Interdiction of Dumas

32 La. Ann. 679

• Court: Supreme Court of Louisiana
• Decided: May 15, 1880
• Docket: No. 7671
• Status: Published

Opinions

The opinion of the Court on the Merits and on Eeliearing was delivered by

Berjmudez, C. J.

The correctness of the j udgment rendered by the Court a qua, interdicting Joseph Dumas, is questioned in this Court* and its reversal, with a dismissal of the suit, is urged on the following grounds;

1st. That the Second District Court had no jurisdiction of the domicile, or person of the defendant;

, 2d. That if it had, Dumas was not legally cited to appear before that tribunal.

The suit was brought by four of the children of Dumas, under proper averments of mental debility and complete inability on his part to take charge of his person and property. The petition alleges distinctly that, although Dumas be in Paris, France, at the time, his domicile is in New Orleans, the place of his nativity and marriage, and that he is a citizen of the United States and of Louisiana.

Under that representation of facts, the Court assumed jurisdiction-, citation issued, and was served in Paris personally on Dumas. Some two months and a half after notice of the suit had been thus signified to Dumas, it being shown that he made no appearance in person, by counsel, or otherwise, the Court appointed a curator ad hoc to represent him in the proceedings.

The remaining two children of Dumas intervened in the suit, resisting the demand for his interdiction. Exceptions were filed to their intervention, but they were not urged, and were not passed upon by the; lower court. The case was decided on its merits. No motion to dismiss the appeal was made in this Oourt. The exceptions must be considered as abandoned — the more so as there was no judgment in the lower court overruling them, and no amendment was, and could be, asked here in the absence of any judgment touching them which we could be called upon to review. Their legal status does not appear to be at all questioned here. We deem, however, that the children who have thus intervened had a right to make the appearance they did, for the reasons,, that the case was one of public order; one in which the liberty and property of their father were involved ;• one in which questions of great importance to the family were to be agitated and determined, and in which they were justified in feeling a deep'and important, though remote interest, as presumptive heirs. They surely could have brought-the suit; they could have joined the petitioners ; why should they not be permitted to resist an application of such magnitude, which, if granted, might work irreparable injury, as the judgment could not be-suspended by appeal ? B. C. 0. 895.

The case having been put at issue, was tried and judgment was rendered incapacitating Dumas.

1. In order to ascertain whether the'lower court had jurisdiction: over the matter presented, it is necessary to inquire whether Dumas was at the time of the institution of the suit domiciled within the territorial: limits of that tribunal.

Article 392, B. C. 0., provides that “ every interdiction shall be pronounced by the judge of the domicile or residence of the person to be interdicted.”

It is in proof that Dumas first, voluntarily, left New Orleans in 1817, with his family, and moved to Paris, France, where he established himself and lived up to 1862 or 1868, when he returned to New Orleans, sojourning there until 1866, when he again voluntarily left for Paris. He continued to reside in that city afterward up to 1879, when the interdiction proceedings were commenced here, and did not cease to live there subsequently.

Article 46 of the R. C. C., which is a re-enactment of act of 1855, p. 331, provides that a voluntary absence of two years from the State, or the acquisition of residence in any other State of the Union, or else-lohere, shall forfeit a domicile in the State.

We are fully satisfied from the evidence that Joseph Dumas was, from the beginning, unwilling to continue to have his domicile in New Orleans ; that he intended to go and establish himself abroad, and that in point of fact he did do so, most unequivocally, without entertaining the remotest determined idea of returning to Louisiana. I-Iis absence was voluntary, for quite a number of years. The conclusion is irresistible, that lie forfeited his domicile here, even if he acquired none in France ; and that the lower court had no jurisdiction over him, and, therefore, over the suit brought to interdict him.

See State vs. Poydras, 9 A. 167 ; Blake vs. Nelson, 29 A. 263 ; Evans vs. Payne, 30 A. 498, 602.

II. Assuming, however, that he had not lost his domicile here, and that his residence in Paris was only temporary, the question arises, could the Second District Court extend its jurisdiction over him, while he was in Paris, for the purpose of the interdiction suit brought here ? As a rule, courts have no right to issue their process beyond their limited judicial sphere of action, but there are cases in which they may do so within the boundaries of their sovereignty, within which they are established, and the exceptions are well defined. 9 R. 348 ; 8 N. S.; 11 L. 129 ; C. P. 129, and other articles.

It seems to us that when the law requires that “ every interdiction shall be pronounced by the competent judge of the domicile or,residence of the person to be interdicted,” it contemplates that sucii domicile or residence should be, as a rule, the place of abode of such person, the locus habitations, the place where the body can be found and reached, within the territorial limits of the court itself, and, as an exception, the place of the bona fide abode, intentional or accidental, of such person within the national boundaries of the sovereignty which the court rep-’ resents.

