Court Opinion

ID: 7188192
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:54:25.727556+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:16:07.553083
License: Public Domain

Howell, J.
This suit was brought in February, 18C7, to recover of the defendants in solido the sum of $1149 82, the amount, of an account for dry goods sold to them during the years 1865 and 1866. In an amended petition, plaintiff declares that at the time the account was-made Miss Lucy Daigre, one of the defendants, was a minor under the tutelage of her mother, Mrs. M. C. Daigre, as natural tutrix; that the articles sold were for the use and benefit of said minor, being necessary for her maintenance in her position in life, and who has since been, emancipated, and is now in the full possession and management of her property.
The defense is substantially a general denial, the daughter specially pleading her minority. Pending the suit she married J. C. Beard, who was made a party, and plaintiff having died, his administrator made appearance to represent him. Judgment was rendered against Mrs.. Daigre for a part, and against Mrs. Beard for the balance of the account, from which the latter appealed, and plaintiff has asked that the judgment be made one in solido against the defendants.
The plaintiff assumed the burden, and accordingly offered evidence for the purpose of proving that the goods sold were for the use and benefit of the minor, and necessary and proper for her maintenance.
The account is made out against “ Mrs. Mary C. Daigre and daughter, Lucy Daigre,” and runs from November 4, 1865, to April 3, 1866. The articles are principally such as pertain to ladies’ apparel; the sale, delivery and prices of which are proven; and the only question is the liability of the daughter for any part of the indebtedness.
Evidence was admitted, without objection, to show what items were bought by and for her, and charged under special instructions from both; and that during the time she and her brother were in possession, as owners, of considerable property, including a plantation under cultivation, and purchased by them prior to the date of the account sued on, under a judgment obtained by them against their mother; and cash rnd notes amounting to near twenty thousand dollars, transferred to them in further satisfaction of said judgment. These transactions and settlements with the mother and tutrix were ratified by the daughter liter her emancipation, and some eight months before the institution, af bliis suit, but about two months subsequent to the date of the last *138item in plaintiff’s account. There is no evidence and no pretense that the tutrix included any part of this indebtedness to the plaintiff in her .settlement with her daughter. The district judge was satisfied that the articles shown to have been purchased by and for the daughter were necessary and proper purchases, considering her fortune, and were for her benefit; and, while there is no direct proof as to the resources of the minor, we do not feel authorized to disturb the judgment against her. It is not suggested that the sum ($661 13) allowed, ■caused her expenses to exceed her resources; and to us it does not seem very large, under the circumstances, for a young lady eighteen years oí .-age, who is shown to be worth over twenty thousand dollars in productive property. In such matters we must rely, in a great measure, •on the sound legal discretion and judgment of the judge a quo, who has the parties and witnesses before him, and can more readily determine the nature and extent of expenditures necessary and proper for a minor.
The purchases, in this instance, wore authorized by the tutrix, and were such as could have been made, if not exceeding the resources of the minor, without the intervention of a family meeting and court; and as the tutrix has not charged the minor for them, the latter can bo held responsible. C. C. 343, 1778; 18 An. 571.
If the tutorship still existed, there is little doubt that the plaintiff could, under the evidence, recover from the tutrix the value of the goods so furnished to the minor; but, as it is closed, and the latter has come into the enjoyment of her property in her own right, she is liable in law and equity. C. C. 1960.
The judgment of the lower court has done substantial justice between the parties, and is not in conflict with the law and jurisprudence relative to the protection of minors.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.