New York Life Insurance v. Estate of Lathers

251 N.W. 466, 215 Wis. 151, 1934 Wisc. LEXIS 153
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedMay 1, 1934
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 251 N.W. 466 (New York Life Insurance v. Estate of Lathers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
New York Life Insurance v. Estate of Lathers, 251 N.W. 466, 215 Wis. 151, 1934 Wisc. LEXIS 153 (Wis. 1934).

Opinion

The following opinion was filed December 5, 1933 :

Owen, J.

The question involved upon this appeal is whether a certain claim in favor of the New York Life Insurance Company against William J. Lathers was properly filable against his estate after the time fixed for the filing of [153]*153claims, on the ground that it was a contingent claim and filable under secs. 313.22 and 313.23, Stats., or a claim which accrued and became absolute after the time limited for creditors to present their claims, and, consequently, filable under sec. 313.24, Stats.

It appears that Matt F. Lathers is a brother of William J. Lathers, deceased. He was president of the Lathers Land Company, a corporation, doing business at Orlando, Florida. That company owned certain real estate upon which the New York Life Insurance Company held a mortgage in excess of $15,000 which became due in July, 1930. The Lathers Land Company was notified by the New York Life Insurance Company that it would expect payment of the mortgage when due. The Lathers Land Company was not in position to make such payment, and Matt F. Lathers sent a call to William J. Lathers, his brother, residing in Beloit, who apparently had provided him with financial assistance in times past, to come to Orlando. William went to Orlando and, after negotiations, signed an agreement by the terms of which, in effect, the Insurance Company granted an extension of the time of payment of said mortgage, in consideration of which the Lathers Land Company, Matt F. Lathers, and William J. Lathers agreed to reduce the mortgage to the principal sum of $14,000, and to pay $1,000 in semiannual payments, commencing January 1, 1931, and the balance of said principal sum on July 1, 1933. This is but the substance of the agreement. Other portions thereof will be referred to as they become material in the consideration of the questions before us.

Subsequently William J. Lathers died, probate proceedings upon his estate were had, and an order duly entered limiting the time for filing claims against his estate to the 13th day of January, 1932. On the 21st day of July, 1932, the New York Life Insurance Company filed a claim, designating the same contingent, against his estate, based upon [154]*154the obligations which he assumed by reason of signing the extension agreement before mentioned. The county court disallowed the claim, and the New York Life Insurance Company appeals from the judgment of disallowance.

It will be noticed that the claim was not filed until after the time limited for filing claims against the estate. The first contention made by appellant in favor of its right to file the claim when it did, is based upon a provision of the extension agreement, which states that “the statute of limitations shall not begin to run against said mortgage or deed of trust and said notes or obligations until the end of sáid extended period.” It is contended that by this provision the deceased, when he signed the extension agreement assuming the obligations therein imposed upon him, intended to and did waive the statute of limitations, and that the statute requiring claims to be filed against the estate of a decedent, commonly termed statute of non-claim, is a statute of limitations and was waived by the decedent.

It is a familiar rule that the ordinary statute of limitations may be waived by agreement (17 C. J. p. 723). While the statute of non-claim is in a sense a statute of limitations, the purpose of its enactment is not limited to the purposes sought to be secured by the ordinary statute of limitations. In addition to providing for the repose of individuals against whom fraudulent and stale claims may be prosecuted, which is generally stated to be the object of the ordinary statute of limitations, the statute of non-claim is intended to promote the speedy settlement of estates of deceased persons in the interest of the creditors, heirs, and devisees and to render certain the titles to real estate. Collamore v. Wilder, 19 Kan. 67; Fretwell v. McLemore, 52 Ala. 124; Introduction to note found in 41 A. L. R. at p. 144. In the Alabama Case, supra, it is said:

“There can be but one purpose in these statutory provisions, and that purpose is the speedy administration of [155]*155estates: First, for the benefit of creditors, who have the priority of right, and when their claims are satisfied, the payment of legacies, or distribution to the heir or next of kin. When the heir or legatee succeeds to the estate, that it shall be to a title freed from the incumbrance of or liability to debts.”

In view of this purpose which is intended to be accomplished by the statute of non-claim, we do not consider it within the power of any one to waive its provisions; otherwise it would be within the power of any one to waive provisions of law intended for the benefit of others.

The claimant sought to introduce parol evidence to show that William J. Lathers signed the extension agreement as a guarantor, and that he did not intend to assume direct or primary liability by reason of his signing of such agreement. It is not disputed that by the terms of the agreement he assumed a primary liability to pay the $1,000 semiannual payments and the remainder of the principal sum on July 1, 1933. It is contended, however, that such was not his contract and that his real contract was one guaranteeing that the Lathers Land Company and Matt F. Lathers, who were the owners of, or those interested in, the land would make such payments. To show this to have been the contract of William J. Lathers, it claimed the right to introduce parol evidence, which was received by the court on the trial, but later held incompetent for the purpose. It is to be noted here that neither William J. Lathers nor his estate is claiming that his contract was not that evidenced by the written agreement. Were the claim here pressed by the Insurance Company put forth by Lathers or his estate, we should have a different question before us, and that question would be whether Lathers, claiming that the written agreement did not faithfully express the contract which he entered with the Insurance Company, could show what the actual contract was by parol evidence. However, as the question is here pre[156]*156sented we have an anomaly. It is the Insurance Company which seeks to show that Lathers did not assume a direct and primary obligation. On its face this would seem to be an unusually altruistic attitude, but we do not need to look far to see that the motive giving rise to this contention is not one of unselfish beneficence. The Insurance Company takes this position in order to enable it to file its claim against the estate as a contingent claim after the time for filing primary claims against the estate has expired.

It is conceded that the written agreement gives rise to a primary obligation on the part of the deceased. His estate is not attempting to challenge that primary liability. The Insurance Company does not contend that the writing does not express the agreement which it entered into with Lathers, but rather that it does not express the agreement which Lathers intended to make. The evidence to support this proposition rests in the testimony of one James J. Bettes, who was engaged in the real estate, insurance, and investment business in Orlando, Florida, in 1930, and to whom Matt F. Lathers and the deceased went to ascertain if he could secure a refinancing or an extension of the mortgage. He was not the agent of the Insurance Company.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
251 N.W. 466, 215 Wis. 151, 1934 Wisc. LEXIS 153, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/new-york-life-insurance-v-estate-of-lathers-wis-1934.