Lang v. Fornea

135 So. 2d 643, 1961 La. App. LEXIS 1558
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 13, 1961
DocketNo. 5251
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 135 So. 2d 643 (Lang v. Fornea) 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
Lang v. Fornea, 135 So. 2d 643, 1961 La. App. LEXIS 1558 (La. Ct. App. 1961).

Opinion

REID, Judge.

This controversy arose when plaintiffs, Geralding Lang Martin, Robert Lang, Jimmie R. Lang, and Norman Lang, Jr., as forced heirs, of Ethelbert Fornea Lang, filed suit against their uncles, namely, Robert H. Fornea, Curtis J. Fornea, Weldon W. Fornea, Alcus Fornea, Ruffin For-nea, Daniel E. Fornea, Tom Paul Fornea and J. Edward Fornea, and their grandmother, Docia Fornea, for partition of their grandfather’s, and a deceased uncle, James Fornea’s estate. The case was submitted by stipulation and upon the introduction of certain deeds in the record without any testimony.

The suit was submitted to the trial Judge upon offerings of counsel and briefs filed. After taking the case under advisement, judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiffs and against the defendants.

The defendants, with the exception of Robert H. Fornea, appealed suspensively from the judgment in favor of the plaintiffs.

No appeal was filed in behalf of the defendant, Robert H. Fornea, therefore, the judgment of the District Court insofar as Robert H. Fornea’s interest in his father, Robert D. Fornea’s estate and his brother, James Fornea’s estate is final.

The facts of the case were entered into the record by stipulation and there is no question in fact nor is there any question of law raised concerning plaintiff’s undivided one-ninth (%th) of three fourths (54ths) of one twentieth (%oth) interest in the Succession of James Fornea since defendants have admitted this interest, and, as such, they have the legal capacity and right to sue for a partition of his estate.

The crux of the case is whether the plaintiff’s mother entered into a partition, or in fact sold or divested her interest in her father’s share of the community to her mother and coheirs, therefore, divesting herself of all her right, title and interest, in and to her one-twentieth (%oth) interest [645]*645in the entire property to be hereinafter described. The deed relied upon by the defendant is identified in the Record as “P-3”, which we quote as follows, to-wit:

“State of Louisiana
Parish of Washington
“Be It Known, that this day, before me, Mrs. L. M. Mercer, a Notary Public, in and for the Parish, duly commissioned and sworn, personally came and appeared, Ethelbert Fornea Lang, Married one time and now living with her husband, Norman Lang, in same relations as when first married, who declared that she does by these presents, grant, bargain, sell, convey, and deliver with full guarantee of title, free from any encumbrances whatever, and with complete transfer and subrogation of all rights and actions of warranty against all former proprietors of the property herein conveyed unto Mrs. Docia Fornea, Robert H. Fornea, Curtis J. Foorea, Weldon W. Fornea, Alcus L. Fornea, accepting and purchasing the following described property with the improvements thereon and appurtenances thereto belonging, situated in the Parish of Washington, State of Louisiana, to-wit:
“All my right, title and interest of whatever kind and nature I own ~s forced heir of Robert D. Fornea, deceased, in his estate, including all lands, personal or mixed property of which he died possessed.
“To Plave And To Hold said property unto said purchaser, their heirs and assigns forever. This sale is made for and in consideration of the sum of Twelve Hundred and no/100 Dollars, cash in hand paid, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and a full acquittance granted therefor.
“The parties hereto agree to dispense with the certificate required by Article 3364 of the Revised Civil Code of this State and to exonerate me, said Notary, from all liability on account of its non-production and said parties declare that all taxes against said property are paid up to and including taxes of 19 .
“Thus done and passed at Varnado, Washington Parish, Louisiana on this 19th day of August, A.D. Nineteen Hundred and Thirty-three, in the presence of L. McMillan and Harvey Walker, two competent witnesses, who sign these presents with said appearers and me, said Notary, after due reading.
“/s/ Ethelbert Fornea Lang
“Witnesses:
/s/ L. McMillan
/s/ Harvey Walker
“/s/ Mrs. L.M. Mercer
Notary Public”.

Plaintiffs counter with the deed identified as “P-4” passed before the same Notary and witnesses, on the same day, or at the same time as the “purported” sale or (“P-3”) which we quote as follows, to-wit:

“State of- Louisiana
Parish of Washington
“Be It Known, that this day before me, Mrs. L.M. Mercer, a Notary Public, in and for the said Parish, duly commissioned and sworn, personally came and appeared Mrs. Docia Fornea, widow of Robert D. Fornea, Robert H. Fornea, Curtis J. Fornea, Weldon Fornea, Alcus L. Fornea, all of full age and residents of Washington Parish, Louisiana, who declared that they do by these presents, grant, bargain, sell, convey and deliver with full guarantee of title, free from any encumbrances whatever, and with complete transfer and subrogation of all rights and actions of warranty against all former proprietors of the property herein conveyed unto Ethelbert Fornea Lang, accepting and purchasing the following described property with the improvements thereon and appurtenances thereto belonging, situated in the Parish of Washington, State of Louisiana, to-wit:
“13.09 acres * * *.
******
“The consideration hereinabove expressed is declared to be paid for by deed this day executed by me to vendors herein, of all right, title and interest in and to the [646]*646estate of my deceased father, Robert D. Fornea, consisting of all interest, in all property left by him, real, personal or mixed, except the above described 13.12 acres.
“Also it is agreed that the forced minor heirs of the deceased Robert D. Fornea, namely, James Ruffin, Daniel, Tom Paul and Mutton Fornea are to sign their undivided interest in the above described 13.10 acres over to the said Ethelbert Fornea Lang, when they reach legal age, and she in turn agrees to sign her rights, title and interest in all property left by Robert D. Fornea, deceased over to them. As she has done to the ones of legal age now.
“To Have And To Hold said property until said purchaser her heirs and assigns forever. This sale is made for and in consideration of the sum of Twelve Hundred and No/100Dollars, cash in hand paid, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged and a full acquittance granted therefor. The parties hereto agree to dispose with the certificate required by Article 3364 of the Revised Civil Code of the State and to exonerate me, said Notary, from all liability on account of its non-production and said parties declare that all taxes against said property are paid up to and including taxes of 1932.
“Thus done and passed at Varnado, Washington Parish Louisiana on this 19th day of August A.D. Nineteen Hundred and Thirty-three, in the presence of L.

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Bluebook (online)
135 So. 2d 643, 1961 La. App. LEXIS 1558, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lang-v-fornea-lactapp-1961.