Clifton v. Weeks

28 Mass. App. Dec. 123
CourtMassachusetts District Court, Appellate Division
DecidedMarch 30, 1964
DocketNo. 24630
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 28 Mass. App. Dec. 123 (Clifton v. Weeks) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts District Court, Appellate Division primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Clifton v. Weeks, 28 Mass. App. Dec. 123 (Mass. Ct. App. 1964).

Opinion

Canavan, J.

This is an action of contract for money had and received on an account annexed brought by the plaintiff against the goods and estate of Sarah E. McKenzie, in the hands of Beatrice P. Weeks, Executrix, under the will of Sarah E. McKenzie. The defendant’s answer sets up defenses of: (i) [125]*125general denial; (2) statute of frauds; and (3) statute of limitations.

At the trial there was evidence tending to show that the plaintiff is a public school teacher and a sister to the defendant and to the deceased, Sarah E. McKenzie, and is a resident of Norfolk, Virginia.

In August of 1955 the plaintiff visited the deceased, Sarah E. McKenzie, in Boston. The deceased at the time owned a house at 19 Savin Street, Roxbury, Massachusetts, where she resided. There was a mortgage on this house running to the Charlestown Savings Bank.

The deceased told the plaintiff of her financial condition and asked the plaintiff to help her. The plaintiff agreed, and further agreed to assume the mortgage payments to the Charlestown Savings Bank. Thereafter, mortgage payments were made to the bank by the plaintiff in the total amount of $1,094.71.

In December of 1956 the deceased, who was then ill, went to Norfolk, Virginia to stay with the plaintiff, and the plaintiff paid $337.22 for transportation of the personal property of the deceased from Boston to Virginia. Sarah E. McKenzie died in Norfolk, Virginia, on August 11, 1958. Subsequently, the plaintiff took out administration in Virginia, and was appointed administratrix of the estate of Sarah E. McKenzie in Virginia.

The cost of the funeral of the deceased was $1,070, and the plaintiff, as administra[126]*126trix withdrew from the account of the deceased at the Boston Five Cent Savings Bank the sum of $731.71, which amount was paid by the plaintiff towards the funeral bill.

Subsequent to the plaintiff’s being appointed administratrix in Virginia, the will of Sarah E. McKenzie was discovered, and said will probated in Suffolk Probate Court, Boston, Mass. The plaintiff was named co-executrix under the will with the defendant. The will was allowed on October 1, 1959, and prior thereto, the plaintiff declined to act as co-executrix therein and the necessary papers relating to her declination were executed by her and filed in Suffolk Probate Court. The bond of the executrix, Beatrice P. Weeks, was examined and approved by the Probate Court on October 8, 1959. It is to be noted that the date of the writ in the instant action, was April 25, i960, but neither the plaintiff nor the defendant offered the date of the writ in evidence, nor was any question raised as to said date at the trial. The defendant was the sole remaining executrix under the will. In February of 1959 the defendant moved into said premises located at 19 Savin Street and still is an occupant thereof.

At the close of the trial and before final arguments, the defendant made the following requests for rulings, and the court’s disposition thereon follow:

“1. The court is warranted in finding that the plaintiff was appointed administratrix of the [127]*127estate of Sarah E. McKenzie in the State of Virginia. Allowed.

z. If the court finds that the plaintiff was appointed administratrix of the estate of Sarah E. McKenzie then the court must find that the plaintiff has not complied with G. L. c. 197, §6. Denied.

3. If the plaintiff has failed to comply with G. L. c. 197, §6, she as administratrix as a matter of law, cannot prevail in the instant cause, and the court must find for the defendant. Denied. See Findings of Fdct.

4. The law of a foreign state shall be deemed the same as the law of Massachusetts unless evidence to the contrary is offered and received. Allowed.

5. The court must find that no evidence has been offered by the plaintiff that the law of Virginia relative to this cause or relative issues, is different than the law of Massachusetts. Allowed. See Findings of Fact.

6. The court must find that the plaintiff declined as co-executrix of and under the Will of Sarah E. McKenzie. Allowed.

7. ’One who has been an executor and resigned his trust cannot maintain a suit in law or equity .... to recover a debt due him from the estate, but his remedy is in the settlement of the account of administration in the Probate Court.’ Allowed. The plaintiff was at no time appointed Executrix in this Commonwealth.

8. The court must find as a matter of law that the claim of the plaintiff on file in the Probate Court is ’too vague and indefinite’ to be [128]*128enforced. Inapplicable. See Findings of Fact. ..

9. The burden of proving that the defendant is the duly appointed executrix of the estate is upon the plaintiff. Denied. See Findings of Fact.

10. The court is warranted in finding that the plaintiff has failed to prove that the defendant is the duly appointed executrix of the said estate. Denied. See Findings of Fact.

11. The burden of proof is upon the plaintiff to prove that the cause of action was brought within the statutory period permitted. Allowed.

iz. The court is warranted in finding that the plaintiff has failed to sustain the burden of proof referred to in request $11. Denied. See Findings of Fact.

13. The court must as a matter of law find that the plaintiff has failed to sustain the burden of proof as set forth in request %n. Denied. See Findings of Fact. See courts leave to amend the Declaration.

14. The court must find that the plaintiff’s Declaration is on a common count for Money Had and Received. Denied. See Findings of Fact. See court’s leave to amend the Declaration.

15. The court must as a matter of law find that the evidence of the plaintiff is that she paid money to the use of the deceased, Sarah E. McKenzie. Allowed. — Except as to items Nos. 6-8, in the account annexed of the plaintiff’s Declaration.

16. If the court finds as indicated in interrogatory $14 and $15, the court must find that there is a variance between the pleading and the proof. Denied; unintelligible.

[129]*12917. If the court finds that there is a variance between the pleading andi the proof, the court must find for the defendant. Denied.

18. The court ’must as a matter of law find that there is a variance between the pleading and the proof and must find for the defendant. Denied.

19. The court is warranted in finding that the plaintiff cannot account for the rents and profits collected on or behalf of her. Warranted, but not required.

2d. If the court finds that the plaintiff expended funds in excess of the rents and profits collected by her, the court is warranted in finding that the plaintiff expended said sums in excess of her authority and/or powers. Warranted, but not required.

21. If the court finds as referred to in request #20, the court must find for the defendant. Denied; unintelligible.

22. The court must find that the plaintiff was a sister of the deceased.

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Bluebook (online)
28 Mass. App. Dec. 123, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/clifton-v-weeks-massdistctapp-1964.