Comstock v. Herron

55 F. 803, 7 Ohio F. Dec. 642, 1893 U.S. App. LEXIS 2017

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• Decided: May 11, 1893
• Docket: Nos. 74 and 75
• Status: Published

Opinion

S EVERETTS, District Judge,

(after stating the facts.) Upon fixe foregoing facts, us gathered by us from the pleadings and proofs, we think that there is error in the decree, in both particulars complained of. It is clear that, upon a proper construction of Mrs. Poor’s will, the annuities which the trustees were required to pay to Sirs. Comstock and to David M. Barr until the permanent investments should he made for each of them were specific charges upon the estate itself, the whole fund, in the hands of the trustees. The beneficiaries were net restricted to the income of the estate as the source from which their annuities should be paid, as the trustees seem to have practically assumed in dealing with the beneficiaries in the execution of the trust. The annuities were in no sense dependent on income, and had no specific relation to it. It may Toe that the trustees, in providing for the satisfaction of the charges, might find it expedient, to appropriate income for that purpose, but It was not the measure of the rights of the cestuis qne trust.

It is sufficiently shown, as matter of fact, that at the beginning of the year 1887 the income realized by the trustees from the estate was insufficient to pay the accruing charges upon it, and that, finding the estate in that predicament, they suggested to the persons interested in the trust that, in order to keep the disbursements within the limits of the income, it would be necessary to diminish the current annuities, and that this diminution was continued for the period of four years from January 1st of that year, afc the expiration of which time the permanent investments were made. It is now claimed that the diminution of the annuities and the postponement of the investments war, with the assent of the annuitants, and that the circumstances were such as to preclude them from any right to assert a claim for the unpaid portion, upon the ground that they are estopped by their acquiescence and election. We have stated the defense in rather1 more specific terms than it Is presented by the answer, and have given that defense the benefit of all the inferences which have been drawn from the allegations of the pleading on the argument.

Certain well-settled rules, recognized by courts of equity, are applicable to the solution of the question whether, in suclx circumstances as are exhibited by the record, such an estoppel has in fact been established.

One of those principles is that whan it is sought to preclude a party from the assertion of what would otherwise he a clear legal right, upon the ground that he has elected an inconsistent right, there must have been some definite agreement, in the nature of an express contract; or some line of conduct, purposely taken, from which such definite agreement may be fairly and reasonably implied. The substantial elements of a legal contract must be found in the circumstances. Jorden v. Money, 5 H. L. Cas. 185. The question in that case was whether a party was concluded by the representation of her intention to relinquish a light, upon which representation others had so proceeded that their steps could not be retraced. It was held that there was no estoppel in such a case, for that, in order to be binding, the representation must amount to a promise upon a consideration; that is to say, to a contract. Lord St. Leonards dissented from the majority, principally, as it would seem from an attentive reading of his opinion, upon his view of the facts, which he thought constituted a contract. In Maddison v. Alderson, L. R. 8 App. Cas. 473, Lord Chancellor Selborne said that he understood the law to have been so determined in Jorden v. Money.

That this is the basis of the estoppel in such cases is assumed in Wheeler v. Smith, 9 How. 55. In that case a testator had devised property to trustees upon.a trust which the court held invalid. The heir at law, a young man, expressed to the trustees Ms conviction that the devise was void, and stated his determination to test its validity. He was dissuaded by the trustees, one of whom was a distinguished lawyer, and, in deference to their opinion that the devise was valid, consented to waive his right to the property, and take a sum of money instead. The court held that he was not hound by the compromise, and said:

“It appears to us that tlie agreement under such circumstances is void. It cannot be sustained on principles winch lie at the foundation of a valid contract. The influences operating upon the mind of the complainant induced him to sacrifice his interests. He did not act freely, and with a proper understanding of his rights.”

Among the elements of a contract is the certainty of the thing agreed upon. It is proper to observe, in passing, that the present case is not strictly one of “election,” as that term has been used in equity to define the choice of rights, one of which is already possessed, and another, inconsistent one is tendered by the donor; font the term is here employed in a wider sense, to indicate the choice of inconsistent rights or benefits, without regard to the peculiar manner of their origin. However, the, rules applicable are analogous.

