Mille v. Dupuy

21 La. Ann. 53
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedJanuary 15, 1869
DocketNo. 1575
StatusPublished

This text of 21 La. Ann. 53 (Mille v. Dupuy) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mille v. Dupuy, 21 La. Ann. 53 (La. 1869).

Opinion

Ilsley, J.

In the year 1862, Michel Ilebert, tho legal tutor of the-minor Marie Eugene Millo, thou wife of Joseph A. Breaux, filed in the District Court of Iberville, Ms account of tutorship wliioh represented tho liquidated balance in money, besides other property coming to his ward to ho fifty thousand seven hundred and seventy-five dollars, on which sum tho tutor agreed to pay her interest at the rate of eight percent. per annum from tho thirteenth of May, 1861, secured by legal mortgage on tho tutor’s immovable property, from the nineteenth December, 1856.

Subsequently, on the sixth of January, 1866, Mrs. Clarisse Dupuy, the wife of the tutor, Michel Hebert, obtained against her husband in a suit for separation of property, a judgment for tho sum of fifty-six thousand two hundred and fifty-one dollars and thirty-three cents, with the recognition of her legal mortgage on her husband’s immovable property, dating from tho respectivo periods at which tho several amounts constituting the al ove mentioned sum total were received by her husband. These are tire conflicting claims against Michel Hebert, which have caused the present controversy, and as the debtor’s assets are now insufficient to satisfy both of them, each of the parties to this suit is striving to invalidate the claim of the other. The case is somewhat complicated, and it is rendered more so by an agreement entered into by, or for the parties, to which we shall have occasion presently to refer. Before, however, adverting fo the complications occasioned by the agreement, we will proceed to determino the nature and value of each of the conflicting claims; and first, that of the minor, the plaintiff in this suit.

[54]*54The final account of tutorship was rendered in court by the tutor to his ward, who had attained the age of majority ia accordance with article 350 of the Civil Code. (See 2 An. 71; 11 An. 523; 8 N. S. 665; Marcade vol. 2, 262. It was found to be correct in every particular, by the ward and her husband, who did not oppose it but prayed for its homologation, and it was thereupon homologated by the court.

The judgment of homologation is not directly attacked for fraud and collusion, and as this court said in Lessassier v. Dishiell, 17 An. 205: ‘ ‘No evidence has been adduced to show that the amount in favor of the minor liquidated by judgment against the tutor, was not really due; said judgment is not attacked as fraudulent and collusive, and it is prima fado evidence that the sum, the payment of which is secured by legal mortgage, is justly due.” See also 1 La. Rep. 379 ; 8 La. 199.

Notwithstanding this, the minor’s claim was abundantly proved on the trial of this case. The interest allowed was eight instead of five per cent, per annum, to which latter rate, as regards the plaintiff, it must be reduced. (2 An. 885.) The judgment being final against the tutor, the ward has no further action against him in relation to the tutorship, and hence, no question of prescription as to the minor’s action against his tutor, can be possibly raised against her.

Second.- — As to the claim q£ the wife, the defendant in this suit, against her husband.

Under the pleadings, the onus devolved upon her to show that the judgment separating her in property from her husband, and fixing her paraphernal claims, was correctly rendered; that the money claimed by her was paid into his hand's, or that he otherwise disposed of the same for Ms individual interest. 1 Hen. page 588, C. C. 2367, 11 La. 558, 6" Rob. 36,18 An. 105,10 Rob 154. TMs she has proved satisfactorily.

The amount of her judgment against her husband is therein stated to be fifty-six thousand two hundred and forty-one dollars and thirty-three cents, the whole of wMch amount came into his hands; but only forty-eight thousand four hundred and fifty-nine dollars of the amount was received by him previous to his appointment as tutor of the plaintiff. Of this last amount, fourteen thousand eight hundred and ninety-two dollars and forty cents is admitted to be a correct charge, and it is proved that, the wife’s inheritance from her mother’s succession, say seventeen thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine dollars and forty-four cents, and also fifteen thousand six hundred and eighty-eight dollars and sixty-four cents, her distributive share of her father’s crops, divided from time to time among his cMldrcn, came into her husband’s hands. TMs is principally proved by the defendant’s brother, who from his relationship to the defendant and his proximity to, and constant social intercourse with her, was in a situation to know all the facts to wMch he testifies. Most of the sums paid to the husband, at different periods, exceeded five hundred dollars, but the testimony of tMs witness alone is sufficient to establish these payments (M. R. 393; 14 La. 346; 2 An. 536; 8 An. 308), although there is other testimony beside in the record.

[55]*55For tlie sum of forty-eight thousand and fifty-nine dollará and fifty-four cents, received by her husband previous to the 19th December, 1856, the defendant Mrs. Hebert, has a legal mortgage against him on his immovable property, superior and higher in rank to that of the plaintiff, Mrs. Breaux, and this prior mortgage must be first satisfied out of the proceeds of said immovable property. 1 Hen. page 947; 6 La. 26 ; 5 Rob. 349; 4 An. 569; 2 An. 776.

On the first of February, 1866, in virtue of writs of fi. fa., issued on the two judgments in favor of the plaintiff and defendant respectively, considerable property, movable and immovable, was seized by the sheriff. Among the property thus seized, were three promissory notes, drawn by Tessier and Dubuelet, one for $2,500, another for $2,500, and the last for $4,000, all bearing 8 per cent, interest. After the seizure, and before any further progress had been made in regard to it, the parties to this suit, by their respective counsel, entered into the following agreement:

“Whereas, Michelllebert and Eugenie Mille, wife of Joseph A. Breaux, hold certain notes drawn by John Chastant and Alice Chastant, and secured by mortgage; and whereas, it is desirable to foreclose,the mortgage on same immediately; and whereas, a profit for the compromise of the matter of Mrs. Eugenie Millo, wife of Joseph A. Breaux, is on foot: Now, in order to effect such purposes, if possible, it is agreed that neither of us will issue execution in either of said cases, to seize the interest of Michel Hebert in said notes, without giving due notice to the other, and without permitting the other to lay his execution upon same simultaneously if she sees fit; and it is agreed, that the sheriff of the parish of Iberville, shall postpone the sale of the property seized under the writs issued, until further notice from both parties, or until the projet for a compromise shall be definitely settled.”

In view of this agreement, the Chastant notes, which were in possession of Michel Hebert, were delivered up to the plaintiffs counsel for the purpose of putting them in suit, which was done, the petition being signed by the attorneys of both parties.

The contract alluded to, by which the Chastant notes came under the control of the plaintiff, who by the steps she took in regard to them ratified it (if ratification was necessary — 2 La. 140) was evidently passed in mutual confidence and good faith, and. should have been observed in a spirit of fairness. It was a law the parties made to themselves, and neither party can be permitted to violate it. Art. 1895 and 1897 C.

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Bluebook (online)
21 La. Ann. 53, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mille-v-dupuy-la-1869.