Gladney v. Graham

183 So. 299, 133 Fla. 785
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedAugust 1, 1938
StatusPublished

This text of 183 So. 299 (Gladney v. Graham) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gladney v. Graham, 183 So. 299, 133 Fla. 785 (Fla. 1938).

Opinion

Buford, J.

—The appeal brings for review order of the Circuit Court which reads as follows:

“This cause coming on to be heard upon the motion for interlocutory order directing the defendant guardian and surety on her bond to file an itemized accounting, and upon the respective motions of the defendants incorporated in their respective answers and upon the testimony of the plaintiff ward and the exhibits of the defendant guardian, and the same having been argued by counsel for the respective parties and considered by the Court; and it further appearing to the Court that there are no bases in the pleadings or in the motion or in the proofs for further accounting by the guardian and her surety, and that such accounting, if had, could avail the plaintiff nothing:

“Thereupon it is Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed:

“1. That the motion for such accounting by the guardian and her surety be and the same is hereby denied.

*786 “2. That the motions oi the respective defendants incorporated in their respective answers be and the same are hereby severally granted.

“3. That the bill and amended bill and amendments thereto be and the same are hereby dismissed at the cost of the plaintiff.”

Bill of complaint was filed October 22nd, 1936, by Lucile Graham Gladney, a minor, joined by her husband, Harvey Gladney, and by Frank T. Hines, Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, as next friend, by his attorney, George W. Burke, praying for an accounting. Amongst other things the bill alleged:

“VI. That the Guardian was appointed for the ward’s estate-by the County Judge on July 3, 1934, and she continued to act as such Guardian until July 13, 1936, at which time she was discharged as such guardian by the County Judge;

“VIL That the guardian and surety signed a guardianship bond concerning the estate of the ward on December 27, 1934, in the penal sum of One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars given for the faithful performance of the duties of the guardian; That said bond was posted with the County Judge on December 27, 1934, and the same was approved by the County Judge on the same date; That the said guardian, as principal, and the said surety, as such, were discharged and released from the obligation of said bond by the County Judge in his Order dated July 13, 1936;

“VIII. That the guardian received in behalf of the ward the sum of Seven Hundred Eighty-eight ($788.75) Dollars and Seventy-five cents, between the date of her appointment and the 23rd day of August, 1935, as adjusted compensation benefits and death compensation benefits; That the guardian received for the benefit of the ward Ten *787 ($10.00) Dollars monthly from August 23, 1935, to June 30, 1936; That the guardian has not accounted for the said funds as she is in duty bound to do;

“IX. That the ward was born January 17, 1920;

“X. That the said discharge of the guardian and of the surety was upon the assumption that the marriage of the ward and her husband on June 20, 1936, relieved the ward of the disability of non-age;

“XI. .That the Court should appoint a guardian for the estate of the ward; That the guardian aforesaid should be required to make and render a proper and correct accounting of the funds aforesaid unto the Court; That the guardian aforesaid should be required to reimburse the estate of the ward for any misappropriated funds and upon the failure of the guardian aforesaid to make such reimbursement, the surety should be required to reimburse the. estate of the ward for any misappropriated funds;”

It is prayed that process be issued; that a Master be appointed to take testimony; that the Court determine any misappropriation of funds by the guardian and that she be required to reimburse the estate of the minor by paying money found to be due into the Court; that upon failure to make payment the surety on the guardian’s bond be required to pay the money into court and that upon the determination of misappropriation of funds, the payment of same be made into the registry of the court; that the court appoint a proper person or corporation as guardian of the estate of Lucile Graham Gladney, a minor.

Defendants moved to dismiss the bill. Motion was granted with leave to amend. The bill was amended. The pertinent amendments were:

“That the guardian aforesaid filed with the County Judge’s Court, Alachua County, Florida, on or about August 23, 1935, what purports to be an annual report of *788 accounting concerning the estate of your petitioner; That according to said report the said guardian alleged to have on hand by way of a deposit in the First National Bank of Gainesville. Alachua County, Florida, the sum of Five Hundred Twenty-Seven ($527.75) Dollars and Seventy-five cents belonging to the estate of your petitioner as of June 30, 1935; That under date of October 8, 1935, there was approved an award of Ten ($10.00) Dollars per month death compensation in the Central Office of the United States Veterans’ Administration, Washington, D. C., authorizing the payment to the guardian aforesaid for your petitioner at the rate of Ten ($10.00) Dollars per month, effective from June 28, 1934; That said award and such payments continued to said legal guardian from June 28, 1934, to and including July 31, 1936.

II. That on the date of making and entering of the said Order by the said County Judge on July 13, 1936, and for some years next prior thereto, your petitioner resided with and in the home of said guardian; that the said guardian is related to your petitioner as an aunt by marriage; That your petitioner by reason of her tender age and inexperience, reposed in said guardian complete and full confidence concerning matters pertaining to the estate of your petitioner.

"III. That at the time • of the said purported discharge of said guardian by the said County Judge, your petitioner then and there reposing full confidence in said guardian, the said guardian did take advantage of such confidence, inexperience of your petitioner and your petitioner’s tender years, and unduly influenced your petitioner to make and sign what purported to be a full and complete release acknowledging receipt in full of all personal property and monies belonging to your petitioner and requesting the said County Judge to acquit and discharge the said guardian *789 from further duties and responsibilities by reason of the guardianship. That the said.

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Bluebook (online)
183 So. 299, 133 Fla. 785, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gladney-v-graham-fla-1938.