We are unable to find sufficient evidence in this ease of any agreement, on the part of either Mrs. Comstock or Mr. Barr, having any defined scope and limits. In the first letter of Mr. Herron to Mrs. Comstock, in which he lays the foundation of the supposed election by her, he does not state the amount of the reduction' he proposes. All that he says, hearing upon the subject, is that “five per cent, is regarded as a good rate to receive from property,” and in a later letter he writes to her that he desires “to exjfiain that next year (1887) there must he a diminution of your income, but exactly how much I cannot tell yon.” This, as he further explains, was because he had taken from the principal to pay the annuities for 1880, hut which he “must pay back.” Up to January 1, 1887, there had been nothing more definite than this in regard to the amount of the proposed reduction. Later on, in January of that year, he wrote her that he was “unable, for the present year, to pay more than five per cent, on the sums given to each heir by the will.” There is no evidence, oral or written, tending to show Mrs. Comstock’s assent to this as a full payment of the amount due her. On the 18th of March following, she wrote him in regard to a receipt to be signed by her for money which be had sent, and said:

“Your receipt reads $230>. 11, being one month's payment fine from the estate of said deceased; and. as I understand the will, we were entitled to six per cent on the sum devised to us until a conaiu amount of property is set aside to each huh. Am 1 correct In this? Of course. J understand that you cannot pay (5 per cent, (his year, but in case you should be taken away, and the trustees appointed by the court, I should not want them to find my receipt for $:230.11 as being one month’s payment of the sum devised me.”

The reasonable interpretation of this letter would seem to be that she did not wish to give receipts in full because she did not intend to take whatever sum the trustees could then conveniently pay as final satisfaction of her claim. It is difficult to see how, in the face of this letter, the trustees could have understood that anything in the nature of an agreement to take any definite sum had been intended by her.

The evidence is equally indefinite in regard to the time during which the proposed reduction was to continue. It would rather seem that it was expecrod to continue for one year only, but this is the only basis afforded by the evidence for an assumption that there was an election to take the reduced amount for four years. Upon the whole, without going into further particulars, the impression produced upon our minds by the testimony on that subject is that Mrs. Comstock did not assent to anything in the nature of a contract, nor take a course of conduct from which it could be reasonably implied that she was party to an agreement with the trastees, surrendering her right, nor intentionally lead them to do what they otherwise, would not have done.

In regard to the case of David M. Barr, there is a similar indefiniteuess in the terms of the supposed agreement. The evidence fails to satisfy us (hat he assented to any certain proposition. We ratlier Infer from it that he took what the trustees felt that they were justified, by the condition of the estate, in paying him, simply .because he could not get more without resorting to compulsory measures, and expected to be reimbursed when the estate should come into better condition for doing it. It is true, one of the trustees testifies, in a general way, that all the heirs, including David MoKnight Barr, assented to Mm, in positive terms, to the arrangement proposed by bis letter to Mrs. Comstock. It would have been moie satisfactory if lie had given the particulars of his communications, and the replies upon which Ms conclusions are founded. Mr. Barr goes more into detail, and denies that he at any time acquiesced in partial payment of his allowance. The burden of proof was upon the trustees to show some binding agreement, or a distinct acquiescence in a course of proceeding which would be equivalent thereto, and there would result an injury to others if the agreement or assent were revoked, and we do not think it is sustained.

From Mrs. Coins!ockV. letter of January .18, 1887, it is seen that while she indicates her understanding that, until the investments were made, she was entitled to the full amount of the annuity, she appeals to the trustees to inform her about this. The trustees persistently went on, upon the theory that the annuities were payable out of income only, and were dependent thereon. Correct information was due to her, and in order to preclude her by election it should appear that she acted upon knowledge of her rights. 1 Lead. Cas. Eq. (3d Amer. Ed.) p. 419, where it is said in the notes by Hare & Wallace that an election can only be determined “by plain and unequivocal acts, under a full knowledge of all the circumstances and of the parties’ rights; and a bare acquiescence, without a deliberate and intelligent choice, will not be an election.” Story, Eq. Jur. § 1097; Snell, Eq. (2d Eng. Ed.) 186; Wheeler v. Smith, 9 How. 55; Bennett v. Colley, 2 Mylne & K. 225; Macknet, v. Macknet, 29 N. J. Eq. 54, and cases cited; Davis v. Bagley, 40 Ga. 181.

If, therefore, we could see that she did in fact make an election, we would still be compelled to hold that she did so under moral pressure, and in deference to the superior judgment of the trustees as to what her rights were, and, further, that they were mistaken in that judgment.

The rule which requires clear proof to warrant the conclusion of a waiver of a substantial right is especially applicable to those holding fiduciary relations. When a trustee, holding a position of power and influence over the cestui que trust, sets up against that party, for the benefit of others, an estoppel precluding the assertion of a right created by the trust, and that estoppel is founded upon a transaction between the beneficiary and himself, he must be expected to produce quite satisfactory proof that the party proposed to be estopped came freely, and with full understanding of his rights, into some inconsistent arrangement, of tangible form and certainty. Nothing less than this should satisfy the court. Wheeler v. Smith, 9 How. 55; Lloyd v. Attwood, 3 De Gex & J. 614, (judgment of Lord Justice Turner;) Aspland v. Watte, 20 Beav. 474; Walker v. Symonds, 3 Swanst. 1. While the general rule is, undoubtedly, that mere mistake of law in regard to one’s legal, rights will not constitute ground for relief, yet the rule is otherwise if such mistake is the result of influence exercised by one occupying a fiduciary relation of superiority, no matter with what motives applied.

