Payne v. Meisser

187 N.W. 194, 176 Wis. 432, 1922 Wisc. LEXIS 205
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 14, 1922
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 187 N.W. 194 (Payne v. Meisser) 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
Payne v. Meisser, 187 N.W. 194, 176 Wis. 432, 1922 Wisc. LEXIS 205 (Wis. 1922).

Opinion

Doerfler, J.

Under the first ground of the demurrer it is claimed by the defendants’ counsel that the liability for waste committed does not survive against the estate of the deceased life tenant and therefore cannot be maintained against his personal representatives.

The provisions of sec. 4253 of the Statutes are decisive in determining the proposition adversely to such contention. Sec. 4253, among other things, provides:

“In addition to the actions which survive at common law the following shall also survive: . . . Actions for all damages done to the property rights or interests of another, . . . -for damages clone to real or personal estate.”

It needs no comment to demonstrate that an action for waste involves damages done to real estate, and under the language of the statute as quoted it appears that such action survives, as clearly so as if the statute had in express terms included the action of waste in its provisions.

The action of waste, in so far as it involves damages to real estate, is like the action in trespass, with respect to which it was said in Cotter v. Plumer, 72 Wis. 476, 478, 40 N. W. 379:

“At the common law this action would have abated and the cause of action would have been destroyed by the death ... of the alleged wrongdoer. McArthur v. Green Bay & M. C. Co. 34 Wis. 139; Noonan v. Orton, 34 Wis. 259. By statute (sec. 4253, R. S.) a cause of action for damages done to real or personal estate survives the death of the trespasser or wrongdoer, and may be prosecuted to judgment against his executor or the administrator of his estate. This is such an action. But sec. 4254 limits the recovery to 'the damages actually sustained, without anv vindictive or exemplary damages. . . .’ But for sec. 4253 the death [436]*436of B. G. Plumer would have terminated the action and the right of action as well. Sec. 4254 saves both the action and the right to the extent of actual or compensatory damages. ...”

We therefore hold that the action for waste, for actual— meaning single, not double — damages, in the instant case, survives and is maintainable against the personal representatives of the deceased, William H. Payne.

Under the first ground of the demurrer it is also contended by defendants’ counsel that, inasmuch as the plaintiffs had disposed of their interest in the property prior to the commencement of this action, they cannot now bring an action for waste, and that the action of waste depends upon privity of estate between the par-ties, so that if the re-versioner grants away his reversion after waste done no action in this form will lie.

In Robinson v. Wheeler, 25 N. Y. 252, 259, it was held:

“It is no longer necessary, to enable one who has had a reversionary interest in lands, to maintain an action in the nature of waste, that he should be seized of the interest at the time the action is brought. It is enough if he was seized of the interest at the time the waste was committed.” \

The statutes of New York, under which the foregoing decision was rendered, are almost identical with those of Wisconsin on the subject of waste, and it would appear that our statute was originally taken from New York. Since the decision in the Robinson Case the legislature of New York has amended the statute, making the decision a part of the statutory law of that state.

“No person can maintain the action unless he has an "estate of inheritance in him at the time when the waste is committed, although such interest need not continue to exist in plaintiff at the time of the commencement of the action.” 40 Cyc. 528. 529; Dickinson v. Baltimore, 48 Mel. 583, 30 Am. Rep. 492; Purton v. Watson, 2 N. Y. Supp. 661.

The demurrer, therefore, cannot be sustained upon this ground.

[437]*437In defendants’ second ground of demurrer it is claimed that the court has no jurisdiction over the person of the defendants or of the subject of the action. This branch of the demurrer involves the question whether the plaintiffs should be required, in accordance with the provisions of ch. 165 of the Statutes, to file a claim for their damages in the county court in the matter of the estate of said William H. Payne, deceased.

The title of ch. 165 of the Statutes is “Proof and payment of debts and legacies.” Sec. 3838 makes it the duty of the county court, on the filing of a petition for probate of a will or for administration, to receive, examine, and adjust claims and demands of all persons against the deceased.

Sec. 3840 provides for the fixing of time by an order of the county court within which creditors shall present their claims for examination and allowance.

Sec. 3843 provides that the court shall have power to try and decide upon all claims which by law survive against or in favor of .executors and administrators, except claims for the possession of or title to real estate, etc.

Sec. 3844 is entitled “Statute of limitations,” and provides that" claims not presented when due notice shall have been given shall be forever barred.

Sec. 3845, entitled “Actions against executors, etc.,” provides:

“No action shall be commenced against an executor or administrator, excepting actions for the recovery of specific real or. personal property, or actions to establish, enforce, or foreclose a lien or right of lien, on real or personal property, or- to quiet title or remove a cloud on title, to construe wills, enforce the liability of stockholders, to avoid fraudulent conveyances', to affect or pass the title to real property and other actions in which the county court cannot afford a remedy as adequate, complete, prompt or efficient as the circuit court. . . . Nothing in this section shall prevent any person having a lawful claim against a deceased person from bringing an action therefor against the executor, administrator, heir, devisee, or legatee of such deceased person, when [438]*438no time has been fixed in which creditors may present their claims against the deceased for allowance, or when no notice of such limitations has been ordered or given.”

In construing sec.- 3838 this court in Lannon v. Hackett, 49 Wis. 261, 270, 5 N. W. 474, held that the county court has power to determine equitable as well as legal claims.

In Wisdom v. Wisdom, 155 Wis. 434, 145 N. W. 126, it was held that

“The county court has full jurisdiction, in law as well as in equity, in respect to all controversies involved in the settlement of the estates of deceased persons. Sec. 2443, Stats.; Brook v. Chappell, 34 Wis. 405; Catlin v. Wheeler, 49 Wis. 507, 5 N. W. 935; Tyron v. Farnsworth, 30 Wis. 577; Carpenter v. U. S. F. & G. Co. 123 Wis. 209, 101 N. W. 404.”

It will appear from the provisions of eh. 165, above set forth and referred to, that the legislature had in mind, in enacting the statutes providing for the presentation and allowance of claims, the giving of an opportunity to all persons having a claim, whether legal or equitable, to file such claim in the matter of the estate of the deceased person, so that the claimant might participate in the distribution of the assets of his estate.

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Bluebook (online)
187 N.W. 194, 176 Wis. 432, 1922 Wisc. LEXIS 205, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/payne-v-meisser-wis-1922.