United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Parker

121 P. 531, 20 Wyo. 29, 1912 Wyo. LEXIS 20
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 17, 1912
DocketNo. 651
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 121 P. 531 (United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Parker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Parker, 121 P. 531, 20 Wyo. 29, 1912 Wyo. LEXIS 20 (Wyo. 1912).

Opinions

Scott, Justice.

This action was commenced in the district court of Sheridan County by Clara E. Parker, defendant in error as plaintiff, against the plaintiff in error as defendant, to recover from the latter as surety upon a guardian’s bond for an alleged default of the guardian. Upon issue joined the case was tried to the court, a jury being waived, and the court found for and gave judgment in favor of Clara E. Parker and against the company for the sum of $974.50 and interest thereon at eight per cent, per annum from July 14, 1908, and costs of suit. The company brings the case here on error.

An amended petition was filed to which the defendant demurred 'upon the ground that it did not state facts' sufficient to constitute a cause of action. The demurrer was overruled and such ruling is here assigned as error.

It is alleged in the petition that the plaintiff in error is and was at all times mentioned therein a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland. That one George A. Marks upon his own application made in July, 1900, to the district court of Custer County in the State of Montana, was appointed guardian of the estates and person of Clara E. Marks, the defendant in error, who has since married and is now Clara. E. Parker, Jennie M. Marks and James R. Marks, minors, who were then residents of and had property situate in that county; that on July 7, 1900, he qualified in pursuance of the order by taking the required oath and giving the bond which was duly approved in the amount of $4800, fixed and required by the order and conditioned that he would faithfully execute his trust according to law, and on the same day letters of guardianship were issued to him and he entered upon his duties as such guardian. Thereafter the said Marks wag by the court required to give a new guardian’s bond in the same amount which was accordingly done and the bond here in suit with plaintiff in erfor as surety was executed on April 17, 1902, approved and accepted in said court on June 28, 1902, and the sureties oh [44]*44the previous bond were upon order of the court discharged from further liability. That the law of the State of Montana with reference to guardianship bonds and the appointment of guardians is now, and has been at all times herein mentioned as follows, to-wit:

§7760. “Before the order appointing any person guardian under this Chapter takes effect, and before letters issue, the court or judge must require of such person a bond to the minor with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the judge, and in such sum as he shall order, conditioned that the guardian will faithfully execute the duties of his trust according to law, and the following conditions shall form a part of such bond without being expressed therein.
1. To make an inventory .of all the estate, real and personal, of his .ward, that comes to his possession or knowledge, and to return the same within such time as the court or judge may order.
2. To dispose of and manage the estate according to law and for the best interest of the ward, and faithfully to discharge his trust in relation thereto, and also in relation to the care, custody and education of the ward.
3. To render an account on oath of the property, estate and moneys of the ward in his hands and all the proceeds or interest derived therefrom, and of the management and disposition of the same, within three months after his appointment, and at such other times as the court or judge directs, and at the expiration of his trust to settle his accounts with the court or judge, or with the ward if he be of full age, or his legal representatives, and to pay over and deliver all the estate, moneys and effects remaining in his hands, or due from him on such settlement to the person who is lawfully entitled thereto. Upon filing the bond, duly approved, letters of guardianship must issue to the person appointed. In form the letters of guardianship must be substantially the same as letters of administration, and the oath of the guardian must be indorsed thereon that he will perform the duties of his office as such guardian according to law.”
[45]*45§7810. “The court or judge may require a new bond to be given by a guardian whenever such court or judge deems it necessary, and may discharge the existing sureties from further liability, after due notice given .as such court or judge may direct, when it shall appear that no injury can result therefrom to those interested in the estate.”
§7811. “Every bond given by a guardian must be filed and preserved in the office of the clerk of the District Court, and in case of a breach of condition thereof, may be prosecuted for the use and benefit of the ward, or of any person interested in the estate.”

That the condition of an official bond urider the laws of Montana is and has been at all times herein mentioned applicable to guardians’ bonds, to-wit:

§384. “The condition of an official bond must be that the principal will well, truly and faithfully perform all official duties then required of him by law, and also all such additional duties as may be imposed on- him by any law of the state, and that he will account for and pay over and deliver to the person or officer entitled to receive the same, all moneys or other property that may come into-his hands as such officer.” It is further provided: §393. “Whenever an official bond does not contain the substantial matter or conditions required by law or there are any defects in the approval or filing thereof, it is not void so as to discharge such officer and sureties; but they are equitably bound to the state or party interested and the state or such party may, by action in any court of competent jurisdiction, suggest the defect-in the bond, approval, or filing, and recover the proper and equitable demand or damages from such officer and the persons who intended to become and were included as sureties in such bond.”

That on August 7, 1907, the said George A. Marks as such guardian entered into possession and assumed control of the estates of said minors which consisted of cattle and horses, title to an undivided one-third interest being in plaintiff as ward and that the value of her interest was $800; [46]*46that said property increased by the natural increase so that the value of her -interest in August, 1903, became and was $2812.37; that after June 28, 1902, and prior to August 1, 1906, the said guardian sold all the property belonging to said Clara Marks (now Parker) and converted the proceeds to his own use and failed to account for, or deliver, or pay over to her, or’ to any one entitled to receive the same any of said property or any of the proceeds derived from its sale except the sum of $430.87, nor has she ever received any part of said property or its proceeds except said sum, and that when she became twenty-one years of age in June, 1906, the said guardian did not settle his guardianship accounts with the court which appointed him, or its judge, or with her. That the said guardian died on August 1, 1906, leaving an estate in Rosebud County, Montana, of which he was a resident at the time of his death, and that such proceedings were had in the district court of that county that his widow, Edith M. Marks, was duly appointed and qualified as ad-ministratrix of his estate. That defendant in error became twenty-one years of age in June, 1906, and during that month married one James Parker.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
121 P. 531, 20 Wyo. 29, 1912 Wyo. LEXIS 20, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-fidelity-guaranty-co-v-parker-wyo-1912.