Ory Bros. v. Muller

128 So. 903, 14 La. App. 35, 1930 La. App. LEXIS 414
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 2, 1930
DocketNo. 13,286
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 128 So. 903 (Ory Bros. v. Muller) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ory Bros. v. Muller, 128 So. 903, 14 La. App. 35, 1930 La. App. LEXIS 414 (La. Ct. App. 1930).

Opinion

JANVIER, J.

Ory Brothers, butchers, obtained judgment against Edmond Muller for $672 for meat sold and delivered.

In an attempt to recover under that judgment they caused the sheriff to seize the property in which Muller and his wife and children resided.

Mrs. Muller, claiming to be the owner of the property in her separate paraphernal right, sought an injunction to prevent the sale of the property for the community debt.

The district court rendered judgment perpetuating the injunction, and the matter is now before us on appeal by Ory Brothers.

The suit by Ory Brothers was filed on March 20, 1929, and the judgment was rendered on May 18, 1929.

Prior thereto, to-wit, on November 22, 1928, Edmond Muller had executed an act of sale in which it was recited that, for the sum of $1,500, he had sold and transferred all his title and interest in and to the property to one F. T. Mclntire. On the same day Mclntire, in another act of sale, transferred the property to Mrs. Rosemah Sarah Muller, plaintiff in injunction here, wife of Edmond Muller, for $1,500. This second act of sale recited that Mrs. Muller was purchasing “with her own separate and paraphernal funds.”

There is in the record no proof that the value of the property exceeded $1,500 and it is not contended that the price paid by Mclntire, or that the price paid by Mrs. Muller was unconscionable.

Ory Brothers, through their counsel, contend that, as the property was bought by Mrs. Muller during the existence of the community of acquets and gains existing between her and Edmond Muller, the pre[37]*37sumption is that it is community property and that it may he seized for a community debt regardless of whether it stands in the husband’s or in the wife’s name. Civ. Code, art. 2402.

“All property purchased during the existence of the community in the name of the wife is presumed to belong to the community, and, in order to rebut this presumption, the wife must show with legal certainty: First, that the price was 'her paraphernal funds; second, that it was administered by her; third, that it was invested by her. Civil Code, 2402; Stauffer vs. Morgan, 39 La. Ann. 632, 2 So. 98; Bachino v. Coste, 35 La. Ann. 570; Pearson v. Ricker, 15 La. Ann. 119; Knoblock v. Posey, 126 La. 610, 52 So. 847; Fisher v. Gordy, 2 La. Ann. 762; Shaw v. Hill, 20 La. Ann. 531, 96 Am. Dec. 420; Davidson v. Stuart, 10 La. 148; Dominguez v. Lee, 17 La. 296; Block v. Melville, 10 La. Ann. 784.” Otis et al. vs. Texas Co. et al., 153 La. 384, 96 So. 1, 4.

Counsel for Mrs. Muller concede that there is such a presumption, but call our attention to the authorities holding that, if the presumption is overcome by evidence proving the paraphernality of • the funds with which the property was purchased, then the property may not be seized for the community debt.

“The property continues to be considered as a community asset until the presumption. has been effectually destroyed by conclusive proof of the claim of separate ownership to it. (Rousse v. Wheeler) 4 Rob. 118; (Smalley v. Lawrence) 9 Rob. 214; (Graham v. Thayer) 29 La. Ann. 76; (Ford v. Ford) 1 La. 206; (Squier v. Stockton) 5 La. Ann. 741; (Forbes v. Forbes) 11 La. Ann. 326; (Huntington v. Legros) 18 La. Ann. 126; (Shaw v. Hill) 20 La. Ann. 531, (96 Am. Dec. 420).” Bachino vs. Coste, 35 La. Ann, 570.

“It is a well-settled question that all property acquired during the community is, presumably, community property. Without * * * dissent, doctrine and jurisprudence sustain that principle. It has none the less frequently been decided that it is by no means a conclusive presumption; that it may be shown by competent evidence that it is the property of one of the spouses, and not at all property of the community.” Bartels vs. Souchon, 48 La. Ann. 783, 19 So. 941, 942.
“The wife may, however, destroy that presumption by proving that the purchase price of property, bought in her name, was paid out of her separate funds.” Schwab vs. Hava et ux., 154 La. 922, 98 So. 420, 421.

The question then, which we are called upon to answer is: Has Mrs. Muller sustained the burden of establishing the paraphernality of the property? And this question can be answered only after an investigation of the facts as disclosed by the evidence in the record.

The following facts are fully established.

Some time prior to the events to which we have referred, Edmond Muller, the husband, had become indebted to Lafourche Lumber Company in the principal sum of $1,400, and, about five months prior to the filing of the suit of Ory Brothers, the lumber company had caused the seizure of the property in question, the title to which, at that time, stood on the records in the name of Edmond Muller. There is no controversy over the fact that, at that time, the property belonged to the community.

Mrs. Muller wrote to her brother-in-law,. Rene Muller, and asked him for financial assistance. Rene Muller went to St. Charles parish and, after investigating conditions, according to the uncontradieted testimony of one F. T. Mclntire, said:

“* * * That he positively would not do anything for Alfred Edmond Muller, who in his estimation had shown himself unfit to handle money, hut that he would put up the money for the benefit of Mrs. Alfred Edmond Muller and her children if it could he arranged so that Alfred Edmond Muller would not have anything to do with the property.”

[38]*38: Thereupon- Rene Muller turned .over to Mclntire $1,400 with certain instructions, and on the 22d day of November, Mclntire. in carrying out those instructions, paid to Lafourche Lumber Company the amount düe it by Muller, took from Muller- the deed to the property to which we have referred, and then transferred it to Mrs. Muller in a deed, which, as has been already stated, recited that she, Mrs. Muller, was purchasing with her separate paraphernal funds. At that time Mrs. Muller was not consulted about the transaction, but she was called upon to sign and did sign the deed by which she acquired the property.

Her counsel now say that she purchased the property with funds donated to her by Rene Muller, but, in answer to this contention, we are told by counsel for Ory Brothers that a donation of cash can be made only by manual gift, and there was no manual gift here, since at no time was the money actually in Mrs. Muller’s hands.

., We believe that counsel for the creditor seeks to place on article 1539 of the Civil Code an, interpretation much narrower than was intended by the framers thereof, and that a manual gift of money, whatever may have been the views of the commentators to whom we are referred, may be perfect and complete without the actual transfer-ting of cash from hand to hand. An intention to give, consummated by a real delivery, is all that is necessary. In Succession óf Zacharie, 119 La. 150, 43 S.o. 988, the Supreme Court held, as a perfect donation of cash by manual gift, a deposit by the donor of money to the credit in bank of the donees.

Likewise, in Gibson vs. Hearn, 164 La. 65, -113 So. 766, it was held that a deposit of inoney in bank in the name of an agent constituted a donation by manual gift to the principal. -' ' ! ;

We see no reason why Mrs. Muller cannot be held to be the doxxee of the fund deposited by Rene Muller with Mclntire and used by him for a purpose devoutly desired and later thankfully accepted by her.

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Bluebook (online)
128 So. 903, 14 La. App. 35, 1930 La. App. LEXIS 414, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ory-bros-v-muller-lactapp-1930.