Johnson v. UNOPENED SUCCESSION

969 So. 2d 733
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 31, 2007
Docket42,488-CA, 42,489-CA
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 969 So. 2d 733 (Johnson v. UNOPENED SUCCESSION) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. UNOPENED SUCCESSION, 969 So. 2d 733 (La. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

969 So.2d 733 (2007)

Ruth Covington JOHNSON, Plaintiff-Appellant
v.
The UNOPENED SUCCESSION OF ALFRED COVINGTON, JR., et al., Defendants-Appellees.
Columbus Covington, et al, Plaintiffs-Appellants
v.
The Unopened Succession of Alfred Covington, Jr., et al, Defendants-Appellees.

Nos. 42,488-CA, 42,489-CA.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Second Circuit.

October 31, 2007.

*736 Charles E. Herring, Jr., for Appellant.

Daniel J. Ellender, Monroe, for Appellee.

Before WILLIAMS, STEWART and CARAWAY, JJ.

WILLIAMS, J.

Plaintiffs, Ruth Covington Johnson, Columbus Covington, Melvyn Covington and Roosevelt Covington, seek reversal of the district court's ruling granting exceptions of prescription in favor of defendants, The Unopened Succession of Alfred Covington, Jr., The Unopened Succession of Rose Edwards Covington and the Alfred Covington, Jr. Revocable Trust. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the district court's ruling.

FACTS

Alfred Covington, Sr. ("Alfred, Sr.") died testate in Morehouse Parish on December 4, 1984. During his life, he married twice: first to Arpolian Dorsey Covington ("Arpolian"), then to Josephine Covington ("Josephine"). Eleven children were born during Alfred, Sr.'s marriage to Arpolian. During their marriage, Alfred, Sr. and Arpolian acquired a substantial amount of land in and around Oak Ridge, Louisiana. They were divorced in 1947. When the community property was partitioned, they each received approximately 120 acres of land and Arpolian received the family home. Alfred, Sr. later married Josephine, and five children were born during the marriage.

In Alfred, Sr.'s last will and testament, dated January 23, 1983, he bequeathed all of his property to his "legitimate children, natural children and grandchildren" in equal shares. The will appointed Travis Holley as executor of the estate and as the attorney to probate the will. Holley petitioned the court to sell the 120 acres for $40,000. The descriptive list estimated the value of the property to be $120,000.

After complying with the advertising requirements and receiving no opposition, the court entered a judgment of homologation on June 26, 1986 authorizing the sale of the land for $40,000. On July 3, 1986, Holley conveyed the property by cash deed to Alfred Covington, Jr. ("Alfred, Jr.") for $40,000. On August 10, 1987, Holley filed a final accounting, reflecting that $12,618.84 in cash was available for distribution after the payment of all succession debts. The 20 legatees received approximately $600 each. Alfred, Jr., a resident of California, maintained ownership of the property until May 8, 2003, when he conveyed the property by cash deed to the Alfred Covington, Jr. Revocable Trust ("the Trust").

Arpolian died testate on March 9, 1986, owning approximately 40 acres of land and *737 a home in rural Morehouse Parish.[1] In her last will and testament, Arpolian bequeathed her property to her eight living children at the time and her grandchildren from a predeceased child, subject to the usufruct of her daughter, Ruth Covington Johnson ("Ruth").[2] Two of Arpolian's sons, Alfred, Jr. and Roosevelt Covington ("Roosevelt") were named co-executors of the estate, and Jack Files was named the attorney for the estate.

On September 5, 1987, Files petitioned the court to sell the property (the home and the land) to Alfred, Jr. for $25,000. After the advertising requirements had been met and no opposition was filed, the court entered an order authorizing the sale on November 5, 1987. On September 16, 1988, the property was conveyed to Alfred, Jr. by cash deed. On November 2, 1988, Files filed a tableau of distribution reflecting that all proceeds from the sale would be applied to the debts, that any outstanding debts would be waived and there would be no cash remaining for distribution. In 2003, Alfred, Jr. conveyed the property to the Trust.

On September 9, 1988, approximately one week before the sale of the property to Alfred, Jr., Alfred, Jr. and Ruth signed a document styled "Declaration by Parties to Option to Purchase," indicating a desire to grant Ruth an option to purchase the property from Alfred, Jr. for $25,000. The document also stated that the option would be executed immediately following Alfred, Jr.'s purchase of the property from the estate. The option was never executed and Ruth never attempted to exercise the option.

Alfred, Jr. died in California on April 5, 2005. His son, Donald Covington ("Donald"), was the succession representative for both his father's estate and that of his mother, Rose Edwards Covington ("Rose"), who predeceased Alfred, Jr. Donald was also the trustee of the Trust. After Alfred, Jr.'s death, Donald, on behalf of the Trust, continued to pay taxes, collect rental proceeds and maintain insurance on the properties.

On September 13, 2005, Ruth filed a petition against the unopened successions of Alfred, Jr. and Rose and the Trust, requesting rescission of the sale of the property from Arpolian's estate to Alfred Jr. Ruth also joined with her brothers, Columbus, Melvyn and Roosevelt Covington in a suit to rescind the sale of the 120 acre tract sold to Alfred, Jr. from Alfred, Sr.'s estate.

In response, defendants filed peremptory exceptions of prescription and alternative exceptions of nonjoinder of indispensable parties in both suits, as well as answers and reconventional demands in the event the exceptions were not granted. The cases were consolidated by joint motion.

At the hearing on the exceptions of prescription, the district court heard arguments of counsel but refused to receive testimony. After reviewing the pleadings and exhibits and hearing arguments, the court granted the exception of prescription and declined to rule on the exception of failure to join an indispensable party.[3]

*738 DISCUSSION

A party urging an exception of prescription has the burden of proving facts to support the exception unless the petition is prescribed on its face. Cichirillo v. Avondale Indus., Inc., 2004-2894 (La.11/29/05), 917 So.2d 424; Winford v. Conerly Corp., XXXX-XXXX (La.3/11/05), 897 So.2d 560. Although evidence may be introduced to support or controvert any objection pleaded, in the absence of evidence, an objection of prescription must be decided upon facts alleged in the petition with all allegations accepted as true. LSA-C.C.P. art. 931; Cichirillo, supra.

Evidentiary Ruling

First, plaintiffs contend the district court committed reversible error in refusing to allow them to introduce testimony to controvert the exceptions of prescription. According to plaintiffs, the testimony was relevant to prove when they obtained knowledge of Alfred, Jr.'s alleged fraud and ill practices. During the hearing, the following exchange took place:

PLAINTIFF COUNSEL: [W]e do intend to put on some testimony. I can put that testimony on now or I can put it on after I've made my argument if the Court prefers.
THE COURT: These are Motions. I don't know that we need to extend it because if you start putting on witnesses, you may as well bring all the heirs in, you know. So, let's stay with the legal arguments.
PLAINTIFF COUNSEL: Well, I still think we have a right because we, at least, can put them up there to say: when did you have knowledge that this occurred. . . .
* * *
THE COURT: Make your argument, then we'll decide.
* * *

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
969 So. 2d 733, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnson-v-unopened-succession-lactapp-2007.