Schultz v. Feekin

219 N.W. 387, 116 Neb. 873, 1928 Neb. LEXIS 199
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedMay 11, 1928
DocketNo. 25696
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 219 N.W. 387 (Schultz v. Feekin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schultz v. Feekin, 219 N.W. 387, 116 Neb. 873, 1928 Neb. LEXIS 199 (Neb. 1928).

Opinion

Thompson, J.

Frank C. Schultz, appellant herein, seeks to reverse a judgment of the district court'for Lancaster • county dismissing an appeal from a judgment rendered by the county court of . such county. ,

[874]*874The record reflects the following: An application in usual form was lodged with the county court of Lancaster county, praying that a guardian of the person of Charles Strelow be appointed, by reason of his incompetency caused by advanced age; and at the same time in the same court another application was filed asking the appointment of a guardian of his property, for the same reason. After due consideration thereof the court entered findings and judgment in favor of each applicant, and as a part of the judgment appointed Robert R. Hastings of Crete, Nebraska, guardian of the person of such Strelow, and the First Trust Company of Lincoln, a corporation, guardian of his property. Such guardians, after qualifying, entered upon their duties and were administering their respective trusts when Strelow died testate, a resident of such county. In his will he named appellant Schultz as executor and residuary legatee. The will was duly filed for probate in the county court of Lancaster county, and the First Trust Company was appointed special administrator of Strelow’s estate, gave bond, and entered upon the discharge of its duties as such. In furtherance and in aid of the due administration of this estate, Hastings and the First Trust Company, who are appellees herein, each filed with such county court a petition and final report of their respective doings in the premises, and prayed that the same be by the court so received and approved.' The First Trust Company alleged, among other things, that there had come into its possession moneys belonging to such Strelow in the sum of $22,352.50, also certain, lands and a $1,000 Liberty bond; that such trust company had paid out for sundry expenses the sum of $432.18; that it should be compensated for its services as guardian of such Strelow’s property; that it had become necessary during the administration of the trust for it to have legal advice and assistance, and that by reason thereof it employed Meier & Meier and the aforesaid Robert R. Hastings as attorneys, and that such attorneys should be awarded reasonable compensation for their services rendered ; that there were claims for taxes filed by the county [875]*875treasurer of Lancaster county for the years 1922, 1923, and 1924, which should be properly disposed of by the court; and the trust company prayed that such-accounting be allowed, that just compensation be made to it as guardian of Strelow’s property, as well as to the guardian of his person, and to such attorneys so employed, that the guardians be discharged, and for other relief. Hastings prayed that his accounting be allowed, that he be awarded reasonable compensation for his services as guardian of Strelow’s person, and for his discharge.- The usual notice of such applications was duly and legally published. On hearing had, judgment was entered approving and allowing the reports of such guardians, directing payment of $400 to the trust company for its services, $800 to Hastings for his services as guardian of Strelow’s person, $3,500 to Meier & Meier and Hastings for attorneys’ fees, $147.31 to the county treasurer for taxes, $20.80 to pay the balance of court costs, and that the remaining sum of $17,052.21, together with the real estate and the Liberty bond, be turned over to the First Trust Company as the special administrator of the Strelow estate.

Frank C. Schultz, desiring to appeal from such judgment, procured and lodged with the county judge a bond in legal form, and, as a reason for his intervention, stated in such bond, as a preliminary thereto and as a part thereof, as follows:

“Whereas, there was entered in the county court of Lancaster county on or about the 4th day of May, 1926, an order in the matter of the guardianship of Charles Strelow allowing and approving the account of Robert R. Hastings and the First Trust Company as guardian of the person and estate of Charles Strelow, and making certain allowances to Robert R. Hastings, the First Trust Company, a corporation, and Meier & Meier, and to other persons; and, whereas, the undersigned Frank C. Schultz was by the last will and testament of Charles Strelow, now deceased, named as executor and residuary legatee and devisee of the estate of the said Charles Strelow, now deceased; and, whereas, the [876]*876First Trust Company was appointed by said county court and became special administrator of said estate of Charles Strelow; and, whereas, the said Robert R. Hastings and Meier & Meier have at all times been acting as attorneys for said special administrator; and, whereas, the interests of the said First Trust Company, Robert R. Hastings and Meier & Meier and others to whom allowances were made in said order above mentioned are antagonistic to the interest of said estate in this proceeding; * * * and, whereas, said Frank C. Schultz is aggrieved by said order and desires and intends to appeal therefrom.”

This bond was by the judge of such county court filed and by him in all things duly approved. Appellant thereupon procured the county judge to transmit to the clerk of the district court within legal time a certified transcript of the record and proceedings relative to the matters appealed from. On the receipt thereof by the clerk such appeal was duly docketed in the district court.

Under the record as thus disclosed, certain nieces and a nephew of Charles Strelow, together with Hastings as guardian of his person, the trust company as guardian of his property, and the trust company as special administrator of his estate, and as administrator with will annexed of the estate of Theodore Strelow, deceased, interposed a joint motion in the district court, which, in substance, presents the following reasons why the appeal should be dismissed, to wit: That the judgment is final as to appellant, he not having moved to set the same aside in the county court; that he is not a party to the suit, is without interest therein, and is without authority to prosecute an appeal. This motion came on for hearing, without evidence, was sustained by the court and judgment entered dismissing the appeal. A motion for a new trial was interposed, alleging, in substance, among other things, that the ruling of the court in sustaining the motion and dismissing the appeal was contrary to law; further that such ruling was a denial to appellant of rights vouchsafed to him by chapter 15, art. XV, Comp. St. 1922. This motion was overruled, and [877]*877appeal is had to this court, presenting as error the sustaining of the motion to dismiss the appeal.

Section 1471, Comp. St. 1922 (which is a part of the above article) reads as follows: “In all matters of probate jurisdiction, appeals shall be allowed from any final order, judgment, or decree of the county to the district court by any person against whom any such order, judgment or decree may be made or who may be affected thereby.” As to whether or not the matters under consideration are controlled by such article depends somewhat upon the proper construction of the words “in all matters of probate jurisdiction.” Do these words, as used in such section, apply to a guardianship proceeding as evidenced by this instant case?

In 1 Bouvier’s Law Dictionary (Rawle’s 3d Rev.) p. 712, we find the following: “Court of Probate. In American Law.

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Bluebook (online)
219 N.W. 387, 116 Neb. 873, 1928 Neb. LEXIS 199, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schultz-v-feekin-neb-1928.