Case Name: In the Matter of the Estate of George T. Dragonas, Deceased
Court: New York Surrogate's Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1962-07-11
Citations: 35 Misc.2d 300
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Estate of George T. Dragonas, Deceased.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 35
Pages: 300–302

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Estate of George T. Dragonas, Deceased.
Surrogate’s Court, Nassau County,
July 11, 1962.
Michael P. Gurlides for petitioner. Stuart & Buhas (Louis J. Buhas of counsel), for George Dragonas, creditor. Stephen S. Scopas for American Hospital, claimant. William J. Murphy for Michigan Avenue National Bank of Chicago, objectant.

Opinion:
John D. Bennett, S.
In this accounting proceeding a hearing has been held on the claim of George Dragonas against this estate in the amount of $1,400. The claim has been disallowed by the executors.
The claim is based upon money alleged to have been paid by the claimant, a nephew of the decedent, on behalf of his uncle, to certain individuals with whom the uncle was living in Chicago, in order to defray medical and other expenses of the decedent. Four hundred dollars of the claim allegedly represents traveling expenses incurred by the nephew in two trips between New York and Chicago. The claimant testified that the sole purpose in making both trips was to be with his uncle who was then hospitalized.
A volunteer who pays the debt of another without request may not recover the amount so paid. The definition of a volunteer, however, does not include an individual who makes such a payment under a legal or moral obfigation to do so (McNamee v. Zimmett, 207 Arm. Div. 60. 62, affd. 239 N. Y. 602; Matter of Welton. 141 Misc. 674, 684). Whfie the claimant may not have had a legal obligation to assist the decedent, there appears to be sufficient evidence to warrant a finding that at least a moral obfigation existed.
In addition the claimant's rivht to renavment may also he said to have arisen by reason of bein°' subroyated to the rights of those whose bills have been paid (Matter of May, 160 Misc. 497, 501). Since no nroof has been submitted as to what exnenses of the decedent have actnaHv b"on naid from the $1.t>00 advanced hv the claimant, he will be viven an onnortnn'ty to ffie a sworn statement to show the exnenses of decedent since thn advancement. For such mimóse, fhn claimant will be «riven 30 days from the date hereof to file additional papers. In the event the claimant should not furnish additional proof within the time allowed, the claim for $1,000 will be deemed abandoned.
Claimant has failed to establish that the expenses incurred, or any services rendered as a result of his two trips to be with his uncle, resulted in any contract implied or express for which the estate is liable, nor was any evidence as to the reasonable value of any services adduced. The claim for $400 is accordingly disallowed.