, and to call as much competition as possible. In as summary a manner as possible, means as possible according to law, speedily and diligently as allowed by law, but not against law. The sale, therofore, was legally impossible, without previous advertisement of thirty days.
APPEAL from the Second District Court of New Orleans,
Thomas, J. Frank Haynes, for E. Burke, appellant. A. S. Villere, for Mrs. Curley, appellee.

Opinion:
Labauve, J.
This is an appeal taken from a judgment, making tho following rule absolute:
On motion of Widow James Curley, administratrix of tho estate of James Peter Curley, her deceased son, and on suggesting to tho Court that, at a public sale made by R. M. Montgomery, auctioneer, pursuant to an order from this Court, the jiroporty described in the inventory, and situated on Martin street, was adjudicated to one E. Burke, of this city.
That, in order to give a clear title to the said purchaser, it becomes necessary to cause the mortgages recorded against said property, and fully set forth in the certificate this day filed, to bo erased. It is therefore ordered, that:
1. The recorder of mortgages ; 2. James Curley, tutor of the minors, Mary, Ellen and James Curley; 3. Tho New Orleans Draining Company ; 4. The said E. Burke, show cause, on Thursday, the 23d day of, November, 1865, at 11 o'clock, A. M., why tho said mortgages should not be erased and cancelled, and why the said Burke should not be condemned to comply with, tho adjudication of said property, or, in default thereof, why judgment should not be rendered against him' for the full sum of four hundred and fifty dollars, with interest and costs.
E. Burke answered that no appraisers were appointed and sworn, to-value said lot of ground. That the said lot was sold and adjudicated after ten days' advertisement. That the property is incumbered by mortgages; one in favor of R. W. Montgomery, for $161; another for $500, for administration of Joseph Curley as tutor of minors, from whom he purchased draining privilege N. 0., and that the administrator must give him a good title.
The Court below, after hearing the evidence, made the rule absolute, and E. Burke appealed.
This succession being small, the administrator was appointed and the property ordered to be sold, under the provisions of the statute of 17th January, 183S, p. 5, amending the Article 1178 of the Civil Code. The evidence shows that the lot was not appraised by appraisers, appointed and sworn, and that it was sold under an order of Court, dated 13th October, on the 28th October, 1865, showing clearly that there was not thirty days' advertisement.
We are of opinion that our learned brother erred; that the sale of said lot is null and void; and that, consequently, the purchaser and adjudicates is not bound to comply with the adjudication.
This property should have been estimated previous to the sale, by appraisers, appointed and sworn. Civil Codo, Arts. 1096, 1097, 1098, 1178. The general rule requires succession property to be sold after advertisement of ten days for movables, and thirty days for real estate. Civil Code, Art. 1159.
. The statute of 17th January, 1838, already referred to, docs not dispense with those essential delays.
The expression, that the curator so appointed shall cause the effects of said succession to be sold, and the proceeds to be applied to the payment of the debts of the deceased; the whole to be done in as summary a manner as possible, to diminish costs, and under the immediate direction of the Judge," does not convey any such meaning, nor substitute the will of the officer in lieu of the law passed to protect the creditor and the heirs, and to call as much competition as possible. In as summary a manner as possible, means as possible according to law, speedily and diligently, as allowed by law, but not against law. The sale, therefore, was legally impossible, without previous advertisement of thirty days.
It is therefore ordered and depreed, that the judgment appealed from be annulled and avoided, and the rule be discharged and sot aside.
It is further adjudged and decreed, that E. Burke, the adjudicateo, bo released from all obligations'under the adjudication, which is declared a nullity, and that the succession pay all costs upon the rule in both Courts,