Service Transport Co. v. Matyas

108 N.E.2d 741, 63 Ohio Law. Abs. 236, 1952 Ohio App. LEXIS 861
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 16, 1952
DocketNo. 22527
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 108 N.E.2d 741 (Service Transport Co. v. Matyas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Service Transport Co. v. Matyas, 108 N.E.2d 741, 63 Ohio Law. Abs. 236, 1952 Ohio App. LEXIS 861 (Ohio Ct. App. 1952).

Opinion

OPINION

By THOMPSON, J.:

This was an action in replevin brought in the Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County by the Service Transport Company against the administratrix of the estate of Rudolph Matyas, deceased. The property sought to be replevied consisted of 25 new Dunlop truck tires and one new Pennsylvania truck tire (9.00 x 20, 10 ply) and fifty natural rubber tire tubes (size 9.00 x 20). The trial court heard the testimony of both parties, submitted the case to a jury under instructions and the jury returned a verdict, finding title to and right o'f possession of the property in the plaintiff, but assessing no damages. The court thereupon entered judgment on the verdict. A motion for new trial was filed by defendant and on March 24, 1952 this motion was overruled. An appeal was taken to this Court on questions of law by the defendant. The notice of appeal was filed on April 3, 1952 and on May 5, 1952, the forty-second day after the judgment overruling the motion for new trial, a bill of exceptions was filed by the defendant. Plaintiff appellee in this court subsequently filed a motion to strike the bill of exceptions, which this court granted because the bill of exceptions was not filed within the forty day period required by §11564 GC.

Six assignments of error were filed in this court by defendant appellant, but, in the absence of a bill of exceptions, this court is able to consider only such assignments of error as may be apparent on the face of the record. Assignments of error requiring examination of the bill of exceptions are to [239]*239be disregarded. Garland v. Gilbert, 85 Oh Ap 55. On that basis, the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth assignments of error involving errors complained of in the court’s general and special charges, and the alleged error of the court in overruling defendant appellant’s motion for a directed verdict at the conclusion of plaintiff’s case cannot be considered.

We are called upon in this appeal to pass upon the first assignment of error only, namely, the alleged error of the trial court in overruling defendant’s motion for a directed verdict prior to the introduction of evidence, involving, as this does, the question whether the pleadings set forth facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.

The petition alleged that plaintiff was a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Ohio and that the defendant was the administratrix of the estate of Rudolph Maty as, deceased; that at the commencement of the action and at all times therein mentioned, plaintiff was the owner of specified new truck tires and natural rubber tires, of the kind previously referred to, and that plaintiff was entitled to the immediate possession of the said property which defendant was wrongfully and unlawfully detaining. The petition asserted that plaintiff had suffered damages due to the alleged wrongful detention in the sum of $1,000.00. In the prayer of the petition, plaintiff asked judgment for recovery of the property described, for possession thereof, and for damages in the sum of $1,000.00 for the wrongful detention together with costs. An affidavit in replevin was filed at the time of filing the petition and an alias affidavit in replevin was filed a few weeks later, correcting the number of tires set forth in the original affidavit. The affidavits are routine, conforming to the requirements of the statute (§12052 GC), reciting that plaintiff is the owner of the property described and that “said property is wrongfully detained by the defendant.”

An answer was filed by defendant alleging that she was the administratrix of the estate of Matyas, deceased, appointed by the Probate Court of Cuyahoga County. The answer admitted plaintiff’s corporate capacity, but denied that plaintiff was the owner of the property described in the petition and denied that plaintiff was entitled to possession thereof. The answer further denied that plaintiff was the owner or entitled to possession of any property in the possession of the administratrix as personal representative of the deceased.

Defendant further averred that all of the property described in the petition belonged to the estate and that it was in possession of defendant as personal representative and that the [240]*240estate was in the process of administration under orders of the probate court. Defendant further denied any wrongful detention and denied that plaintiff had suffered any damages. The transcript indicates that plaintiff subsequently gave bond as required by law, after an appraisal of the personal property listed in the petition, that the sheriff seized the chattels mentioned and that defendant thereupon furnished a re-delivery bond and was made keeper of the property pending the trial. Upon trial, the jury found for the plaintiff and the court rendered judgment in accordance with the finding.

The one question which concerns us, and which is disclosed by the transcript and pleadings, is whether replevin is an action which can be brought in the Common Pleas Court against an executor or administrator of an estate in course of administration in the Probate Court under the allegations of the petition. This requires an examination of the nature of replevin proceedings, as well as the responsibilities and duties in the Probate Court of the personal representative of an estate.

The Ohio statutes relating to replevin are set forth in Chapter VI of Procedure in Common Pleas Court, consisting of §§12051 and 12074 GC, inclusive. By Sec. 12051 GC, the possession of specific personal property may be recovered by action. By §12052 GC, the form of affidavit is specified, it being essential that plaintiff recite not only that he is the owner of the property or has an interest therein, but also “that the property is wrongfully detained by defendant.” We address ourselves to the question whether the mere allegations of the petition in this case that plaintiff is entitled to certain personal property as against an administratrix acting in her representative capacity, under orders of the Probate Court, states a good cause of action in replevin. This calls for a consideration of the nature of the administration of an estate in the probate court and the dual nature of the duties of an executor or administrator.

It is to be borne in mind that executors and administrators stand in a dual capacity because they personally represent the deceased in settling his affairs and distributing his estate and they also occupy a status as trustee for persons interested beneficially in the estate, including creditors, heirs and legatees. In Greer v. Ohio, 2 Oh St 575, it is pointed out that the personal representative of an estate becomes a trustee for creditors first, and then for distributees of all the personal assets of the estate. Referring to the personal assets in that case, the Supreme Court declared as follows:

“The law prescribed the course to be pursued for converting [241]*241them into money, and when and how, the money should be paid over to those entitled to it, and the performance in good faith of these requirements constituted the legal duty of the administrators.”

In Lingler v. Wesco, 79 Oh St 225, the Supreme Court of Ohio defining the course of administration required by the personal representative of an estate, stated as follows:

“The ordinary course of administration is the means and the process provided by law, whereby creditors of a deceased debtor receive payment.”

This statement is cited with approval in 18 O.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
108 N.E.2d 741, 63 Ohio Law. Abs. 236, 1952 Ohio App. LEXIS 861, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/service-transport-co-v-matyas-ohioctapp-1952.