Hyatt v. Nugero — 17 N.Y. St. Rep. 746

Majority

p. 746

Thomas J. Hyatt, as Executor, Pl’ff, v. Jaquin M. Nugero, Def’t.

(New York Superior Court, General Term,

Filed June 20, 1888.)

Headnote

Will—Construction on—Power on sale—When one executor cannot execute—Code Civ. Pro., § 2642.

The testator, by his will, authorized, his two executors “to sell all or any part of my real or personal estate at any time, in their joint discretion; that is to say, one is not authorized to sell or exchange without the consent and co-operation of the other.” Held, that the one executor who qualified could not execute the above power solely, notwithstanding the provision of section 2642, Code of Civil Procedure.

Peck & Mason, for pl’ff; Bailey & Sullivan, for def’t.

The plaintiff’s testator provided in his will as follows: “I hereby appoint and authorize H. L. Horton and Thomas J. Hyatt to be my executors of this my last will and testament, and I hereby authorize my said executors to sell all or any part of my real or personal estate at any time, in their joint discretion; that is to say, one is not authorized to sell or exchange without the consent and co-operation of the other, and to give valid deeds of the same to the purchaser.”

p. 747

Letters testamentary were issued to the plaintiff Hyatt, and Horton renounced his right to letters testamentary. The plaintiff, as executor of the defendant, entered into a contract to sell and buy real estate formerly of the testator. The defendant objected to take title on the ground which occasions the only question in the case. That question is, has Thomas J. Hyatt, as sole acting executor, power under the will to convey to defendant valid title to the premises ?

The plaintiff claims under section 2642 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which provides: “And when any power to sell, mortgage or lease any real estate, or any interest therein is given to executors as such or as trustees, or as executors and trustees, and any such persons named as executors shall neglect to qualify, then all sales, mortgages and leases, under said powers, made by the executors who shall qualify, shall be equally valid as if the other executors or trustees had joined in such sale.”

This statute does not deprive the testator of the right to •declare it to be his will that a power of sale shall not exist in one executor, although the other neglected to qualify. The testator had legal right to establish the power, and to declare who, and only who, should exercise it.

In the present case the intent was that a single executor, whatever should be the cause of his being single executor, should have no power to sell, and that the power to sell should be based upon the exercise of a joint discretion.

I am of the opinion that the defendant should have judgment, with costs.

Freedman and Truax, JJ., concur.