In the present case the defense is in the interest of the residuary legatees, whose fund will be increased at the expense of those having a paramount claim upon it. It is rightly said by the trustees, in their brief, that they have themselves no interest to subserve by it. But to sustain the defense the parties whom it would benefit must claim through the transaction of the trustees, and are affected •by its qualities. There was no wrong actually intended by the trustees. But we think it is a mistake to suppose that what took place between them and the present complainants amounted to a surrender of the rights of the latter under the will, and an estoppel against their assertion in the present suit. The fund remains undistributed, and subject to the power of the. court Whether other considerations might have been potential if the fund had gone beyond reach, it is not necessary to inquire. The situation is such that equity can be done without injury to any one. Mills v. Drewitt, 20 Beav. 632; In re Ashwell’s Will, 1 Johns. Eng. Ch. 112; Snow v. Booth, 2 Kay & J. 132. We are fully persuaded that the trustees have not in fact pursued any substantially different course with regard to the estate from that which they would and should have taken if the transactions with the cestuis que trust which occurred had not taken place at all.

In respect to the other ground of appeal, we think the court below, having complete jurisdiction of the subject-matter and of the parties, should not have referred the parties to another tribunal, over which it had no control or supervisory power, for an accounting, but should have ordered this to proceed under its own authority. When the judicial powers of the circuit courts of the United States, in equity, were originally granted, their jurisdiction was extended over the general subjects of equity jurisprudence upon which the court of chancery in England was accustomed to exercise its powers. One of those subjects was the administration of the estates of deceased persons. Owing to the limited nature of the powers of the ecclesiastical courts, it was necessary, especially where property was charged and limited by trusts, to apply to the court of chancery, which, by the amplitude of its faculties for adjudication and relief, was competent to determine such matters, and afford the proper remedy. 1 Story Eq. Jur. § 532 et seq.

This jurisdiction of the circuit courts in equity remains unaltered, so far as the present subject is concerned. The states of the Union have, by their constitutions and statutes, distributed their own judicial power. But that distribution does not and cannot impair the general equity jurisdiction of the circuit courts of the United States to administer, as between citizens of different states, the assets of a deceased person, those assets being also within their territorial jurisdiction. Green’s Adm’x v. Creighton, 23 How. 90; Payne v. Hook, 7 Wall. 425; Lawrence v. Nelson, 143 U. S. 215, 12 Sup. Ct. Rep. 440; Hayes v. Pratt, 147 U. S. 557, 13 Sup. Ct. Rep. 503.

Ko doubt the probate court of Hamilton county has, as have the probate courts generally in the several states, much larger powers than the ecclesiastical courts of England had. It has the exclusive power of admitting wills to probate, and of appointing executors thereof, and of appointing administrators of intestate estates. In such proceedings the federal courts are without authority. Fouvergne v. New Orleans, 18 How. 470; Broderick’s Will, 21 Wall. 503.

But in addition to this the probate court is Intrusted with some --not all — of the general powers and duties of courts of equity. Whenever, in. the exercise of this concurrent jurisdiction, the probate court has adjudicated upon a matter within the scope of its authority, such effect will be given in the courts of the United States to that judgment as by the law of the state it is entitled to. So far as validity and conclusiveness are given to it by state law, it will be recognized by the latter courts, and given effect, upon the same general principles as other judgments lawfully rendered, and subject to the same limitations. Caujolle v. Ferrie, 13 Wall. 465; Veach v. Rice, 131 U. S. 293, 9 Sup. Ct. Rep. 730; Simmons v. Saul, 138 U. S. 439, 11 Sup. Ct. Rep. 369.

There is no actual possession of the fund by the probate court. That court has simply certain powers of adjudication which may affect it.

The complainant Mrs. Comstock is entitled to an accounting in the court below. Whatever is shown to be concluded by judgment in the probate court will be so treated, to the extent that such judgment is conclusive by the laws of Ohio. Subject to any such adjudication, the complainant is entitled to have the matters involved adjudicated by the court whose jurisdiction she has invoked. It is said in the brief for the trustees, and urged upon the argument, that there is really no controversy about the accounts, and that the taking them would involve useless expanse. If this be so, the parties may, by stipulation in the circuit court, dispense with the reference, in whole or in part.

We think that an accounting should be ordered in the coux't below; that the trustees should be decreed to pay out of the trust funds to the complainants in the original and cross bills, respectively, the unpaid portions of the so-called annuities for the four years succeeding January 1, 1887, as claimed by them in tlxe said original and cross bills; and that the residuary estate, when ascertained, should be distributed to those entitled.

The decree must be reversed, and the cause remanded, with directions to proceed therein in conformity with this opinion.

JACKSON, Circuit Judge,

sat upon the hearing of this case, and participated in the conference thereon, and concurred in the propositions upon which the decision is rested, but was not a member of the court when its opinion was announced.