Wright v. Smith

209 N.W. 576, 235 Mich. 509, 1926 Mich. LEXIS 741

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: July 1, 1926
• Docket: Docket No. 125.
• Status: Published

Opinion

Clark, J.

Deram Mills died testate. After his grandson, defendant Smith, had acted as executor for a time he was removed, and plaintiff was appointed administrator. The question is on the executor’s refusal to account for funds which he had received on four certificates of deposit. The deposits were made in a bank by Mr. Mills and the certificates were made “payable in current funds to the order of himself or Gordon M. Smith or their survivor.” Defendant had judgment notwithstanding the verdict and plaintiff brings error.

Under the statute (2 Comp. Laws 1915, § 8040), and the decisions (see In re Taylor’s Estate, 213 Mich. 497, and cases there cited), and in the absence of competent evidence to the contrary, the certificates were sufficient to fix the ownership of the funds in the persons named as joint tenants with the attendant right of survivor-ship therein, and hence to establish title to the deposits in the survivor, the defendant.

As evidence that it was not intended that the funds were to be so owned, plaintiff had testimony of oral statements of defendant to the effect that the funds so deposited had belonged to a partnership of the persons named. This evidence, if it had any bearing, merely tended to show an additional reason for making the deposits in the manner indicated; it did not disturb the presumption created by the certificates.

A small charge for pasturing livestock was also urged and submitted to the jury. There was some evidence that it was the duty of the executor to account for it, but it was not shown that he had not done so.

No other question is before the court.

Judgment affirmed.

Bird, C. J., and Sharpe, Snow, Steere, Fellows, Wiest, and McDonald, JJ., concurred.