In re the Estate of Jacobs

New York Surrogate's Court

In re the Estate of Jacobs

169 Misc. 904, 9 N.Y.S.2d 278, 1938 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2285

DecidedOctober 25, 1938

StatusPublished

This text of 169 Misc. 904 (In re the Estate of Jacobs) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Surrogate's Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

In re the Estate of Jacobs, 169 Misc. 904, 9 N.Y.S.2d 278, 1938 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2285 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1938).

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Opinion

Foley, S.

The application to strike out the answers and for summary judgment is denied. The action, which was transferred to this court by consent of the Supreme Court and consolidated with the pending accounting proceeding, was brought on a promissory note alleged to have been signed by the decedent. The answers put in issue the genuineness of the signatures of the decedent, lack of consideration (Dougherty v. Salt, 227 N. Y. 200) and other grounds of freedom of non-liability as against the estate. The relief sought here is based on alleged admissions of the validity of the debt made by one of the three executors. The other two executors vigorously, resist the claim and oppose this application. It is not clear from the papers submitted that the admissions or declarations constitute an unequivocal allowance of the claim by the single coexecutor who is the uncle of the claimant. Even if they did, the questions whether such allowance was negligent or [905]*905fraudulent or induced by bad faith are still to be litigated. (Surr. Ct. Act, § 210; Matter of Taylor, 251 N. Y. 257.) Because of the close relationship between the parties the further question of whether there was collusion is also presented. In any event, the admissions of one executor are not binding on the other two nor on the beneficiaries of the estate. (Church v. Howard, 79 N. Y. 415; Davis v. Gallagher, 124 id. 487.) The admissions, if so made, cannot be utilized to prevent a trial of the issues. This rule is a salutary one which was adopted to safeguard the rights of creditors, legatees and other beneficiaries. It is particularly applicable in the present case where the relationship of the claimant and the executor, who is said to have made the admissions, is that of nephew and uncle.

Submit order on notice denying the application accordingly. The order framing issues for the jury has been signed.

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Foley, S.

The application to strike out the answers and for summary judgment is denied. The action, which was transferred to this court by consent of the Supreme Court and consolidated with the pending accounting proceeding, was brought on a promissory note alleged to have been signed by the decedent. The answers put in issue the genuineness of the signatures of the decedent, lack of consideration (Dougherty v. Salt, 227 N. Y. 200) and other grounds of freedom of non-liability as against the estate. The relief sought here is based on alleged admissions of the validity of the debt made by one of the three executors. The other two executors vigorously, resist the claim and oppose this application. It is not clear from the papers submitted that the admissions or declarations constitute an unequivocal allowance of the claim by the single coexecutor who is the uncle of the claimant. Even if they did, the questions whether such allowance was negligent or [905]*905fraudulent or induced by bad faith are still to be litigated. (Surr. Ct. Act, § 210; Matter of Taylor, 251 N. Y. 257.) Because of the close relationship between the parties the further question of whether there was collusion is also presented. In any event, the admissions of one executor are not binding on the other two nor on the beneficiaries of the estate. (Church v. Howard, 79 N. Y. 415; Davis v. Gallagher, 124 id. 487.) The admissions, if so made, cannot be utilized to prevent a trial of the issues. This rule is a salutary one which was adopted to safeguard the rights of creditors, legatees and other beneficiaries. It is particularly applicable in the present case where the relationship of the claimant and the executor, who is said to have made the admissions, is that of nephew and uncle.

Submit order on notice denying the application accordingly. The order framing issues for the jury has been signed.

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Bluebook (online)

169 Misc. 904, 9 N.Y.S.2d 278, 1938 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2285, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-estate-of-jacobs-nysurct-1938.

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