In re Strohm — 51 Misc. 481

Majority

p. 481

Matter of Margaret M. Strohm, an Incompetent Person.

(Supreme Court, Erie Special Term,

October, 1906.)

Headnote

Pensions—Intention of government as to use — For future support. Insane persons—Property and liabilities of incompetents — Liability of estate for debts and claims — Liability to pay for support from pension moneys.

Pension moneys are intended to provide' for the future support of those who have a claim upon the. nation’s bounty, without being subject to past claims for their support.

Accordingly, the committee of an incompetent person should be directed to pay the State hospital, at which such person is supported and maintained, her pension, to1 apply upon its current charges therefor, but not to apply upon arrears that existed at the time the first pension moneys were received by the committee.

Application on report of referee to take testimony and to report with his opinion for an order denying application of Buffalo State Hospital for an order directing the committee of the incompetent person to pay said hospital the sum of $1,095.50, due and owing for the support and maintenance of the incompetent for the past six years.

p. 482

William F. Frye, for motion.

Martin Clark,, opposed.

The only property of the incompetent person, who has been an inmate of the Buffalo State Hospital since August 26, 1891, consists of the sum of $1,238.09, pension money, paid into the hands of her committee subsequent to October 21, 1902. Section 1393 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that pension moneys are exempt from seizure in any legal proceeding. The claim for the support and maintenance of the incompetent person is a liability of said' incompetent’s estate to the State of Hew York. But the State allows to pensioners the use of all pension moneys free from any claim for debt. The purpose of the statute is to provide for the future support of those who have a claim upon the nation’s bounty, without making their pension moneys subject to past claims for the support and maintenance of such pensioners; and it is the duty of the court to give effect to such purpose. Toole v. Board of Supervisors, 13 App. Div. 471 ; St. Lawrence State Hospital v. Fowler, 15 Misc. Rep. 159 .

But it was the duty of the committee of the incompetent, without the express direction ■ of the court at this time, to apply the regular quarterly pension payments as received to the support and maintenance of her ward. It cannot be reasonably maintained that the purpose of the exemption of pension moneys from seizure is to enable the committee of the pensioner to accumulate such moneys for the next of kin of such pensioner, leaving her a State charge as an indigent insane person, and relegating the State to a claim against the estate of such insane person after her death.

By section 2321, Code of Civil Procedure, it is provided that the court must provide for the safe keeping and maintenance of the incompetent person out of the proceeds of his property; and, by section 66 of the Insanity Law, it is provided that the committee of an insane person shall cause him to be properly and suitably cared for and maintained, if his estate is sufficient for the purpose. By the

p. 483

order appointing the committee herein, entered October 28, 1902, such committee is specifically directed to pay the Buffalo State Hospital for the support and maintenance of said incompetent person.

I am of the opinion that the State cannot compel the payment, by the committee out of the pension moneys, of charges for the support and maintenance of the incompetent which accrued prior to the date of the payment of the first pension moneys to the said committee; but, that after receiving such first payment including arrearages the committee should have paid the State hospital the regular quarterly pension payments of twenty-four dollars each as received hy such committee, to he applied to the care and support of the incompetent from and after such date. As to such charges, the direction to the committee by the court, contained in the order appointing the committee, cannot be regarded as seizure in a legal proceeding within the prohibition of section 1393, Code Civil Procedure. It is a proper direction to the committee to provide for the maintenance of her ward.

Let the matter go back to the referee for him to state the account in accordance with this opinion.

Ordered accordingly.

Cases cited

St. Lawrence State Hospital v. Fowler 15 Misc. Rep. 159 N.Y. Ct. Gen. Sess. p. 482