Hackley v. Littell

113 N.W. 787, 150 Mich. 106, 1907 Mich. LEXIS 768
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 5, 1907
DocketDocket No. 161; Docket No. 1
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 113 N.W. 787 (Hackley v. Littell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hackley v. Littell, 113 N.W. 787, 150 Mich. 106, 1907 Mich. LEXIS 768 (Mich. 1907).

Opinion

Hooker, J.

In the year 1887, one Mrs. Helen A.. [107]*107Davies, living at the time in Muskegon, Michigan, being possessed of $50,000, conveyed it to Charles H. Hackley, in trust, to collect the income and pay it to her semi-annually ; the instrument making provision for the disposition of the principal fund after her death. A more detailed statement of the terms of the trust, further than-to say that it was expressly provided that Mrs. Davies could not anticipate, transfer, or assign any part of either principal or income, is unnecessary for the purposes of' this case, especially as the assignees, Ensminger and Ives, claim only the income. The trust was accepted by Mr. Hackley, and Andrew Fleming, his successor as trustee, the petitioner in this proceeding, now has possession of the fund.

In .1901, Fleming as trustee filed a bill alleging the pendency of a suit commenced by Hackley in Muskegon circuit, the extravagance of Mrs. Littell, the fact that certain attorneys were claiming to be her creditors, the pendency of garnishee proceedings in the circuit court for another county through which an attempt was being made to reach and apply to the payment of their claims the trust fund, and efforts on the part of all of the defendants therein to procure a cancellation of the trust, and praying that the defendants be restrained from further prosecuting said suits therein mentioned, or any other affecting the trust estate, or attempting to obtain said fund, or any part thereof, and that it be adjudicated whether or not said Helen Littell might revoke or annul said trust deed, and whether or not her creditors might reach any of said principal of said trust estate for the satisfaction of their debts, and for general relief. Upon a. hearing the following decree was made:

‘ ‘ State oe Michigan, — The Circuit Court for the County-
of Muskegon, in Chancery.
„ “At a session of said court, held at the court-house in the city of Muskegon, in said county, on the 20th day of. November, A. D. 1902.
“Present: Hon. Fred J. Russell, circuit judge.
[108]*108‘ ‘ R. Andrew Fleming, Trustee,
“Complainant,
v.
“Helen H. Littell and Eva Louise Littell,
“ Defendants.
‘ ‘ This cause having been brought on to be heard upon the pleadings filed therein and proofs taken in open court, and after hearing the arguments of counsel, C. W. Sessions appearing on behalf of the complainant, Stephen H. Clink appearing on behalf of the defendant Helen H. Lit-tell, and John B. Barlow, guardian ad litem of the defendant Eva Louise Littell, appearing in person and by Dan T. Chamberlain, his solicitor, and the court having duly considered the matter,
“It appearing to the court from the pleadings and proofs taken in said cause, that the trust deed referred to in the bill of complaint herein, and bearing date the 19th day of January, 1887, executed by the defendant Helen H. Littell, and delivered to Charles H. Hackley, trustee, a copy of which trust deed is attached to said bill and marked Exhibit “A,” was made for the purpose of protecting the said defendant Helen H. Littell against her own acts of incompetency and extravagance, and of putting her property, included in said trust deed, beyond her own control, and of securing to herself a support and maintenance from the income of such property and funds; that at the time of the execution of said trust deed, said defendant Helen H. Littell fully understood its nature and condition, and freely and voluntarily executed the same for the purposes and intents therein and above set forth; that it appears from the composition of said trust deed, and by the pleadings filed in this cause, that the trust created by said trust deed was intended to be, and is, in fact, a spendthrift trust and that the said defendant Helen H. Littell, has no authority to dissolve or withdraw the same; that said defendant Helen H, Littell has no control over the funds involved in said trust, and that said defendant Eva Louise Littell has at the present time no interest in said trust except a contingent interest, and has no control over the trust estate at the present time.
“And it appearing to the court that said defendant Helen H. Littell has heretofore commenced numerous suits and proceedings to reach or obtain, the principal of said trust fund, which proceedings have diminished the [109]*109income from said trust fund, and have not been for the-best interests of said defendant Helen H. Littell, the said trustee, or said trust estate.
“It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, and this court by virtue of the authority therein invested, does order, adjudge and decree:
‘' 1. That said trust deed was made for the purpose of protecting said defendant Helen H. Littell against her own acts of incompetency and extravagancá, and of putting her property, included in said trust deed, beyond her own control, and securing to herself a support and maintenance from the income of said property and funds; that the trust created thereby was and is á spendthrift trust, and that said defendant Helen H. Littell has no control whatever over the same, nor any authority to dissolve or withdraw it; that said defendant Helen H. Littell is entitled to the income only from said trust estate.
“2. That said defendant Eva Louise Littell has at the present time only a contingent interest in the trust created by said trust deed, and has no control over the said trust.
“3. That the said trustee has full power and authority under said trust deed and under the supervision of this court, to keep the said trust estate invested in good and interest-bearing securities, or other good and sufficient interest-bearing or dividend-paying investments, and to change and shift investments from time to time to other of like nature, without interference by said defendant Helen H. Littell or any other person.
“4. That this court has exclusive jurisdiction over the said trustee and said trust estate.
“5. That said defendant Helen H. Littell be and she is hereby perpetually enjoined from instituting or commencing any suit or proceedings, either directly or indirectly, in any court, except this court, to obtain any portion or part of the principal of said trust fund.
“6. That no costs be allowed to or against any of the parties to this suit.
“Fred J. Russell,
“Countersigned, “ Circuit Judge.
“John B. Barlow,
“ Register.”

On October 24, 1905, Fleming filed the petition which is now before us. It sets up the foregoing facts, states his incumbency as trustee, and that he has been served [110]*110with an alleged assignment by Helen Brachvogel (formerly Littell) to W. J. Ensminger of all of her interest in and to the trust agreement, given to secure the payment of an alleged indebtedness due from her to him. Also two other alleged assignments of her said interest, given by her to Morse Ives, both dated September 12, 1905, to take effect March 12, 1906.

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Bluebook (online)
113 N.W. 787, 150 Mich. 106, 1907 Mich. LEXIS 768, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hackley-v-littell-mich-1907.