Court Opinion

ID: 5470395
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-09 20:36:06.594152+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:17.258074
License: Public Domain

Van Brunt, J.
This is an action to foreclose a mortgage given as collateral security to a bond conditioned to pay within 'four months after the death of one William Patterson, if he should die after the 9th day of June, 1870, and before the 9th day of June, 1875, to his executrix or administratrix, the sum of $1;000.
William Patterson died on the 6th day of February, 1872, leaving a will, in which the plaintiff was appointed executrix thereof, and letters testamentary -thereon were issued to the plaintiff on the 7th of May, 1872.
By his answer, the defendant claims to offset in this action eertain debts due from William Patterson in his lifetime to Mm, and also' the funeral expenses of William Patterson, which were paid by the defendant. The existence of these debts was duly proved by the defendant at the trial.
The plaintiff insists that they cannot be offset against the plaintiff’s claim in this action, because the plaintiff’s demand arose after the death of the testator. The case of Merritt agt. Seamwn ,(6 N. Y., 168) seems to me to decide the precise question, and the court does not put the decision, as was *243claimed upon the argument of this case, upon the ground only that the words “ executor, &c.,” are merely a désoriptio personas; and the suit is to be considered as one brought by • an individual plaintiff. The first ground upon which the case is decided is distinctly stated to be that the offset could not be allowed, because the claim sued upon arose after the testator’s death, notwithstanding the offset existed at the death of the testator.
The cases cited in Merritt agt. Seaman also fully sustain the position of the plaintiff.
The plaintiff must have judgment of foreclosure and sale.