McAdam v. Hyde

293 N.W. 353, 138 Neb. 430, 1940 Neb. LEXIS 156
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 12, 1940
DocketNo. 30796
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 293 N.W. 353 (McAdam v. Hyde) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McAdam v. Hyde, 293 N.W. 353, 138 Neb. 430, 1940 Neb. LEXIS 156 (Neb. 1940).

Opinion

Eberly, J.

It appears that Mabel Florence McAdam Herman, a resident of Greeley, Colorado, died on August 24, 1930. On September 28, 1931, her husband, Fred Louis Herman, filed a petition in the county court for Cheyenne county, Nebraska, asking for the administration of decedent’s estate, and praying that E. L. Hyde be appointed administrator thereof. It was alleged that the deceased was the owner of a quarter-section of land in Cheyenne county, Nebraska, at the time of her death, and also of personal property situated therein. Letters- of administration were issued on said estate on October 16, 1931, out of the county court for Cheyenne county, Nebraska, to E. L. Hyde, who qualified as administrator, and in due time filed his inventory, in proper form, scheduling the real estate of deceased, and money in the sum of $3,639.60.

Without detailing the delays and derelictions for which Hyde was responsible, it may be said that he tendered his resignation on the 28th day of May, 1938; that it was ac[432]*432cepted by the county judge on the same day, and thereafter Roy L. McAdam was duly appointed as administrator de bonis non. On the hearing of Hyde’s final account and report as administrator, the same was disallowed, and the county court further adjudged that there was due and unpaid from Hyde to the estate the sum of $4,820.49. Hyde thereupon prosecuted an appeal to the district court for Cheyenne county. On trial of the issues in the district court it was finally determined that there was but $671.71 due from Hyde to the estate of Mabel Florence McAdam Herman, deceased, which amount it was adjudged that he should pay to the administrator, and further comply with certain directions as to transfers to be made to the last-named party. From this judgment the objectors appeal.

With commendable frankness the appellants have clarified the issues to be decided on this appeal by the following language found in their brief, viz.:

“The difficulties involved in this lawsuit do not in any way touch upon the sums of money received by E. L. Hyde as the original administrator in this case. It is accepted, as a fact that all moneys due to the estate in so far as any of the parties know have been reported by him in the course of the litigation and the various reports. The difficulties which have arisen result from the improper handling, use and distribution of such funds, the loss of a portion thereof and the application of a portion thereof to payment of administrator’s and attorney’s fees.”

We reduce the contentions of appellants to eight specific questions.

We are quite in agreement with the trial court that Hyde should not be charged with interest on the advancement of $800 to the husband of the decedent from date of advancement. While the advancement was made without formal sanction of the court, the husband, as such, was an heir and entitled ultimately to share in the estate. There were no claims then allowed, or in fact ever allowed, against the estate. The administrator then had possession of $3,639.60 belonging to his trust. His depositary, the Liberty State [433]*433Bank, had not yet closed its doors. The amount advanced did not exceed the distributive share of the accommodated party, and at the time of making the payment the administrator had no reason to believe that the transaction would result in any embarrassment to the estate. It was done in good faith.

“Advancements made by an administrator to an adult distributee or legatee are properly chargeable to him on a final accounting. The amount so advanced should be credited to the administrator against the share of the distributee. ‘The accountant is entitled to credit against these to the full extent of payments made to them, whether ordered by the court or not.’ 3 Woerner on Administration (3d ed.) 1793, sec. 519.” In re Stewart’s Estate, 145 Or. 460, 28 Pac. (2d) 642, 91 A. L. R. 818.

We are satisfied with the judgment of the trial court allowing the administrator credit for the amount of moneys of the estate kept by him in the Liberty State Bank, which, subsequent to the deposit, “closed its doors.” The brief of appellants contains the statement that “there was no evidence to show that Mr. Hyde knew of the precarious condition of the Liberty State Bank at the time when the deposit was made or at any time prior to its closing.” They suggest, however, that the deposit of the estate funds was made under the name of “E. L. Hyde, Adm.,” and not as E. L. Hyde, administrator of the estate of Mabel Florence McAdam Herman, deceased. Assuming, but not determining, that this difference is material, the record discloses that the original bank books of the Liberty State Bank are lost. Secondary evidence as to the questioned entry is conflicting-. Remembering that the trial court saw and heard the witnesses on this disputed fact, this tribunal accepts the conclusion in harmony with the views of the trial court, and determines the issue in harmony with its judgment.

We also agree with the trial court’s determination that the payment of $75 to obtain an extension of the mortgage on the real property belonging to said estate, which was due March 4, 1932, was a proper and commendable exer[434]*434cise of power by the administrator. There is no question' but what the extension was actually secured, and justice demands that that amount be repaid by the estate receiving the benefit thereof.

Likewise, this court concurs in the allowance by the trial judge of the following expenditures, made after October 16, 1932, viz.: Four bond premiums paid for extension or renewal of administrator’s bond of $10 each, amounting to $40; real estate taxes accrued on the estate’s real estate for 1932, 1933, 1934, and 1935, in amounts of $52.34, $57.70, $68.68, and $67.46, respectively, and the interest accruing thereon; also personal taxes assessed on personal property owned by this estate, and paid for 1933. and 1934, of $4.28 and $12.47, respectively, and interest accruing thereon.

During the period of the extension of his official bond which the payment of the $40 in premiums secured (though irregularly made) this administrator performed items of service for his trust and made the expenditures from the trust funds in his possession hereinbefore enumerated, which were necessary and resulted in benefit to the estate. In addition, he was enabled from time to time to collect and receive the dividends paid by the insolvent bank in which the funds of the estate had been deposited. In view of all the circumstances disclosed by this record, we are impressed with the view that the district court properly credited the administrator with the expenditures above made.

Under the circumstances of the instant case, this court concurs in the action of the district court in fixing the amount of the administrator’s compensation at the sum of $85.69.

“The general rule on the subject of the fiduciary’s compensation is that the amount thereof, or, whether for maladministration, he should be denied all compensation, is within the sound judicial discretion of the court, to be exercised according to the circumstances of the particular case.” Cannon v. Searles, 150 Va. 738, 143 S. E. 495.

See, also, In re Estate of Mowrey, 210 Ia. 923, 232 N. W. 82; Succession of Gandolfo, 173 La. 190, 136 So. 561.

[435]

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Bluebook (online)
293 N.W. 353, 138 Neb. 430, 1940 Neb. LEXIS 156, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcadam-v-hyde-neb-1940.