Todd v. Todd

96 N.W.2d 436, 250 Iowa 1084, 1959 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 406
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedMay 5, 1959
Docket49527
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 96 N.W.2d 436 (Todd v. Todd) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Todd v. Todd, 96 N.W.2d 436, 250 Iowa 1084, 1959 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 406 (iowa 1959).

Opinions

Peterson, J.

Because a rehearing was granted, the former opinion herein, reported in 92 N.W.2d 415, is withdrawn, and the following substituted therefor.

The case is an action in equity for partition of 670 acres of land in Floyd County, together with all personal property on the farms.

The partnership of Todd Bros, was established for farming purposes in 1920, after the death of the father of Floyd, Thomas, Harry and Elmer. It has continued to this date. The senior Mr. Todd left 350 acres to the four sons. Since his death the partnership has purchased 320 additional acres, which includes the 100 acres involved in this appeal. This tract was purchased in 1929 from partnership funds and deed was executed by Mr. and Mrs. Huntley to the four Todd Bros, as owners in common.

[1086]*1086Elmer died in 1937, leaving neither a widow nor issue. Harry died testate in 1951, leaving all his property to his three daughters, subject to life estate in his widow.

The only controversy is the matter of ownership of the 100-aere tract. Appellants contend it is owned by the partnership of Todd Bros., and therefore is two thirds the property of appellants, and one third the property of the three children and widow of Harry Todd, deceased. The Harry Todd family claim absolute ownership because Harry held the naked title at his death. The trial court established ownership in the three daughters of Harry Todd, subject to life estate in his widow. Plaintiffs have appealed.

Harry G. Todd, one of the partners, applied for a homestead tax credit on the land in 1937. An assessor erroneously told him no such credit could be allowed because he owned only a fourth interest. Upon an attorney’s advice the other three brothers placed the legal title in Harry’s name.

Actually the deed was entirely unnecessary. Under the homestead credit law as construed in Eysink v. Board of Supervisors of Jasper County, 229 Iowa 1240, 296 N.W. 376, the exemption was as fully allowable before the deed was made as it was afterwards. Neither the state nor anyone else was defrauded by the transfer of title. Had there been any fraud or deception Harry would have been as much a party to it as the grantors in the deed.

When the attorney prepared the deed from the three brothers to Harry for the homestead tax purpose, he also had Harry sign three blank deeds to be used for reconveyance if the occasion should arise. W. H. Scott, the attorney who prepared the deed, testified:

“Q. Now, at the time that deed was executed, state, if you know, whether there was any oral agreement between the four brothers whose names appear on the deed pertinent to the same transaction ? A. There was.
“Q. And what was that agreement? A. The agreement was they were to maintain this arrangement, carry the legal title in one of the partner’s name, Harry Todd, so long as it became necessary to get that homestead tax exemption for the partnership.
[1087]*1087“Q. Now, in connection with this transaction about which you are testifying, were there any other papers signed or executed? * * * A. The arrangement was if the three brothers or grantors would convey the legal title to Harry, that he in turn would execute a deed to convey back to them the same title if necessary.
“Q. And were any papers signed at that time for that purpose? * * * A. There were three blank deeds signed by Harry G. Todd. * * * and it was for the purpose of completing the oral agreement that the brothers made in regard to holding the legal title to this land in Harry G. Todd. I might add the deeds were left in my presence by the brothers with instructions for me to fill out the names and descriptions if it became necessary at some future date. * * * They were in the files in my office continuously since they were signed.”

As frequently happens under like circumstances it did not occur to the remaining partners to demand a reconveyance of the legal title to this land which was bought, paid for, maintained and operated at all times by the partnership. Doubtless it did not occur to them that because the legal title had been permitted to remain in one of the brothers a court of equity would some day hold they had no interest in it.

The record in the case contains the following evidence in support of appellants’ position, without any contradictory evidence and without any dispute as to the facts.

1. When the 100 acres were purchased in 1929 the purchase price was paid from partnership funds.

2. At all times, both before and after it was deeded to Harry, it was operated as a part of Todd Bros, farming operations.

3. When deeded to Harry no consideration was paid by him to his brothers.

4. All farm income from the 100 acres was paid to Todd Bros, and all farm expenses were paid by them.

5. After the property was deeded to Harry, major improvements were made to the buildings, the cost of which was paid from Todd Bros, funds.

6. Floyd Todd was the partner who took care of tax matters. After 1937 the assessment rolls on the 100 acres continued [1088]*1088to be signed “Todd Bros, by F. G-. Todd” with a notation that the 100 aeres were assessed in the name of Harry Todd.

7. From 1929 to 19>56, when this ease was started, the receipts and expenses in connection with the 100 acres were included in Todd Bros, partnership income tax return.

8. Harry lived in the house on the farm with his family until his death. His family remained there for three years after his death. Mrs. Todd and her three daughters then moved to the town of Nashua into a house purchased by partnership funds. The house on the 100-acre tract was then used for one year by a hired man of Todd Bros. Since they no longer needed this married hired man they rented the house for $20 a month, which money was paid into the Todd Bros, partnership account.

9. From 1937 until the commencement of this action no individual ownership was ever claimed by Harry, nor by his wife and three daughters after his death.

10. In the inventory and final report in the Harry Todd estate only a one-third interest in the 100 acres was listed as a part of the assets of his estate. The widow and daughters were cognizant of this fact and the widow signed the necessary papers for the closing of the estate.

11. After the closing of the Harry Todd estate the widow joined in the appointment of Floyd Todd as trustee for the family for the purpose of continuation of Todd Bros, operation as a partnership, which trusteeship included the 100 acres.

12. Under his will Harry Todd left his one-third interest in the Todd Bros, land and personal property to his three daughters, subject to life estate in his widow. She filed acceptance of the terms of the will. For over five years, after the death of Harry Todd, she secured her one-third interest in the profits of Todd Bros, including the operation of the 100 acres. In the final report in the Harry Todd estate, approved by Marion Todd, the widow, appears the following statement: “That it is the desire of the surviving widow, Marion Todd, to continue as a partner with Thomas C.

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Todd v. Todd
96 N.W.2d 436 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1959)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
96 N.W.2d 436, 250 Iowa 1084, 1959 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 406, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/todd-v-todd-iowa-1959.