Dickens v. Dickens

56 So. 809, 174 Ala. 345, 1911 Ala. LEXIS 351

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: November 16, 1911
• Status: Published

Opinion

McCLELLAN, J.

When the main cause was before this court on former appeal, its general nature and object were there stated: “The bill is exhibited by a distributee of the estate of a deceased member of a co-partnership, against the surviving partner, who is also the administrator of the estate of the intestate, and prays the removal of the estate for administration from the probate into the chancery court of Mobile county, the removal of the administrator for causes averred, and for an accounting in the premises by the surviving partner in respects of his acts and doings in performance of the trust involved in the winding up of the dissolved (by death) copartnership, and also that injunctive process issue to conserve the interests of all parties in the assets of the concern, and that a receiver be appointed to take charge of such assets.” Another incidental .phase of the litigation is shown in Ex parte Dickens, 162 Ala. , 50 South. 218; and still another in Dickens v. Dickens, Infra, 56 South. 806. The respondent Charles C. Dickens’ answer in the main cause was made a cross-bill, whereby he sought an accounting of the affairs of the English Manufacturing Company from its organization, alleged an indebtedness of James O. Dickens to the copartnerishp above his (James O. Dickens’) interest therein, and prayed other action consistent with the winding up and settlement of the concern. On the main appeal seven errors are assigned. That numbered 5 is expressly waived in brief for appellant.

The first assignment is as follows: “Because the court erred in ascertaining and decreeing that the respondent is indebted to complainant. — Record, p. 1494.”

The second assignment is as follows: “Because the court erred in decreeing that the respondent is largely indebted to the complainant. — Record, p. 1494.”

Were it at this time important, it might, under our practice (Rule 1, S. C. Prac.,'Civil Code 1907, p. 1506), be at least questioned whether these assignments are not too general and indefinite to present any particular matter for review. — Feagan v. Kendall, 43 Ala. 628, 631; Alexander v. Rea, 50 Ala. 450; Morris v. Poillon, 50 Ala. 403; Robinson v. Murphy, 69 Ala. 543; Craig v. Pierson Co., 169 Ala. 548, 53 South. 803. We do not find it necessary to determine the matter at this time.

The record paging in these assignments refers to the last decree rendered by the chancellor, on May 14, 1910. By way of premise, in this decree, it is recited, to state-the substance, that by previous decree the report of the special master, Mr. Clarke, had been confirmed. In this-report the special master ascertained the indebtedness of the respondent. The decree to Avhich that of May 14,1910, made reference was the decree of May 11,1910, which overruled the exceptions of respondent to the special master’s report and confirmed it in all respects. In the decree of May 14, 1910, the net indebtedness, upon the basis of the aggregate indebtedness found by the special master, was adjudged in favor of complainant. In the decree of September 30, 1909, wherein the relations of the respondent to the copartnership, the English Manufacturing Company, and to the estate of James O. Dickens, deceased, were found and declared, a reference to the special master was ordered to state the accounts in the premises. In this decree the chancellor adjudged that James O. Dickens and Charles C. Dickens, constituting the English Manufacturing Company, had made on the 1st day of June, 1903, the last of a number of settlements of the partnership, “at which time (June 1, 1903) the status of the partnership matters were fully agreed upon between Charles C. Dickens and James O. Dickens, and it was fully agreed between them that James O. Dickens was entitled to an undivided two-thirds interest *in the partnership assets then on hand, and that Charles C. Dickens was entitled to a one-third undivided interest therein.” The adjudication in the decree of September 30, 1909, with respect to the settlement of June 1, 1903, was invited by a plea, filed April 15, 1908, by Carrie McGill Dickens, to Charles C. Dickens’ cross-bill, wherein he sought an accounting of the partnership affairs from its creation in 1885. The report of the appeal will contain this plea, as also the decree of September 30, 1909. Other assignments of error, as we understand them, question the correctness of the chancellor’s ruling, in the particular that the accounting, consistent with the theory of the pléa of April 15,1908, was restricted to a period beginning June 1, 1903. The assignments raising, in substance, this question, are those numbered 3, 4 and 6. Neither of the assignments numbered 1 and 2 raise the question of the propriety of the court’s action in overruling the respondent’s exceptions (assuming, for the occasion only, that the paper purporting to present exceptions of respondent to the report of the special master was serviceable to that end. — Buie 93, Ch. Court Prac., Civil Code 1907, p. 1556; McGuire v. Appling, 157 Ala. 309, 47 South, 700) to the report of the special master in the particular indicated.

