In re Corbett — 70 N.Y. St. Rep. 661

Majority

p. 661

In the Matter of the Petition of Charles H. Corbett et al., for the Payment of a Claim Against an Estate.

(Supreme Court, General Term, Fifth Department,

Filed October 16, 1895.)

Headnote

1. Executors, etc—Claim against decedent—Unverified answer—

Waiver.

An objection to the want of a verification of the executor’s answer, in a proceeding to compel the payment of a claim, must be made before the hearing.

3. Same—Answer.

An answer in such case, which alleges that the estate is insolvent and not sufficient to pay its indebtedness, and that the claim of the petitioner has been settled, compromised, and fully satisfied during the life of the deceased, aud is not a legal claim against his estate, is sufficient to show that it is doubtful whether the claim is valid and legal and denying its validity or legality.

Appeal from a decree granting the application.

A. B. Ottaway, for app’lt; Walter L. Sessions, for resp’ts.

In December, 1894, Charles H. Corbett and William H. Hart presented a petition to the surrogate of Chautauqua county setting forth that they were judgment creditors in a judgment entered and docketed in the clerk's office of Chautauqua county on May 10, 1890, for the sum of $659.65, and interest thereon, less $350 paid May 8, 1893. This judgment was against Chauncy L. Sheldon, deceased. The petition alleges that Sheldon had departed this life leaving a last will and testament, which had been admitted to probate and letters testamentary issued thereon to the respondent A. J. Graham, as sole executor of the will; that such executor had qualified, and made an inventory of the personal property of the deceased, amounting to $1,932.92, and that the executor had sufficient assets in his hands applicable to the payment of such judgment, that could be applied thereon without injuriously affecting the rights of others entitled to payment from the estate of the deceased; and praying a decree requiring the executor to render an account of his proceedings and pay the judgment, and that he be required to show cause why he should not do so. The order to show cause was granted, and upon its

p. 662

return the petitioners appeared by attorney, and the executor also appeared, and by attorney, and filed an answer entitled in the proceeding, which, among other things, alleged that the estate of the said Sheldon was insolvent, and there would not be sufficieht assets to pay the indebtedness of the said estate and the expense of administration, and further allege “ that the claim mentioned and described in the petition herein was compromisedj settled, and fully satisfied during the lifetime of Ohauncy L. Sheldon and that the same was not a legal claim against the estate of Chauucy L. Sheldon. Wherefore the executor prays for a decree of the court denying the petition of the petitioners, together with costs.” This answer was not verified, although in writing. No objection was made on behalf of the petitioners to the want of such verification, or that the answer was insufficient in any respect; but the parties proceeded before the surrogate to litigate and dispose of the matters stated in the petition and the answer. On behalf of the petitioners the probate of the will of the deceased and the inventory of his estate were proved, as well as the judgment set forth in the petition.

The executor offered in evidence a receipt of the petitioners given to the deceased, which was as follows : "

Sherman, N. Y, May 8, 1893.

“ Received of 0. L. Sheldon three hundred and fifty dollars in full satisfaction of judgment against H. Sheldon & Go., provided a check we have taken against G. G. Bennett is paid when due, which is ($333.90 amount of check) July 20, 1893.

Hart & Corbett.”

Walter L. Sessions was the attorney appearing for the petitioners upon such proceeding,» and he admitted in evidence “ that the sum of $350, the amount of this receipt (the receipt above given), was paid in.full,” and he further admitted that the check of O. G. Bennett referred to in the receipt was paid, and constitutes a part of the $350.

The surrogate found sufficient assets out of which said judgment could he paid without'injury to the creditors, and directed the payment of the balance claimed upon the judgment of the petitioners out of such assets, and refused to dismiss the petition. This proceeding was under section 2722 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which provides that a creditor may take proceedings before the surrogate for the payment of his debt, or his just proportional part, at any time after six months have expired after letters were granted; and the section further provides that on the presentation of such petition the surrogate must issue a citation accordingly, and on the return thereof he must make such a decree in the premises as . justice requires, but must make a decree dismissing the petition without prejudice to an action or an accounting in behalf of the petitioner, “ where the executor or administrator files a written answer duly verified setting forth facts which show that it is doubtful whether the petitioner’s claim is valid or legal and denying-its validity or legality absolutely or on information and belief.” The contention of the appellant is that

p. 663

such an answer has been filed by the executor, and consequently the proceeding should have been dismissed, while the petitioners contend that the answer does not meet the requirements of the statute, and was not verified as required by it. Other points are raised by this appeal which it is unnecessary to consider here.

