Hills v. Tallman's administrator

21 Wend. 674

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: March 15, 1840
• Status: Published

Opinion

By the Court,

Nelson, Ch. J.

The question is, whether the judgment purchased by the administrator can be set off against'one, recovered against him, as such, on a demand due from the intestate. It appears to me the authorities as well as the policy of the law is against the application.

The English statute of 2 Geo. II., ch. 22, § 13, is substantially like our own, 2 R. S. 279, § 37, 38, 39, under which it has been determined in a suit by an executor, whether describing himself as such or not, to recover a debt, where the cause of action accrued after the death of the testator, the defendant cannot set off one due him from the estate. Willes, 264, note, and 104, n. a. Babington on Set-off, 64, 65. 8 Wendell, 530. 4 Johns. Ch. R. 13. The reason is, if allowed, it would alter the course' of distribution. The demand when collected is assets, out of which the defendant is entitled to be paid only in due course of administration; whereas, if the set-off be allowed, there might be an undue preference over other creditors: his debt would thus be paid in any event.

If, therefore. Tallman should bring a suit upon the judgment he holds, against Yale, the latter would be precluded from setting off his, according to the above cases ; and if so, as the rule is mutual, the former would equally fail if the action was against him. 4 Johns. Ch. R. 13. Neither should he be permitted, as the effect upon the assets would be the same as if Yale had set off his debt.

Our statute appears to have been drawn with reference to this exposition of 2 Geo. II, § 37. In suits brought by executors and administrators, demands existing against their testators or intestates, and belonging to the defendant at the time of their death, may be set off, &c. § 39. In actions

against executors anu administrators, &c. they may set off demands belonging to their testators or intestates, dec. These provisions accord with the doctrine of the case of Kilvington, ex'r, v. Stevenson, Willes, 264, note, before referred to, and which has always been regarded as sound law. It was there conceded, if the debt had existed in the lifetime-of the testator against the defendant, he might have set off his demand against the estate. That would have been a case within the statute of Geo. II. There would have been “ mutual debts” existing between the testator and defendant; or, in the language of our old statute, 1 R. L. 515, § 1, they would have been persons “ indebted to each other,” or having “ demands arising on contract, or credits against each other;” the balance only, in that case, if any, would be the debt, and enter into the assets. 20 Johns. R. 137, and see 2 Paige, 402.

In any view that can be taken of this case, the set off must be denied. If the judgment against Yale belongs to Tallman individually, then the objection is insuperable—the debts exist in different rights, 5 Mad. R. 459 ; and if he holds it as administrator, it belongs to the assets of the estate, and must be applied in the usual course of distribution.

Such are the authorities, and they are founded in justice and sound policy.

Motion denied, with costs.