Luglan v. Lenning

239 N.W. 692, 214 Iowa 439
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedDecember 16, 1931
DocketNo. 40817.
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 239 N.W. 692 (Luglan v. Lenning) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Luglan v. Lenning, 239 N.W. 692, 214 Iowa 439 (iowa 1931).

Opinion

Albert, J.

Plaintiff originally brought two suits, one against Isabel Lenning and the other against O. J. and Olene Berven. The Lenning suit was based on a promissory note for $5,759.69, and the Berven suit was on two promissory notes, one for $3,240.00 and the other for $1,370.00. Attachment was issued in each case and the 80 acres in controversy were duly levied on. Answers were filed by the respective defendants in the case, and each defendant claimed that the west 40 of the 80 acres in controversy carried a homestead right by reason of the fact that title thereto was originally in Jacob A. Berven, who died testate in the jrear 1927, leaving no spouse. His will was admitted to probate on November 23, 1927, and Isabella Lenning and O. J. Berven were children of the said Jacob A. Berven, and it is alleged they took their respective shares in said 80 acres protected by the statutory homestead right.

The cases were consolidated and tried on the same record, and by agreement of the parties, were transferred to equity. The defendants in both cases confessed liability on the respective notes, and in effect conceded that the east 40 of the 80 acres was subject to attachment, but contended that the west 40 could not be held under the attachment.

The decree entered by the court in each case was in the usual form of a judgment for the amount due, and held that the plaintiff was entitled to recover on the respective notes, and the attachment was good on the east 40-acre tract and not on *441 the west 40, and provided for special execution and sale of the said east 40-acre tract. The record shows that sale was had under the special execution, and the plaintiff bid in the east 40, bidding $1,500.00 on each execution sale. At this point in the case we are met with a motion to dismiss the appeal on the ground that plaintiff, having availed himself of the benefit of the respective judgments, is barred from further proceeding with his appeal. As supporting this contention the movant relies upon Reichelt v. Seal, 76 Iowa 275; Lombard v. Bush, 85 Iowa 718.

Neither of these cases is controlling under the facts we have in this case, because in each of these cases it appears that after the judgment was entered in the lower court, execution was issued and the judgment was satisfied. In the instant ease neither judgment was satisfied by the execution sale.

It will be noticed that the only question actually litigated in the lower court was whether or not this west 40-acre tract was subject to attachment for the payment of these respective debts, and that is the only question raised by the appellant herein.

In the case of In re Estate of Youngerman, 136 Iowa 488, l. c. 496, it was alleged that the claimant was to receive certain annual payments for his education either under a will or under a contract. The court held that the claimant was entitled to $500 which was due him, provided that the legitimate expenses for tuition, books and clothing for the ensuing year amounted to that sum. The claimant appealed, after having received the $500, and in this court a motion was made to dismiss the appeal on the ground that the appellant had accepted the benefits of this decree in his favor by receiving the $500 found to be due him, etc. We said:

“No question was raised by defendant as to appellant’s right to recover that amount under the contract. There was no contention that the contract was ineffectual by reason of the will, nor that $500 was not due under the will, even though no contract had been made. The decree allowed $500 as due either under the will or under the contract, and there is no question on this appeal as to the right of appellant to receive that sum, and therefore by accepting the amount allowed in the decree appellant did not waive his right to have it determined by this court *442 whether he was entitled to more. Mountain v. Low, 107 Iowa 403; Dudman v. Earl, 49 Iowa 37; Upton Manufacturing Co. v. Huiske, 69 Iowa 557; Funk v. Mercantile Trust Co., 89 Iowa 264.”

The last expression of this court on this question will be found in Nickle v. Mann & Clute, 211 Iowa 906.

It is apparent, therefore, under the rule announced in the Youngerman case and the cases there cited, that the motion to dismiss this appeal must be overruled.

This case was tried on a stipulated record, under which it was agreed that Jacob A. Berven died testate, seized in fee simple of the south y2 of the southwest % of section 12, township 86 N., Range 23 W. 5th P. M.; that he left no spouse surviving him, and left as his survivors seven children who were his sole and only heirs at law, among which children are the respective defendants herein. It was also agreed that Jacob A. Berven was at all of the times mentioned herein a citizen of the United States, the head of a family, and that he resided on said 80-acre tract of land for many years prior to his death, and was so occupying the same at the time of his death, and the occupancy and homestead rights of Jacob A. Berven originated prior to the date of the debts sued on herein.

The material part of the will of Jacob A. Berven is as follows :

‘ ‘ 1st. * * # that the expenses of my last sickness and funeral, and all my just debts be paid.
“2d. After the foregoing paragraph has been complied with, then I give, devise and bequeath unto my seven children (naming them, and among whom are the respective defendants in these cases) all of the rest of my property real or personal and wherever found, share and share alike, except Amund Berven who has received $2,732.49 from me as evidenced by six notes for the following amounts (setting out the amounts). This should be deducted from liis share, and except Isabella Jacobina (Berven) Lenning who has received $1300 from me as evidenced by a bond of $1,000 that I signed for her and her husband, Oliver Lenning, and two notes one for $250 and one for $50. These should be deducted from her share.
“3d. No change is to be made to the exceptions stated *443 above in the case of my son, Amund Berven, and my daughter, Isabella Lenning, unless all the other children agree to the same thing:
“4th. In regard to the 80 acres namely (describing it) which I made my homé for many years while on earth; it is my wish that Gyda (Berven) Eike buy this real estate if possible, and then transfer it to my grandson, Everett Eike. ’ ’

The fifth paragraph provides against contest or in any way making trouble or litigation on account of the provisions of the will, and directs that if any beneficiary do so, such person shall receive nothing under the provisions of the will.

The appellant states his position as follows:

“The sole and only question at issue in this appeal is the question as to whether or not under the will of Jacob A. Berven the property of the deceased descended to his children in the same amount and in the same proportions as though no will had been made and the property descended to them under the laws of descent.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

In Re the Estate of Borkowski
410 A.2d 1121 (Supreme Court of New Hampshire, 1980)
Drosos v. Drosos
103 N.W.2d 167 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1960)
Beamer v. Ashby
1951 OK 111 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1951)
In Re Estate of Sheeler
284 N.W. 799 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1939)
Concepción Cosme v. Márquez
49 P.R. Dec. 783 (Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, 1936)
Luckenbill v. Bates
263 N.W. 811 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1935)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
239 N.W. 692, 214 Iowa 439, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/luglan-v-lenning-iowa-1931.