Waiving, for the present, the consideration resulting from the finality (in the sense of supporting an appeal) of the decree of September 30, 1909, it is evident that the question of the correctness of the amount of the indebtedness ascertained should have been raised by assignments of error addressed to the decree overruling exceptions to the report of the special master and confirming that' report, viz., the decree of May 11, 1910. There is no such assignment by appellant.

The decree of September 30, 1909, determined the equities between the parties. In that aspect it was a final decree. In the aspect that an accounting and reference to the special master was ordered, it was interlocutory. — Adams v. Sayre, 76 Ala. 509; Garry & Welpin et al. v. Jenkins et al., 109 Ala. 471, 20 South. 8; Hunt v. Stockton Lumber Co., 113 Ala. 387; 399 21 South. 454; Foley et al. v. Leva et al., 101 Ala. 395, 13 South. 747; Wynn, Adm’r. v. Tallapoosa County Bank, 168 Ala. 469, 480-482, 53 South. 228. From the final decree of September 30, 1909, wherein the equities of the parties were fully adjudged, no appeal was taken by the appellant within the time prescribed by law. — Code, § 2868, and amendatory acts (Acts Sp. Sess. 1909, p. 165). So, the matters concluded by that decree cannot be now reviewed. — Foley v. Leva, 101 Ala. 395, 13 South. 747; Kimbrell v. Rogers, 90 Ala. 339, 7 South. 241, and authorities therein cited.

Among other matters determined in that final decree, and particularly, because of the pleadings, comprehended in the submission for that final decree, was the basis, in point of time of beginning, of the accounting so referred to the special master. The direction, in this regard, to the special master but gave effect to the adjudication whereby that date was fixed as the beginning point of the accounting. The special master had no power to alter it, or to take note of any matters, relating to the partnership, back of June 1, 1903. T0‘ have reviewed the adjudication that the settlement, by consent, of June 1, 1903, concluded the partners to that date, an appeal from that adjudication was essential. It was a judgment, by the chancellor, upon a matter touching the fundamental rights of the parties — the merits of the cause — and not an adjudication merely determinative of the elements, the items, of the account to be taken. No appeal having been taken from the decree of September 30, 1909, within the period required by law, errors cannot now be assigned or considered; for to so allow would violate the limitation fixed by law. Hence assignments 3, 4, and 6 are vain and do not invite the review they intend.

For practically similar reason assignment numbered 7 cannot be considered. It would invoke review of the decree of May 9, 1908, wherein the plea of April 15, 1908, was adjudged sufficient. No appeal from this decree was taken. If it be assumed that review of the decree of May 9, 1908, might have been invoked on appeal from the final decree of September 30, 1909, it is evident that the omission to appeal, within the limitation, from the decree of September 30, 1909, foreclosed review of the decree of May 9, 1908.

In the brief for appellant filed on submission of the appeal, no reference to assignment numbered 8 was made. It was waived by the ommission to insist upon it, — L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Holland, 173 Ala. 675, 55 South. 1001, 1008, 1009. The insistence (if so) upon it in brief subsequently filed for appellant did not retract the waiver thus made. — L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Holland, supra. The assignment cannot be considered.

The ninth assignment would question the action of the chancellor in declining to allow the respondent “to amend his answer by filing in lieu thereof the amended answer and cross-bill” of September 3, 1909. This action of the court was taken (according to the amended— nnc pro tunc — record of the cause) on September 3, 1909. No appeal having been prosecuted by appellant till January 5, 1911, and that from the decree of May 14, 1910, only, the ninth assignment cannot be considered. An appeal from the final decree of September 30, 1909, would have to be served to justify the assignment of this matter as error. Such an appeal was not taken within the limitation prescribed by law.

No reversible error being shown by appellant, the decree appealed from must be affirmed.

Cross-Appeal.

The basis of the two assignments of error pressed by the cross-appellant is to be found in the declination of the special master to charge the surviving partner with |41,684.88; the special master finding as of fact that, without authority, he continued the business and to the extent of the sum stated invested the funds of the firm in goods which went into and were commingled with the assets of the firm, and that the business, though unauthorized, was carried on at a profit up to the time the receiver assumed charge thereof. The chancellor overruled exceptions of the complainant to this feature of the special master’s report’ and confirmed the report.

