López v. López

14 P.R. 634
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico·Decided June 26, 1908·No. No. 249·Published

Opinion

Mr. Justice Hernández

delivered the opinion of the court.

On April 12, 1906, Paula López de G-onzález brought an action against Antonio López in the District Court of San Jnan, alleging the following facts:

“1. That she is the owner of three shares in three rural estates — • namely: (a) for the sum of $2,679.57 in the rural estate ‘Esperanza,’ with an area of 145% cuerdas in two parcels; one of 111% cuerdas in harria ‘Contorno,’ Toa Alta, with a dwelling house, two outhouses for servants, a furnace house, a still, begasse sheds, a shed for drying bricks, machinery and a sugar mill; and the other of 34 cuerdas in barrio ‘Río Lajas, ’ in Dorado, both parcels being recorded in the registry of property with the boundaries therein stated, said property having been valued in the partition and division of the estate of Dominga Martinas, widow of Salgabo, protocoled in the year 1879, at the sum of $43,757, of which $27,679.57 was awarded to the defendant Antonio López, one of the heirs, and $2,679.57 to each of the remaining heirs, Belén, Manuel, María Cruz, Dominga, Petronila and Paula López Martínez, the plaintiff; (b) for the sum of $1,69.1.80 in estate ‘Santa Rosa,’ situated in barrios ‘Mucarabones’ and ‘Cantero’ of Toa Alta,- having a dwelling house and. sugar and fruit plantations, consisting of 93% cuerdas, also recorded in the registry of property with the boundaries mentioned therein, which estate was valued in the testamentary proceedings at $11,839.50, distributed among the seven heirs mentioned, the plaintiff receiving1 $1,691.08 and each of the [636]*636remaining heirs $1,691.07; (c) for the sum of $2,285.72 in estate <Puente Flojo,’ situated in barrio ‘Media Luna,’ of Toa Baja, consisting of 300 cuerdas, having a dwelling house, and likewise recorded” in the registry of property with the boundaries mentioned therein, which estate was valued at $16,000 in the testamentary proceedings referred to, $2,285.72 being awarded to each-of the heirs Antonio, Petronila and Paula, and $2,285.71 to each of the other heirs named, Belén, Manuel, María Cruz and Dominga.
“2. That the hereditary shares awarded to the plaintiff in the aforesaid manner were derived from Dominga Martínez, the widow of Salgado, who executed a will on April 5, 1872, and died on the same date, having constituted as heirs of her estate, her aforementioned nephews and nieces, all of them in equal parts, excepting Antonio who received an additional $25,000.
“3. That the hereditary share of the plaintiff amounted on August 1, 1879, the date of the division of the estate, to $6,656.37, represented by the three shares of ownership in common awarded in the three estates mentioned.
“4. That upon the death of Andres López, the father of the plaintiff, in 1879, the hereditary share referred to passed into the possession of her elder brother Antonio López Martínez, who possesses and enjoys it, having refused to deliver it to the plaintiff, notwithstanding her demands, and all that he has occasionally given her amounts to a small income much less than the real product of her inheritance.”

In view of the facts alleged, the plaintiff prayed the district court to order: 1. That Antonio López deliver to her the three hereditary shares which were awarded her in the three rural estates, amounting to 6,656.57 provincial pesos, with the increased value the lands now have; in just proportion, according to the present value of the three estates; 2. That the defendant render an accounting duly supported by vouchers of the products of the three shares of ownership in common, taking into consideration the said increase in the value of the lands since 1879; 3. That the defendant deliver to her the balance of said account with legal interest, when it shall have been approved; 4. That the defendant pay the costs and expenses of the action.

[637]*637Tlie defendant, Antonio López'Martínez answered the complaint and filed a cross complaint, alleging the following facts:

“1. That the plaintiff, after having lived for more than 18 years in the home of her brother, the defendant, receiving food, clothing, care and medical attendance, left his house to contract marriage with Antonio Gonzalez Galvarin.
“2. That the expenditures and disbursements made by Antonio López to meet the needs of his sister Paula, exceeded by far the proceeds from the portion of the property which she had inherited from her aunt, Dominga Martínez, under the will executed by the latter on April 7, 1872.
“3. That the plaintiff contracted with the other heirs the obligation to pay the hereditary debts, and the expenses and liabilities for probating the will of Dominga Martínez.
“4. That Paula never contributed' any sum whatsoever toward the expenses or maintaining and administering the properties of which the estate of Dominga Martínez consisted, the defendant having 'been the one who'on all occasions sought and obtained means to maintain such property, for the benefit of the plaintiff.
“5. That Paula López having married Antonio Gonzalez Galvarin, the defendant, delivered to her, her hereditary share under the conditions embodied in a written contract entered into between the parties before witnesses, in Toa Alta; on October 6, 1905, and in said contract the share of Paula in the property constituting it was estimated at $2,200, Paula receiving $1,000 in the value of a one-story house situated in Sol Street, Toa Alta, which she enjoys and is in possession of; and with regard to the remaining $1,200, it was agreed to pay $600 at once, and the remaining $600 after six months, the contracting parties having further agreed that Antonio López would deliver to Paula the deed of ownership of the said house and the latter would execute in favor of the former before a notary an acquittance for her entire inheritance.”

On the strength, of these facts, and denying the facts alleged in the complaint, both generally and specifically, in so far as they do not agree therewith, the defendant prayed that the complaint be dismissed and the plaintiff adjudged to execute the written contract entered into on October 6, 1905; with all the costs against her.

[638]*638“1. That upon the death of Andrea López, which took place in 1879, all the minor daughters of López, including the plaintiff, continued to live in the family house under the guardianship of their eldest brother, Antonio, the defendant, who took charge of the administration of all the property of said sisters, and as he received the profits and income, it was also just that he should defray the expenses and provide for the support of his little sisters, especially when under the law he was to be their tutor and guardian.
“2. That the expenses of the plaintiff could never have exceeded the income from the fertile lands which were always in a good condition of cultivation producing abundant crops.
“3. That it is for the purpose of ascertaining the expenses and profits that an accounting is sought in the complaint.
“4.

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López v. López, 14 P.R. 634 (prsupreme 1908).

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