Court Opinion

ID: 7810033
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:11:48.954148+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:26.369353
License: Public Domain

HART, J., (after stating the facts). (1) It is contended by counsel for appellee that the judgment should be sustained under the authority of McCustian v. Ramey, Admr., 33 Ark. 141, where it was held that an executor or administrator receiving money by mistake as assets of his decedent’s estate will not be-excused from his liability to refund the same on the ground that the money has been applied by him in the course of administration. This case only goes to the extent of holding the administrator liable personally in cases like the one under consideration and does not consider the question of whether or not he might also be liable in his representative capacity. The authorities on this question are divided. 18 Cyc. 883 and 884, and 11 A. & E. Enc. Law (2 ed.), p. 943. But we believe the weight of authority and the more equitable rule is that, if the administrator has applied to the use of the estate, money or the proceeds of personal property belonging to third persons, he is liable in his representative capacity, and that the person injured may elect whether he will hold the administrator liable personally or in his representative capacity. In the discussion of this question in the case of De Valengin’s Administrators v. Duffy, 14 Pet. Repts. (U. S.), 282, Chief Justice Taney, speaking for the court, in part said: 1 ‘ The second question is one of more nicety, and the cases are not entirely reconcilable to each other. There are, doubtless, decisions which countenance the doctrine that no action will lie against an executor or administrator, in his representative character, except upon some claim or demand which existed against the testator or intestate in his lifetime; and that if the claim or demand wholly accrued in. the lifetime of the executor or administrator, he is liable therefor, only in his personal character. But upon a full consideration of the nature, and of the various decisions on the subject, we are of the opinion that whatever property or money is lawfully recovered or received by tbe executor or administrator, after the death of his testator or intestate in virtue of his representative character, he holds as assets of the estate; and he is liable therefor in such representative character to the party who has a good title thereto. In our judgment, this, upon principle, must be the true doctrine.” We have not copied the reasoning of the court in that case in. full, but we think it sound. We think the principal in such a case may sue the administrator in his personal character, or in his representative character at his election. This avoids circuity of action. Gentry’s Administrator v. McKehen, 5 Dana (Ky.), 34; Clapp v. Walters, 2 Tex. 130; Brewer v. Strong’s Executors, 44 Am. Dec. (Ala.), 514; Simpson v. Snyder, 54 Iowa, 557; Gaffney’s Estate, 146 Pa. St. 49; Clayton v. Boyce, 62 Miss. 390, and Donaldson v. Rust, 3 Martin’s Reports, (La.), 135.  (2) According to the'allegations of the complaint, the administrator took possession of the property involved in this suit, believing it to belong to his decedent, and in good faith procured an order of the probate court for its sale and the distribution of the proceeds in due course of administration. Under these circumstances the prices received at the administrator’s sale represent the property, and, under the principles of law decided in the cases above cited, ought to be paid over to appellant, less the amount which he admits he owed the estate. Therefore the judgment must be reversed with directions to the circuit court to overrule the demurrer, and for further proceedings according to law.'