It is earnestly insisted, upon these assignments of error, that there was nor is any ground other than assumption upon which to rest the conclusion “that these goods were commingled with the trust, and that the complainant in some way got the benefit thereof.” After the decree of September 30, 1909, designating the special master to take and state the account directed thereby, the complainant filed with the special master on October 29, 1909, an account against the surviving partner. With this account the complainant filed with the special master an extended “explanation” thereof. In it occur these statements: “In malting up the first analysis referred to, which is contained in. Book 1, however, the complainant’s accountant , did not examine the data with a view of ascertaining which of the expenditures of said Charles C. Dickens were, in fact, made in payment of .goods purchased by him since the death of his deceased partner; but the accountant has since that time made up a list showing the disbursements included in this account which were, in fact, made in payment of the goods purchased by Charles C. Dickens since the death of his deceased partner. This analysis is contained in Book 9, which is filed herewith, pages 11, 12, and 13, showing that $41,674.88 of these disbursements were in fact made in payment for goods purchased by Charles O. Dickens since the death of his deceased partner. In connection with these expenditures, the complainant calls the special master’s attention to the fact that, after the death of James O. Dickens, Charles C. Dickens wrongfully continued to' conduct the business of the English Manufacturing Company as if it was his own, and bought new goods and mixed them with the goods on hand and sold from the common stock thus mixed, ■and kept no account whatever showing what portion of his receipts and disbursements related to the winding-up of the copartnership, and what portion thereof related to the new business thus conducted by him.”

In the account headed “Statement of Account of O. C. Dickens,” filed by cross-appellant with the special master, along with the explanations mentioned, there appears this statement: “Amount paid by C. G. Dickens out of firm assets for purchases made by him, and part of freight on the same from Nov. 30/08 (the date of J. O. Dickens’ death) to Jan’y 29/09______41,674.88.” Evidently the date, “Nov. 30/08,” was intended to read, “Nov. 30/06”; that being “the date of J. O. Dickens’ death.”

If we interpret the quoted statements, in connection with the other parts of the explanation filed by cross-complainant, aright, the stated insistence cannot be approved. The special master, and the chancellor in confirming his report, were well invited to decide that this sum out of the trust fund went into new goods, and that these goods were commingled ivith other partnership assets.

There in no contest of the abstract, soundness of the legal proposition that, “on the dissolution of the firm by the death of one of the partners, it is the survivor’s duty to settle up the partnership affairs within a reasonable time, and pay over to the representatives of the deceased partner the amount due to them; and if he takes the responsibility of continuing the business of the firm,, and using the property of the partnership, he becomes liable for losses that may occur; and it is the option of the representatives of the deceased partner either to insist upon a division of the profits, which may be made in thus carrying on the business or upon being paid the amount of the deceased’s share in the capital, with lawful interest thereon, after deducting his indebtedness to the firm.” — Clay v. Field, 138 U. S. 464, 473, 474, 11 Sup. Ct. 419; 34 L. Ed. 1044; 30 Cyc. p. 640, and notes; Brown’s Appeal, 89 Pa. 139, 147; 2 Lindley on Part. (4th Ed.) star pages 977-979, and notes thereon. But it is insisted by cross-appellant that the rule that “when goods are intermixed willfully, without mutual consent, the entire property belongs to him whose property was originally invaded, and its distinctive character destroyed” (Alley v. Adams, 44 Ala. 609; Burns v. Campbell, 71 Ala. 271), should be applied, to the end that the surviving partner would be charged with the sum stated.

The result of the application of this rule to the status created by the unauthorized continuance of the business by the surviving partner would' be to give the cross-appellant the proportionate benefit of both the trust fund invested in new goods and the purchases therewith made.' When translated into the form of an account, the surviving partner would be charged with the trust fund and with the goods into which it went, and denied credit of the sum so expended-by him. Such was, as we understand it, the special master’s notion, and that approved by the chancellor, when in his report he said: “I hold that she (complainant cross-appellant) would not have the right to recover of respondent her share of the capital used, with interest thereon, and in addition thereto take two-thirds of the goods in which said capital was invested, with the profits made from the sales of the same. Upon broad equitable principles, apart from the rule establishing the surviving partner’s liability, this should not be allowed.” •

According to the account, and accompanying explanation, filed with the special master by the complainant (cross-appellant), the purchases made by the surviving partner, after the dissolution of the partnership by death, were made with trust funds, thereby excluding, as to the sum in question, any basis upon which to apply tbe doctrine with, respect to the “commingling of goods.” The goods purchased with trust funds, took the place of funds in the trust. They did not represent, nor were they individual property of the surviving partner. Hence there was no commingling of separately owned properties or funds, but only, as the special master ruled, “a change from a moneyed asset into a property asset.”

The assignments made upon the cross-appeal are without merit; and, upon that appeal, the decree is affirmed.

Affirmed on both the main and cross-appeals.

All the Justices concur.