Opinion ID: 1842503
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: right to seek damages against the executrix of the estate

Text: Katherine, as executrix, had petitioned the trial court for court approval of the sale, to Anderson-Dunham, of 394 shares of Ted, Sr.'s, stock to enable her to pay certain succession debts and expenses. Richard opposed the sale and sought an injunction. The trial court denied Richard injunctive relief and authorized the sale of the 394 shares of stock at the price of 105% of the book value under an April 1977 audit. Richard did not appeal suspensively and at the time his devolutive appeal was considered the sale had already taken place. Thus, the Court of Appeal held Richard's appeal was moot but reserved to him the right to try to annul the sale and/or seek damages from the executrix. Thereupon, Richard, now joined by Ted, Jr., filed in the proceedings we now review an amended petition seeking to have the redemption annulled. Neither party sought damages. The trial court ruled that the redemption sale, even though to a corporation which was largely owned by and being managed by the executrix of the estate, could not be annulled. The Court of Appeal affirmed that ruling but again reserved to Richard and Ted, Jr., the right to seek damages. Richard and Ted, Jr., have not sought writs from this ruling, and, to the contrary, have in brief expressly acquiesced in it. Therefore, the only question presented to us is whether the Court of Appeal acted properly in reserving to appellees the right to seek damages from Katherine. Although appellant attempts to argue the merits of the issue before this Court, whether or not appellees can recover damages from her, that issue is simply not before us. Richard and Ted, Jr., did not seek damages in their petition to the trial court and their right to recover damages is an issue which has not been raised. Rather, the Court of Appeal, while holding the sale could not be annulled, only reserved to Richard and Ted, Jr., the right to file a later suit for damages which they might claim they have suffered as a result of the redemption of the shares or other alleged mismanagement. Therefore, the only issue before us is whether the Court of Appeal erred in reserving to appellees the right to file suit in the trial court for damages which they might have suffered as a result of Katherine's administration of their father's succession. Article 3191 of the Code of Civil Procedure sets out the general duties of the executor of a succession and provides in pertinent part as follows: A succession representative is a fiduciary with respect to the succession, and shall have the duty of collecting, preserving, and managing the property of the succession in accordance with law. He shall act at all times as a prudent administrator, and shall be personally responsible for all damages resulting from his failure to so act. This statute provides the remedy available to the heirs or legatees for the failure of the succession representative in carrying out his duty to administer the estate properly. That remedy is for the aggrieved heirs to petition for damages. In the present case damages have not yet been sought. Richard and Ted, Jr., were seeking an annulment of the sale. Upon denying the parties that relief, the Court of Appeal did not err in reserving to them the right to file suit against the executrix for damages for alleged breach of her administrative duties.