The reason of this is obvious, and it is this, that a personal view and inspection of the person whose insanity is alleged is not only proper, but eminently necessary, when practicable, in order that upon -the testimony of the witnesses, the report of the medical experts or ■other suitable evidence, the interrogation of the party, the judge may, •at the very moment of the rendition of the judgment, have it in his power to see and decide for himself whether his decree will or not bear upon a person compos vel non. R. C. C. 417, 423-425. In fact, it is made the duty of the judge, even after interdiction, to visit him whenever he shall deem it expedient. The court is required to appoint a superintendent, who is to have free access to the party, in order to inform the judge frequently of the state of health of the person interdicted, and of the manner in which he is treated. R. 0. 0. 424. The person interdicted is not permitted to be taken out of the State without ■a judicial order granted on the advice of a family meeting, and the sworn opinion of two physicians that they believe the departure necessary to the health of the party. R. 0. O. 423.

If a court, having jurisdiction ratione materice, sitting in New Orleans, has the power of sending its process, in an action essentially personal, beyond its territorial boundaries to be served on a party living within the limits of the imperiam of a sovereignty altogether distinct -•and independent, as in the present instance, in Paris, France, it could on the same principle exercise a similar prerogative touching a person ■established in China, or Patagonia, or any other like country.

“No sovereignty, says Judge Story in his Conflict of Laws l 539, can ■extend its process beyond its territorial limits to subject either person -or property to its judicial decisions. Every exertion of authority of this sort beyond this limit is mere nullity, and incapable of binding such •persons or their property in any other tribunal.”

See, also, xVllard: Chose Jugée, 331.

Eoelix, Droit International Privé, 1.11. 39.

Merlin 2 D. vo. Jugement, \ 14, No. 1, 3d ed., vol. IV., p. 20.

Rorer on Inter. State Law, p. 10, 167, 168, and notes.

Courts should never assume to render judgments which, in any given instance, it would be impossible for them to have executed by their own officers, or officers under their control, or officers of a distinct nationality, by comity. How, in the present instance, could the Second District Court have its judgment enforced in Paris? Assuming that it had jurisdiction over the case, that it could have cited the defendant •there, as was done, its j udgment, until then dormant only, could not be •carried out in France, without being first subjected to revision, and •even then without confirmation by vivification, by the constituted judicial local authorities. In the event of any refusal on their part to -co-operate, in the absence of any comity between the two countries, the '.Second District Court would be powerless to have its judgment enforced in France, whether to have Damas confined in a sanitary institution, or-placed under the control of some designated person, or to have his property there, even if movable, administered upon by a curator, appointed and qualified here.

It appears that the attempt was made to have Dumas interdicted by the competent tribunal -in Paris, but that ex officio it declined jurisdiction, ratione persoimrum, the parties being foreigners, the Court being aware, however, of the institution of the interdiction proceedings in New Orleans.

We understand that the correctness of that ruling is assailed, and that the case is pending before the Court of Appeals in Paris. However singular it may appear to as. whether it shall be reversed or confirmed there, is a question with which we do not propose to deal, as wears not called upon, and have no authority to review it. Had a j udgment been rendered there interdicting Dumas, and were a proceeding-pending before us for the execution ol" such j udgment here, we would then have an opinion to express.

If the ruling of the French court and our own views be correct,, however different or contrary they may appear, it would result that Dumas, although unquestionably insane, would be interdicted neither-by the court having jurisdiction of his person nor by that having jurisdiction of his admitted last domicile, and of his property.

If the case before the court be one for which no legal provision was made, the fault, if there be any, is not with the judiciary, who can expound the laws only as they find them, whatever consequent embarrassment may follow. But there is no deficiency or hiatus in the protection which the law should afford to those who look to it for security in their person or property. It docs not necessarily follow that the creditors, or the presumptive heirs of Dumas, or any one concerned in him, or in his estate, would suffer any injury from, that anomalous condition of things. Before Dumas went to Paris he had left a power of attorney, by which he conferred unlimited rights of administration and alienation on a person in whom lie had placed liis confidence, and the authority thus-delegated, was afterward transferred to one who has appeared as a resisting intervenor in these very proceedings.

The lamentable disability with which, it is alleged that Dumas was-afflicted at the bringing of this suit, and which continued to dement him long afterward, was a mental malady, which could, — no more than-any other infirmity, — produce the effect of revoking the procuration which he had given to his agent. It could be recalled, in a circumstance like-this only by an actual, valid, judgment of interdiction. R. C. C. 3027.. The institution of the interdiction suit did not revoke the powers so entrusted. Gernon vs. Dubois, 23 An. 27.

