Hyperlawhypertext legal databasebeta Lyle v. Smith 13 How. Pr. 104

← Cases

Lyle v. Smith

13 How. Pr. 104 Court SUPREME COURT. English

Delivered by *106 Brown, Justice.

Contents

Majority

p. 104
SUPREME COURT.
Jacob V. N. Lyle, by Harriet V. N. Lyle, his guardian, agt. Eliza L. Smith and twelve others.

Headnote

Where an infant plaintiff commenced an action for partition, after the appointment of a guardian by a county judge, by filing notice of Us pendens, on the 3d July, 1856, but had not, on the 1st September following, served upon any of the defendants any summons and complaint,
Held, that a party defendant, although not served with any process, had a right to apply to the court by petition, to have the plaintiff’s proceedings vacated
p. 105
and set aside, and removed out of his way, if they had been improperly instituted.
It is time the profession should take cognizance of the fact, that a guardian ad litem, to prosecute and defend for an infant in an action for the partition of lands, is not appointed in the same way as in other actions. In all ordinary actions, the appointment may be made by the court in which the action is pending, or by a judge thereof, or a county judge. In actions for the partition of lands, the guardian can be appointed by the court only.
The appointment of a guardian ad litem, for an infant plaintiff by a county judge, in an action for partition, is a nullity, and renders any proceedings in the action by such plaintiff void, and consequently not amendable.
Orange Special Term,
Sept., 1856.
In Partition.
The lis pendens in this case was filed by A. C. Griswold, attorney for above plaintiff, with the clerk of Dutchess county, on the 3d day of July, 1856. The plaintiff had not served upon any of the defendants any summons and complaint in the action up to 1st Sept., 1856, as appears by the affidavit of the plaintiff’s attorney.
L. Maison, one of the defendants, moves upon petition, that the summons and complaint in this action, if any had been issued or served, be dismissed, and that the lis pendens filed in above suit, be declared to be vacated and annulled—he being desirous that a partition or sale of the premises should be had as soon as practicable.
The order appointing the above guardian for the plaintiff was granted by the county judge of Dutchess county, upon an affidavit, which did not state that Jacob V. N. Lyle was possessed of any real estate as tenant in common, or joint tenant with any person, nor that his interest requires such partition or sale, nor that any security had been given .as required by statute.
The plaintiff desires to amend, so as to make his proceedings conformable to the statute. It does not appear that any notice of such motion had been given.
Leonard Maison, in person.
A. C. Griswold, for plaintiff.

1st. This action is instituted in the name of Jacob V. N. Lyle, who is an infant, by Harriet V. N. Lyle, claiming to be his guardian ad litem, for the partition of lands; and it appears by the papers on both sides, that the petitioner, Leonard Mais'on, is made a party, but not actually served with process. His interest, therefore, as tenant in common of the lands sought to be partitioned, is not disputed.

2. The pendency of the plaintiff’s action, although the petitioner has not been served with process therein, operates to his prejudice; for he is neither proceeded against himself, so as to enable him to be heard, nor can he institute, with any hope of being permitted to proceed, an action in his own name for the partition or sale of the lands held in common. He has, therefore, a right, in my judgment, to apply to the court by petition, to have the plaintiff’s proceedings vacated and set aside, and removed out of his way, if they have been improp-. erly instituted.

3. No suit can be instituted in a court of justice in behalf of an infant, unless it is by guardian duly appointed for that purpose. This is especially the case in actions for the partition of lands, when the title will thereafter depend upon the sufficiency of the proceedings.

4. It is time the profession should take cognizance of the fact, that a guardian ad litem to prosecute and defend for an infant, in an action for the partition of lands, is not appointed in the sanie way as in other actions. In all ordinary actions, the appointment may be made by the'court in which the action is pending, or by a judge thereof, or' a county judge. In actions for the partition of lands, the guardian can be appointed by the court only. Until the passage of the act of the 14th of April, 1852, no suit could be instituted on behalf of an infant for the partition of lands.

The rule of law on this subject was established by the act to which I refer, entitled, “An Act in Relation to. the. Partition of Lands.” And an action for the partition of lands may now be instituted whenever it shall appear that the infant is possessed of real estate as tenant in common, or joint tenant, and

p. 107
the supreme court authorize the proceedings. “Such authority shall not be given, nor shall such division, partition, or sale be directed by the court, unless it shall be made satisfactorily to appear that the interest of such infant requires such partition or sale. And the court shall appoint a competent next friend to conduct the proceedings on the part of such infant, which next friend shall be appointed' upon the like application, and in the like manner, and shall give such security, and possess such powers as are specified and required in §§ 2, 3 and 4 of title 3, chapterfi, of the third part of the Revised Statutes.” (See §§ 1 and 2 of the act of 14th April, 1852.)

5. These provisions are designed for the security of the infant owners of real property, and to prevent their being divested of their title, or interrupted in the enjoyment of their estates, by proceedings in partition instituted in' their own names. All these salutary provisions of the statute have been disregarded in the present action. There has been no application to the court for authority to institute the proceedings. No next friend or guardian has been appointed by the court, nor has any security been given, according to the requirements of the Revised Statutes. Harriet V. N. Lyle had no more right or authority to commence an action to partition the lands held in common in the name of the infant Jacob V. N. Lyle, than she had in the name of the adult Leonard Maison. The county judge had no authority or jurisdiction to make an order appointing her the guardian ad litem, and consequently the proceedings are a nullity.

If I am right in the view I have taken of the nature of the action for partition, when the plaintiff is an infant, and of the powers of the county judge, then it is evident that the void proceedings are not open to amendment, or to any order nunc pro tunc. So far as the petitioner is concerned, he is not bound by anything of the kind.

The motion to vacate and set aside the plaintiff’s proceedings is granted. It is not a case for costs.

Statutes and regulations cited