Case Name: RILS vs. QUESTI
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1831-03
Citations: 2 La. 249
Docket Number: 
Parties: RILS vs. QUESTI.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 249–250

Head Matter:
RILS vs. QUESTI.
APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF THE FOURTH DISTRICT, THE JUDGE THEREOF PRESIDING.
Letters of administration malee full proof of tlie party’s capacity until they he revoked. They must have their effect, and the regularity of the proceedings on which they issued, cannot be examined collaterally.
Whatever right one may have against his co-heirs, he cannot avail himself of it to avoid paying for property bought at a sale of the estate.
This suit was brought by the administrator of Franche-bois’ estate, and to his right of action, the defendant filed the' following exceptions: 1st, that all the heirs (of whom the defendant was one) being present and represented in the state, an administrator could hot be appointed : 2d, that all the property of the succession having been legally disposed of, there was no object upon which to administer: 3d, that the appointment of plaintiff as administrator, if ever made (but which was expressly denied) issued irregularly and ex parte: and further, he pleaded a former suit and judgment for the same cause of action. The plaintiff produced his letters of administration, and the defendant offered proof of the allegations set forth, in his exceptions '; but the court refused to receive the evidence, on the ground that it could not look beyond the letters of administration, and inquire into the legality of the plaintiff’s appointment. To this opinion of the court, the defendant excepted. There was judgment for the plaintiff, and the defendant appealed.
Morse, for appellant. Eustis, for appellee.

Opinion:
Martin, /.,
delivered the opinion of the court.
The plaintiff, administrator of Franchebois, claimed the price of several slaves, purchased by the defendant, at the sale of the property of the deceased.
ministration make parties capacity till They ^us^have their effect, and the regularity of the proceedings on cannot he%xtmin-ed collaterally. Letters of ad-
Whatever right gains™his co-heirs j hhnseif'of\t to a"1 void paying for the^ü!of0theses-tat6' .
Eastern District.
March 1831.
The defendant denied the plaintiff being administrator, as all the heirs are present, and represented in the state, and the defendant is one of them ; that the whole property had been administered at the period the pretended administration was granted. He pleaded a former suit and judgment for the same cause of action.
These exceptions being overuled, the defendant answered, that there could not be any recovery against him, as the heirs were not parties to the suit, and because he, as one of the heirs, instituted a suit against the others, in the Court of Probates, for his share of the estate, &c.
There was judgment for the plaintiff, and the defendant appealed.
The exceptions were overruled on the plaintiff producing his letters of administration, and the court below refused leave to the defendant to introduce evidence in support of allegations, being of opinion, that the letters of administration made full proof of the plaintiff's capacity as admi-4 A to mstrator, and till they were revoked, they must have their effect, and the regularity of the proceedings on which they issued, could not- be examined collaterally in the present suit. In this opinion we concur.
Whatever right the defendant may have on the estate, aga™st his co-heirs, he cannot avail himself of it to aVo^ Pay™g for the property he bought at the sale of the estate. There may be debts' of the deceased to pay, and the estate must be liquidated before any heir may claim any part of it. .
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be affirmed with costs.