Even could such mental derangement put an end to the mandate,, the consequence would only have been that Dumas would have ha,d tobe treated as an absentee, and his property taken care of and administered" upon as provided by law in such cases. R. C. C. art. 50 et seq.

IIL- Although the foregoing considerations would suffice to justify our decree, we deem it advisable, in view of the novel nature of this-important case, and of the character of the proceedings required in such matters, to proceed further, and to consider, somewhat briefly, the second point presented for our determination.

Conceding, arguendo, that the court could send its process beyond its territorial boundaries, to be served on a person within the limits of another distinct sovereignty, the question arises : Should not that process, to such person, there, be the same as the law would require it to be,, did that person reside within the undisputed jurisdiction of the court?

It is an unassailable proposition of law that no judgment intended to affect a person in his rights of self-control, or of administration and disposal of his property, can be validly rendered, unless, as a condition-precedent, such person has actually, by the process of the proper court, before which the demand is pending, been cited, as a defendant, in strict legal form, by service on him, either personally, or at his domicile, or by the seizure of his property.

The law has provided certain forms in which such person can be compelled, at his risk, to notice judicial proceedings against him. Unless these forms be fully observed, particularly those which serve as' a> foundation for the suit, such as a citation, the defendant can assume to ignore the steps taken against him, and the plaintiff may proceed, but at his peril, in the prosecution of his suit.

It is settled, beyond the possibility of a doubt, that it is indispensably necessary, in an interdiction proceeding, that the person sought to be declared incapacitated be cited, and that the citation should be served on him personally, if practicable, for such mode of conveying notice is eminently preferable, and that .if such service be not made, it shall take place as otherwise indicated by law. 16 L. 63 ; 1 N. S. 551; 23 A. 26.

The citation in this instance is addressed to Joseph Dumas, without-mentioning the place of his residence. It allows him ten days from service to answer, and does not appear to bear the seal of the court by whose authority it issued. The petition states that Joseph Dumas resides in Paris. Why was not the citation directed to him there ? Why did it not mention the additional delay granted by law to parties residing-at a greater distance than ten miles from the place where the court holds its sitting ? Why was not the seal of the court impressed upon the citation, to fully authenticate it ? This important summons has issued in plain. •disregard of the requirements of law. C. 3?. 179, $¡2, $5, §7; 19 L. 68. The answer, that the defendant was absent from the State, and that citations addressed to absent persons, who may be amenable by the powers of the court, are not required to be made in compliance with those provisions of the Code of Practice, would, if true, obliterate, in personal actions, these wise formalities, and leave the form of the original process to be issued in such cases at the whim and caprice of courts of justice. It is a proposition so evidently self-destructive that we cannot for a moment entertain it. The ruling in 4 L. 220, invoked by the appellees, is entitled to no application, as it was made in an attachment case, in which the proceeding is not in personam, but in rem, and where the place of residence of the defendant is not required to be known and stated. A ■suit instituted, for the interdiction of a disabled person, is essentially a proceeding in personam, as one of its objects is the deprivation of the right of self-control.

TV". Besides the service of that informal and illegal citation was made by the U. S. Consul in Paris, on the defendant. "We know of no law, Federal or State, which vests national representatives with the power of serving judicial process of State courts on parties within their sphere of representative action. "We have, nevertheless, requested ■counsel to inform us on the subject, but they have failed to do so. It ■cannot be conceived that the General Government sends representatives ■abroad for the purpose of acting as the executive officers of the different State courts in the Union. It is true that those representatives sometimes act as the ministerial officers of such courts, as, for instance, to ■execute commissions to procure testimony, and the like; but they do so ■with the special authority of State legislation, providing distinctly for -such cases. The inference, therefore, is, that, even if the citation could have issued and was valid, the service of it did not take place by the instrumentality of one authorized by law to make it.

Finding as we do, that Joseph Dumas had lost his domicile in New 'Orleans by a voluntary continued absence from it during some fourteen years, previous to the bringing of this suit, — that the court could not issue its process to one actually residing not only beyond its territorial' limits, but in a different, independent sovereignty, — that the citation issued to the defendant is informal, and'that the service of it was made by an unauthorized officer, — we conclude that the plaintiffs have brought .and carried on these proceedings and obtained the judgment assailed .here, subject to befalling contingencies.

It is therefore ordered, adjudged, and decreed that the judgment appealed from be and the same is hereby avoided, annulled, and re■versed ; and it is now ordered that this suit be and the same is hereby dismissed, at the costs of the petitioners in both courts.