Catherwood v. Catherwood

127 N.E. 816, 78 Ind. App. 332, 1920 Ind. App. LEXIS 307
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 25, 1920
DocketNo. 10,383
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 127 N.E. 816 (Catherwood v. Catherwood) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Catherwood v. Catherwood, 127 N.E. 816, 78 Ind. App. 332, 1920 Ind. App. LEXIS 307 (Ind. Ct. App. 1920).

Opinion

Nichols, J.

— Appellee, Cornelia H. Catherwood, is the mother of appellant and of appellees Maude H. and Naomi Catherwood Hokanson. Appellee Neis Hokanson is the husband of appellee Naomi, and is not hereinafter mentioned or referred to, nor is appellee Lucy C. Catherwood, who is the wife of appellant. All of the parties live in Chicago, Illinois, and lived there during all of the time of the litigation resulting in the judgment appealed from. Appellant and appellees, Cornelia H., Maude and Naomi, hereinafter mentioned as appellees, owned as tenants in common 840.66 acres of land in Benton county, Indiana. June 8, 1914, said appel[334]*334lees as such owners, filed their amended complaint in the Benton Circuit Court against appellant and his wife. By the first paragraph they sought partition of said real estate, in the second they set up the history of the title of said land and of the Catherwood family, showing, inter alia, the existence of a trust in connection with the land, and asking for an accounting for rents and profits against appellant, charging that appellant had had the control and management of the farm, and had collected the rents and profits therefrom. By this paragraph of complaint it also appears that appellant had started litigation in the circuit court of Cook county, Illinois, which was then pending, by which he sought to enjoin the prosecution of the action in the Benton Circuit Court, the interference in the management' of the land, asking for an accounting in the circuit court of Cook county, and the adjudication of his duties and rights as such trustee. The cause was continued from time to time in the Benton Circuit Court. On April 17, 1916, there was filed a certified copy of an order entered on March 8, 1916, in the circuit court of Cook county by which the parties were restrained from prosecuting the action in the Benton Circuit Court, except the bare partition of the Benton county land. October 9,1916, a supplemental complaint was filed, averring the conveyance by Cornelia and Maude of their interest in the lands to appellant. After answer, the cause was submitted for trial, and the court found that the appellant was the owner of three-fourths in value of the said land, and appellee, Naomi, one-fourth in value thereof, ordered partition thereof, and appointed commissioners for that purpose. At the same time the court made an entry that the matters of accounting between appellee, Naomi, and appellant were not determined, and that the cause was not determined as to accounting, the court retaining jurisdiction as to ac[335]*335counting. On November 10, 1916, the commissioners appointed filed their report of partition which was approved. In connection with such approval, the court ordered that the question of fixing solicitor fees for appellant’s solicitors and the question of accounting be continued for further evidence. On January 12, 1917, there was filed a certified copy of the opinion and judgment of the Appellate Court of Illinois, reversing the said judgment of the circuit court of Cook county, restraining the parties from prosecuting the accounting feature of the action pending in the Benton Circuit Court. On May 28, 1917, appellant filed his affidavit and motion in the Benton Circuit Court for change of venue from the county which was sustained, and the venue was changed to the Newton Circuit Court. On October 9, 1917, appellee Cornelia filed her affidavit and motion in the Newton Circuit Court for change of venue, which was sustained, and the venue was changed to the Jasper Circuit Court, in which court divers motions and pleadings were filed, included in which was a motion by appellant to remand, the cause to the Benton Circuit Court, which motion was overruled. A trial was had and judgment rendered, from which this appeal is prosecuted.

It appears by the special findings that Allen Thompson Catherwood died testate June 29, 1892, in Vermillion county, Illinois, holding the real estate involved under a written contract of purchase, with a direction in his will that such land should be deeded jointly to his wife Cornelia and his children, the possession and management to remain in his executors until appellant was thirty years of age. Deceased left surviving him his widow Cornelia, and said three children. Appellant was appointed as trustee under said will, November 12, 1900. He was thirty years of age August 7, 1904, at which time appellees entered into an agreement with [336]*336him, by which he was to manage and look after the farm involved for six years, which period of management was extended from August 7,1910, for a period of five years. March 11, 1912, appellant filed his bill in equity against appellees in the circuit court of Cook county at which time all of said parties were residents of said county. Out of this proceeding grew the resulting injunction, and the reversal hereinbefore mentioned. This action was commenced May 5, 1914, and the partition of the land was decreed October 9, 1916, at which time it was found that appellant had purchased the interest of his mother and his sister Maude, and was therefore the owner of three-fourths of said real estate, and his said sister Naomi of one-fourth. The matters of accounting and attorney’s fees were not determined at the time said partition was decreed but the court retained jurisdiction as to such matters. There was a report of the commissioners in partition which was approved. From the time of appellant’s appointment in November, 1900, to the decree of partition in November, 1916, he managed and looked after the real estate involved. During said time he received in rents and income from said farm the total amount of $109,366.84. The total amount of expense incurred during said time was $23,-155.79. The total amount of money paid to appellee Naomi was $15,830.60. After a full statement of account between the parties, the court found there was due from appellant to appellee the sum of $5,149.47. Upon these findings the courts stated its conclusions of law, (1) Appellee Naomi Catherwood Hokanson was entitled to recover from appellant the sum of $5,149.47; (2) the law is against appellant as to his right to recover $13,857.29, expended by him in the litigation in Cook county, Illinois, which was not instituted for the benefit of the trust estate, and which was not a charge against the same; (3) the law is against the appellant [337]*337as to his right to receive $2,400 compensation for his services in the management and operation of the land involved in his appointment as trustee in the Vermillion Circuit Court, March 1, 1911.

1. Appellant first contends that the Jasper Circuit Court did not have jurisdiction of this cause for the reason, that a similar action was pending between the same parties in. the circuit court of Cook county, Illinois. But it has been expressly held to the contrary in the case of De Armond v. Bohn (1859), 12 Ind. 607. In that case the court says that it is well settled that the pendency of an action in one state cannot be pleaded in abatement in an action between the same parties in the same cause in another state. To the same effect, see Eaton, etc., R. Co. v. Hunt (1863), 20 Ind. 457; 1 Cyc 36. Finally as to this proposition that we may be certain as to the law, we quote from the case of Catherwood v. Hokanson (1916), 201 Ill. App. 462, which is the final decision of the Appellate Court in the identical case to which appellant refers.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
127 N.E. 816, 78 Ind. App. 332, 1920 Ind. App. LEXIS 307, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/catherwood-v-catherwood-indctapp-1920.