Luco v. Commercial Bank

Myrick, J. The question involved in this appeal is, whether a judgment in favor of Luco against one Castro Olvera as executor of the last will of Agustín Olvera is valid so as to bind the heirs and devisees of the testator.

Agustín Olvera in his lifetime made a contract for the conveyance to Hartman of an interest in real estate. "Agustín died testate, and Castro Olvera received letters testamentary, and entered upon the duties of his office. Luco, assignee of the contract, brought an action against Castro, as executor, to compel the execution of a deed according to the terms of the contract. Castro was served with summons. He failed to answer, and judgment was rendered in accordance with the prayer of the complaint. The suit was commenced October 15, 1880. Prior to the commencement of the suit, viz., February 11, 1878, an order was made by the Probate Court in which were pending the proceedings for the settlement of the estate of Agustín Olvera, deceased, in which order it was stated that Castro had tendered his resignation, and had rendered a full and true account of his executorship, and his resignation was accepted, and his accounts as rendered approved, settled, and allowed; and the court “ordered, adjudged, and decreed that said letters of executorship be set aside, and on turning over all the effects and property in his hands to his°successor, hereafter to be appointed by this court, and upon filing a receipt in full,” etc., that he be discharged. Ho successor was appointed until after the decree in the suit of Luco v. Olvera. It thus appears that Castro Olvera was executor during the pendency of that suit, or there was a vacancy in the office. If there was a vacancy, the judgment against Castro did not bind the heirs and devisees of Agustín, and in the case at bar the property embraced within the decree against Castro should not [342]in this action have been decreed to Luco upon the basis of that judgment.

Section 1427 of the Code of Civil Procedure authorizes any executor or administrator to resign his appointment, having first settled his accounts and delivered up all the estate to the person appointed to receive the same; and if there be delay in settling the accounts and delivering the estate, or from other cause the circumstances of the estate or the rights of those interested require it, the court may before the settlement and delivery is completed revoke the letters, and appoint an administrator either general or special.

The Probate Court had jurisdiction of the subject-matter then before it, viz., the resignation of the executor, and it had jurisdiction of the parties interested. Having such jurisdiction, all presumptions are in favor of the regularity of its proceedings and the validity of its order (Hittells Gen. Laws, sec. 1229), and the order accepting the resignation cannot be collaterally attacked. (Haynes v. Meeks, 20 Cal. 288; Lucas v. Todd, 28 Cal. 185; Haynes v. Meeks, 10 Cal. 110; S. C., 70 Am. Dec. 702.)