The learned surrogate filed an opinion in the proceeding, which is before us, wherein he seems to concede that he had no authority to try the question whether there had been a valid compromise, settlement, or satisfaction of the judgment between the petitioners and decedent, under the line-of authorities of which Jaffray v. Davis, 124 N. Y. 164 ; 35 St. Rep. 106 , is an instance; but he says the question presented to him was whether the issue as raised by the executor’s answer deprived the surrogate of jurisdiction; and he concludes that the executor had failed to file the answer required by section 2722, above cited, in that the answer was not verified, and it fails to set forth facts showing the legality and validity of the claims, or to deny the same. And he further concludes that the only question before him was whether there was personal property of the estate of the deceased applicable to the payment of the judgment which could be applied without injuriously affecting the rights of others; and he holds, upon the inventory alone (there being no other evidence of the fact before him), that there was such property in the hands of the executor sufficient to pay the judgment, and ordered it to be paid. By failing to object (so far as this record discloses) until after the decree had been made and entered to the want of verification of the answer, and proceeding to the proof as though the answer was sufficient in that respect, the petitioners waived the objection that they here make, and that the surrogate relied upon, that it was not verified. A person can valve a statutory, and even a constitutional, provision in his own favor. In re Cooper, 93 N.Y. 507 ; Vose v. Cockcroft, 44 id. 415; Buell v. Trustees, 3 id. 197. He can waive the right of trial by jury, and many other important rights in legal proceedings, civil and criminal. The objection that a pleading is not verified cannot be taken at the trial (Schwartz v. Oppold, 74 N. Y. 307 ), and it is a familiar rule that a party receiving without objection an unverified pleading, "where one is required, waives the right to object to the pleading for the want of verification. The answer was certainly sufficient, in the language of subdivision 1 of section 2722 of the Code, to show that it is doubtful whether the petitioners’ claim is valid and legal, and denying its validity or legality. It alleges that the estate is insolvent and not sufficient to pay the indebtedness of the estate. It alleges that the claim of the petitioners has been settled, compromised, and fully satisfied during the lifetime of Sheldon, and was not a legal claim against his estate. The averment that it was not a legal claim against the estate was equivalent to a denial that it was so. The allegation that the claim had been satisfied and settled was sufficient to admit proof of the fact so alleged. The parties so regarded it upon the proceeding before the surrogate, and gave proof upon the issues raised by the pleadings. That proof showed a compromise and settlement of the

p. 664

petitioners’ claim, sustaining the allegations of the answer to the extent of creating a disputed claim or question as to whether there was'an accord and satisfaction, or whether the estate in equity was entitled to a relief or discharge, either in part or in whole, from the judgment which the surrogate’s court had no jurisdiction to try. McNulty v. Hurd, 72 N. Y. 518 ; Jaffray v. Davis, 124 N. Y. 164 ; 35 St. Rep. 106 ; and see cases cited at page 520, 72 N. Y. supra. The surrogate should have dismissed the proceedings for want of jurisdiction.

Another difficulty appears in the way of the petitioners. The surrogate adjudged that the deceased left property sufficient to pay their debt. There was no proof before him, so far as appears by the record before us, to justify such a conclusion. The inventory upon which the surrogate seems to have relied was the only proof, and that was insufficient.

The decree appealed from should be reversed, with costs to be paid by the respondents.

All concur, except Lewis, J., not voting. .

Cases cited

Jaffray v. Davis 124 N. Y. 164 N.Y. 1891-01-14 p. 663, p. 664
In re Cooper 93 N.Y. 507 N.Y. 1883-10-23 p. 663
Schwarz v. Oppold 74 N. Y. 307 N.Y. 1878-09-17 p. 663
McNulty v. Hurd 72 N. Y. 518 N.Y. 1878-02-19 p. 664