Case Name: Succession of WILLIAMS
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1923-10-29
Citations: 156 La. 704
Docket Number: No. 26144
Parties: Succession of WILLIAMS.
Judges: By Division B, composed of DAWKINS, LAND, and LECHE, JJ.
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 156
Pages: 704–713

Head Matter:
(101 South. 113)
No. 26144.
Succession of WILLIAMS.
(Oct. 29, 1923.
On Rehearing on Motion to Dismiss Appeal, March 8, 1924.
On the Merits, April 30, 1924.
Rehearing Denied by Whole Court June 6, 1924.)
(Syllabus by Editorial Staff.)
1. Appeal and error <&wkey;397 — No petition and citation of appeal necessary where motion made in open court.
Where “motion for appeal is made in open court at same term of court, no petition and citation of appeal is necessary, under Code Prac. art. 573.
2. Appeal and error <&wkey;>430(f) — Appeal must be dismissed where it does not appear motion for was made in open court, in absence ' of citation of appeal.
Where it does not appear that motion for appeal was made in open court at same term, and there was no citation of appeal or prayer therefor, motion for dismissal of appeal must be granted with right on application for rehearing to show that the motion was made in open court during the term.
On Rehearing on Motion to Dismiss Appeal.
3. Appeal and error Application for rehearing unnecessary to entitle party to appeal.
Party cast in a suit need not apply for a rehearing or new trial in order to entitle him to appeal.
4. Appeal and error <&wkey;>429 — Ground of motion for dismissal held waived.
A ground for dismissal of appeal that no citation of appeal was issued or served was waived by preceding ground that appellant failed to apply in trial court for a rehearing or for a new trial.
■5. Appeal and error &wkey;>435 — Appearance for any purpose waiver of motion to dismiss for want of citation of appeal.
Appearance for any other purpose is a waiver of motion to dismiss for want of citation of appeal.
On the Merits.
'6. Executors and administrators <&wkey;>488 — Succession; testamentary executors receiving legacy not entitled to commission.
A testamentary executor who was left a legacy is not entitled to commissions if he accepts the legacy, unless testator expresses intention that he should have legacy and commission, in view of Rev. Oiv. Code, art. 1686.
7. Executors and administrators <&wkey;>l09(2)— Succession; expenditure for tomb held not subject to objection.
Expenditure of $7,350 for a marble tomb by executor was proper where in accordance with testator’s desire as expressed in-will, there being no forced heirs, but only collateral relations.
8. Executors and administrators &wkey;>l09(2)— Succession; executor held to have acted properly in providing for perpetual keeping of • tomb.
No meritorious objection could be made to an expenditure of $400 for perpetual care of tomb of testator without heirs in the country, there being neither forced heirs nor creditors to be satisfied.
9. Executors and administrators 11 f (6)— Succession; attorney’s fee held excessive.
Attorney’s fee of $2,033 or over 9 per cent, on full inventoried value of estate, in which there was no complicated litigation or unusual expenditure of time or labor, held excessive, and reduced to 5 per cent.
10. Executors and administrators ! i (6)— Succession; factors to he considered in fixing fees of attorney employed by executors.
In fixing fees of attorneys employed by executors, exertion of legal knowledge, responsibility incurred, labor bestowed, and amount involved constitute principal factors to be considered.
11. Executors and administrators &wkey;>lll(6)~ Succession; court to exercise own judgment in fixing executor’s attorney’s fee.
Court must exercise its own judgment in approving fee of executor’s attorney, and be guided but not controlled by expert testimony of lawyers.
12. Executors and administrators &wkey;>22l(5)— Succession; attorney’s claim for professional services must be proved by at least oiie credible witness and corroborating circumstances.
Under Rev. Civ Code art. 2277, an attorney’s claim for professional services in excess of $500 rendered decedent must be proved by at least one credible witness and other corroborating circumstances.
Appeal from Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans; Wm. H. Byrnes, Judge.
In the matter of the succession of A. 6. Williams, alias Athanasios George Loullas, deceased, in which John Libadiotte, executor, filed a provisional account, and certain legatees intervened. From a judgment dismissing opposition of legatees, they appeal.
Modified and affirmed.
William J. Eormento and E. F. Teissier, both of New Orleans, for appellants.
B. B. Howard, of New Orleans, for appellee.
By Division B, composed of DAWKINS, LAND, and LECHE, JJ.

Opinion:
DAWKINS, J.
Appellee has moved to dismiss this appeal upon the grounds, first, that appellant did not apply for a new trial in the lower court, and, second, "that no citation of appeal was issued or served therein."
The first ground is without merit, for it is settled that a party cast does not have to apply for a new trial to entitle him to the right of appeal. Levert v. Berthelot, 127 La. 1004, 54 South. 329; Connelly v. So. Pac. Co., 140 La. 120, 72 South. 829; Grevemberg v. Roane, 133 La. 679, 63 South. 280.
As to the second point, there is nothing in the minutes or otherwise to show that the motion for appeal Was made or filed In open court. It is in' the form peculiar to practice in this city by which the proposed appellants recite that "on motion," suggesting that they are aggrieved by the judgment of the lower court,- "it is ordered by the court" that the appeal be granted, which motion and order is signed by the judge at its conclusion, with the notation "New Orleans, La., May 24, 1923."
Of course, if the motion was made in open court, "at the same term," under express provision of the Code of Practice (article 573) no petition and citation of appeal was necessary. However, if this was not done, then there was not only no citation of appeal, but no prayer therefor, and hence we would not be justified in remanding the ease for citation, but would be compelled to dismiss the appeal.
As the record stands, there is nothing left to us but to dismiss the appeal; but, if on application for rehearing, a proper showing is made of the ability of defendant to establish, by correction of the minutes or otherwise, that the motion for appeal was properly taken in open court, then we might, in the interest of justice, entertain a motion to that end.
For the reasons assigned the appeal is dismissed, with cost.