Pedroli v. Scott

193 P. 852, 44 Nev. 258
CourtNevada Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 15, 1920
DocketNo. 2466
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 193 P. 852 (Pedroli v. Scott) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nevada Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pedroli v. Scott, 193 P. 852, 44 Nev. 258 (Neb. 1920).

Opinions

By the Court,

Coleman, C. J::

One Charles Pedroli, a resident of Humboldt County, Nevada, died intestate in Washoe County, on or about January 12, 1919, and on February 1, 1919, the district court of Humboldt County appointed one Joseph Scott administrator of the estate of the deceased, who- thereupon qualified as such. Thereafter Louise Pedroli. filed a petition, wherein she alleged that she was the widow of the deceased, and as such was entitled to administer upon the estate, and prayed the removal of said Scott and her appointment. Upon the hearing of said matter, in which the only question for, determination was as, to the widowhood of Louise Pedroli, the court found that the petitioner was the widow of the deceased, and entered an order removing Scott as administrator, and appointing petitioner. In due time an order was entered denying a motion for a new trial. By appeal from this order, an effort has been made to bring the.'matter to this court. The respondent moves to dismiss the- appeal, several grounds being relied upon. We deem it necessary to consider but one of them, viz, that the • said Scott had no right of appeal in his representative capacity, and that as an individual, or in an individual capacity, he did not, within five days after the service of the notice of appeal, file an undertaking on appeal, or make a deposit of money with the clerk of the court; the undertaking on appeal not having been waived by the adverse party.

Upon stipulation of counsel, the motion-to dismiss was argued prior to the lapsing of the time for the filing of briefs on the merits of the appeal, and though counsel for respondent filed a very elaborate brief in support of the motion to dismiss, counsel for appellant filed simply what purports to be extracts from certain decisions without any statement whatever as to their [262]*262theory of the merits of the motion, relying entirely in the presentation thereof upon their oral argument. Just here we may say that such a practice cannot be. commended. In view of the demands upon the time of the court, it is unsafe to rest a case of importance upon an -oral argument only. As we recall the oral argument made by counsel for appellant, it went solely to the contention that the undertaking on appeal was given by Scott, not in his representative capacity, but as an individual, but that, if the court determine such not to be the fact, in view of the reluctance of courts to dismiss appeals, and the liberality governing the amending of appeal bonds, the motion in question should be denied, and Scott permitted to file a bond on appeal in his individual capacity.

1. As we read the undertaking on appeal, there can be no doubt but that it was given in behalf of appellant in his representative capacity. It reads:

“Whereas, the above-named respondent, Joseph Scott, as administrator of the estate of Charles Pedroli, deceased, in the above-entitled proceeding and matter, has appealed to the Supreme Court of the State of Nevada, from orders denying, his motions for a new trial herein, all of which orders and judgment were so made, entered, and rendered in the Sixth judicial district court of the State of Nevada, in and for the county of Humboldt, in said cause, matter, and proceeding on the 30th day of March, A. D. 1920 :
“Now, therefore, in consideration of the-premises and ‘of such appeal, we, the undersigned, residents and householders of Winnemucca, county of Humboldt, State of Nevada, do-hereby jointly and severally undertake and promise on the part of the said Joseph Scott, as administrator as aforesaid, that the said respondent, Joseph Scott, as such administrator, will pay all damages and costs which may be awarded against him on said appeal or on a dismissal thereof, not exceeding the sum of $300.00, to which amount we acknowledge ourselves jointly and severally bound.”

[263]*263The first paragraph of the undertaking recites that the appellant has appealed “as administrator” of the estate of the deceased, and the obligation is to the effect that Scott will conditionally pay, “as administrator.” We do not see how the English .language could make it clearer that Scott has sought to appeal in a representative capacity only. If he had sought to appeal personally, it would hardly be expected that the sureties would obligate him to. pay as administrator, in case of a dismissal of the proceedings or of an adverse judgment.

2. Having reached the conclusion that the undertaking was given in behalf of appellant in his representative capacity, the question is: Can he appeal as such? We are clearly of the opinion that he cannot. This conviction is based upon the fact that he has ceased to be the administrator of the estate, could not control the litigation thereof and handle its affairs generally, and, in fact, has no appealable interest therein. Section 6112, Revised Laws, specifically states who may appeal from an order revoking letters of administration. It reads:

“Any person interested in, affected by, and aggrieved at the decision and decree of the district court appointing an executor or administrator, revoking letters, allowing a final account, or disallowing it, decreeing a distribution or partition, order or decree, confirming or setting aside a report of commissioners, admitting or refusing a will for probate, and any other decision wherein the amount in controversy equals or exceeds, exclusive of costs, one thousand dollars, may appeal to the supreme court of the state, to be governed in all respects as an appeal from a final decision and judgment in action at law.”

By this statute the right of appeal is limited to one who is “interested in, affected by, and aggrieved at” the removal. In what way was Scott affected by the removal? Solely to the extent of the compensation he might earn in the capacity of administrator. That is a personal interest; an interest antagonistic, so to speak, [264]*264to that of the estate itself. If he has a right to appeal as administrator, he would no doubt claim that the expense of the appeal which he might incur, including attorney’s fees, should be paid by him as administrator out of the funds of the.estate. But of what interest is it to the estate that Scott should be encouraged in prolonging litigation which cannot benefit the estate ?

So far as we are advised, the authorities are unanimous in holding that, where one has been removed as an administrator, his only right of appeal is as an individual. In Coutlet v. Atchison, T. & S. F. R. Co., 59 Kan. 772, 52 Pac. 68, the Supreme Court of Kansas, in speaking of the right of appeal by one who has been removed as administrator, said:

“When the order removing her [administratrix] was made by the probate court, she was no longer adminis-tratrix. Her appeal from that order was.not an appeal in behalf of the estate, or in furtherance of the trust she had been filling. Her appeal was an assertion of a personal right only.”

Erlanger v. Danielson, 88 Cal. 480, 26 Pac. 505, was a case in which one Danielson was removed as administrator of an estate, and a brother of the deceased appointed in his stead. From the order of removal Danielson sought to appeal, and, failing to give an appeal bond, a motion to dismiss was made. In behalf of Danielson it was contended that it was not necessary that he give an appeal bond, since the statute required none of an administrator. The court, in disposing of the motion to dismiss, said:

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Related

Monroe v. Winn
133 P.2d 952 (Washington Supreme Court, 1943)
Baker v. Baker
87 P.2d 800 (Nevada Supreme Court, 1939)
Pedroli v. Scott
221 P. 241 (Nevada Supreme Court, 1923)

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Bluebook (online)
193 P. 852, 44 Nev. 258, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pedroli-v-scott-nev-1920.