Bliven v. Robinson — 64 N.Y. St. Rep. 288

Majority

p. 288

Cora E. Bliven, App’lt, v. George H. Robinson et al., as Executors, etc., Resp’ts.

(Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department,

Filed December 10, 1894.)

Headnote

Contract—Cancellation.

Where a contract is submitted to plaintiff’s husband, who is a lawyer, and executed by her in the form finally agreed upon with him, an action for its cancellation will not lie, in the absence of proof of fraudulent or dishonest representations made to induce her to sign it.

Appeal from a judgment, dismissing the complaint on the merits.

Edward M. Bliven (Alfred B. Cruikshank, of counsel), for app’lt; Thomas Darlington, for resp’t George H. Robinson; William B. Ellison, for resp’ts George W. Skellen and Frank W. Colwell.

This is an appeal from a judgment dismissing plaintiffs complaint on the merits, entered on the decision of the special term. The plaintiff is the daughter of one Joseph Colwell, deceased, and one of the beneficiaries under his will. The defendants are executors of that will. At the time of his decease Col-well was a partner in business with one Hepworth. The agreement of copartnership provided that the death of either partner during the partnership term should not be deemed a dissolution of the partnership, but that the same should be continued by the surviving partner till the expiration of the term, for the benefit of

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himself and the wife and children of the deceased partner. By the will of Colwell his executors were directed to hold his residuary estate in trust in separate shares, the income thereof to be applied to his children during life, and upon the death of any child the principal of the share to go to nis issue. The defendants loaned the bulk of his residuary estate to Hepworth to carry on the partnership business, and Hepworth thereafter failed. At the time of these loans, or some of them, the plaintiff wrote letters to .and executed an agreement with the executors, which it is alleged that the defendants will set up as a justification for their action in proceedings for an accounting. This suit is brought to set aside and cancel such instruments on the ground of fraud.

It is first to be stated that a large part of the appellant’s argument is devoted to the discussion of questions that cannot be determined in this action. It is doubtless true that no action or assent by the equitable life tenant of the fund can bind the remainder-men. It is susceptible of grave doubt whether the beneficiary of the income of a trust fund, unassignable itself, can estop herself by her covenants or agreements. Whether the will or the agreement executed by plaintiff authorized the investment made by the executors may be debatable. But this action is not for an accounting against the executors, nor to determine the effect of the instruments executed by the plaintiff, but solely to cancel those instruments on the ground of fraud. The case, therefore, presents that single issue. We think the evidence justifies the trial court ■in its findings that no fraud was practiced upon the plaintiff. The plaintiff, at the time of the execution of the papers, was the wife of a lawyer,—the same lawyer who now brings this suit on her behalf. The important instrument, the agreement or release of May, 1885, was submitted to her husband, and its form amended by him. The husband said he told the plaintiff not to sign it, and the plaintiff says the same. But the plaintiff is unable to state whether the paper was brought to her for signature by her husband or by her brother, one o£> the executors and defendants. It is conceded that there were negotiations between plaintiff’s husband and the lawyer of the executors concerning this instrument, and the instrument was executed in the form finally agreed upon with the husband. The proof did not establish any fraudulent or dishonest misrepresentations made to the plaintiff for an inducement for her act, though there may have been immaterial inaccuracies in the statements to her. The interest of herself and her brother, one of the defendants, was identical. We therefore do not see that the plaintiff was imposed upon, and she must- stand by her acts, leaving their effect to be determined when the question may arise. The complaint was properly dismissed on the merits. It was not a case of a nonsuit The complaint was not dismissed because of a failure by plaintiff to produce proof in support of her claim sufficient to present a question of fact for determination. The court determined the questions of fact, and made findings of facts and law. That it decided the cause on the spot has no more legal effect than the rendition of a verdict by a

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jury without retiring. In either case, the question of fact is decided. The judgment and order denying motion to modify judgment appealed from should be affirmed, with costs.