Rumel v. Solomon

180 P. 419, 54 Utah 25, 1918 Utah LEXIS 40
CourtUtah Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 14, 1918
DocketNo. 3204
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 180 P. 419 (Rumel v. Solomon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rumel v. Solomon, 180 P. 419, 54 Utah 25, 1918 Utah LEXIS 40 (Utah 1918).

Opinions

GIDEON, J.

Plaintiff, as administrator with the will annexed of the estate of Alonzo H. Raleigh, deceased, by this action asks the judgment of the court that the defendant Smith accepted the real estate described in the complaint as trustee for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints burdened with the trust provided in the will of the deceased for the payment of certain legacies; that such defendant holds the value of said real estate in trust for certain beneficiaries; that the value of the real estate at the time of the alleged distribution be ascertained; and that each of the defendants be held liable to the plaintiff for such value.

Defendant Alfred Solomon is one of the original executors of the will, and, as such executor, it is alleged was a party to the distribution of the real estate to his codefendant.

From the amended complaint it appears that the deceased died testate in Salt Lake City on the 13th day of May, 1901, and that thereafter, in January, 1902, his will was admitted to probate, and the executors therein named, William Asper and the defendant Alfred Solomon, qualified as such, and continued in that capacity until the death of Asper, which occurred on the 13th day of June, 1910; that thereafter, on the 24th day of January, 1914, the letters testamentary issued to Solomon were revoked by the district court; that on a later [27]*27date the plaintiff was named by said court as administrator of the estate with the will annexed. It further appears that in March, 1902, lot 1 in block 114, plat A, of Salt Lake City survey being part of the premises of the estate of the deceased, was, by what is termed a “partial distribution,”turned over to the defendant Smith as trustee, and thereafter, in June of that year, upon a report made, to the district court, said distribution was confirmed by order of that court. A copy of the will is attached to the complaint and made a part of the same. Its provisions, so far as material here, are as follows:

“2nd. X direct that my executor’s hereinafter named, as soon as they have sufficient funds in their hands, to pay my funeral expenses and debts, and the usual monthly allowance to my family, in accordance with my custom of late years, which may afterwards be increased or diminished as may seem meet to my said executors.
“3rd. I direct for the above named purposes as well as for the full settlement of my estate, I authorize and empower my acting executors, the survivor or survivors of them to sell at private or public sale my real estate or so much of it as may be necessary and to convey in fee simple without liability on their part; to see to the application of the purchase money as hereinafter directed.
“4th. All my estate, real and personal, whatsoever or wheresoever, after paying all my debts I give and devise to my executors who shall act under this will, and to the survivors or survivor of them with the power of sale aforesaid, upon the trust following: In trust, to take and hold the same and to pay over the net income thereof to and for the uses and benefits of the persons hereinafter named, and to make distribution of the principal and proceeds of sale thereof as hereinafter directed, excluding any child or children for bad conduct.
“1st. Lot (1) one in block (114) one hundred and fourteen plat A, Salt Lake City survey together with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining I bequeath and direct that it be given to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints forever, the rents issues and profits thereof be applied in building and maintaining of temples but I also direct that my son Jacob T. Raleigh and my daughter Caroline C. Raleigh Wells occupy and have the joint possession and the use and benefit of the above described property without impeachment or waste, she during her natural life and he during his attention to my. family affairs as compensation and no other, unless the said church shall elect to give him a site on which to build and inherit and if the said son does not accept such trust or do the duties thereof to the [28]*28satisfaction of my said executors, I direct and empower them to appoint some other one of my sons who shall perform the duties and inherit the blessing.”

The second and third subdivisions of paragraph 4 of the will give certain real property described to different members of deceased’s family, and in such subdivisions the word “bequeathed” is used.

The fourth subdivision of paragraph 4 is as follows:

“4th. I direct my executors to set apart, invest and keep at interest a sum the annual interest on which shall equal the sum of five hundred and seventy-six dollars, to be expended for the support of my daughters Caroline C. Raleigh Wells, and Maria E. Raleigh Wood, when otherwise unprovided for, and my son David P. Raleigh such accruing interest to be paid equally to each of them or for their support, sixteen dollars monthly by my executors as it accrues, or as they severally need it during their otherwise unprovided for condition respectively during their lives, and at the death of any one of them, his or her interest may be disbursed as it accrues to any indigent one or more of my children, or used for repairs upon any property in this will bequeathed, as to my executors may seem best.”

Subdivision 5 not material bere.

“6th. All the rest residue and remainder of my property bequeathed to my executors, after satisfying all the foregoing provisions, I ■ direct shall be kept at usury and only so much of the interest on principal expended as may be necessary for the support and education of my minor children during their minority respectively, and the support of my said wives, for taxes and insurance, repairs and improvements on property hereinafter named, also reserving a reasonable sum for compensation as executors of this will.
“7th. When all my children shall have attained their majority, and upon the death -of my said wives I direct my executors to make a full and final distribution of all property of my estate remaining then in their hands, or under their control after paying all debts and otherwise complying with the directions hereinbefore contained. * * * ”

There are other allegations in the complaint charging the defendant with knowledge of the provisions of the will at the time of the so-called partial distribution; that the value of the real estate so distributed was $20,000; that no part of the funds of the estate was ever invested by the executors as directed in the fourth subdivision of paragraph 4 for the [29]*29benefit of the beneficiaries named therein, or for any other purpose; that the plaintiff, as administrator, has no funds in his possession, received no funds or other property from his predecessor, executor of the will, and that there are now no funds or other property belonging to the estate from which to pay such legacies, and that none of the beneficiaries mentioned therein have received any assistance of any nature from the estate for eight years prior to the filing of the complaint. There are other allegations in the complaint which are sufficient to entitle plaintiff to relief if it shall be determined from the will that the legacies provided for in the fourth subdivision of paragraph 4 constitute a lien or burden upon the real estate in question in this action.

To this amended complaint defendant Smith filed a special and general demurrer.

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228 P. 748 (Utah Supreme Court, 1924)

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Bluebook (online)
180 P. 419, 54 Utah 25, 1918 Utah LEXIS 40, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rumel-v-solomon-utah-1918.