Libbett v. . Maultsby

BodmaN, J. It was,, not seriously denied in this Court that the defendant was constituted by the will of Toon, a trustee for *347 the two plaintiffs for their respective legacies. That being the case, although his discretion in expending the principal and interest of the fund for the benefit of the children during their minorities, was extensive, and, if honestly exercised, would not be interfered with by any Court, yet the trust was for the benefit of the plaintiffs, and upon no principle of equity, could the fund be permitted to be converted by the defendant to his own use. It is clear, therefore, that the plaintiffs were entitled to an account, unless their action is barred by the statute of limitations. This was the defence principally insisted on here. 1. Before the enactment of the Code of Civil Procedure in August, 1868, there was no positive and absolute limitation to an action by a cesimi que trust against an express trustee. The lapse of time after the accrual of a right of action was only evidence tending to raise a presumption, that the right had been satisfied or released. West v. Sloan, 3 Jones Eq., 102. It is not material to consider accurately what lapse of time would furnish a conclusive presumption against the plaintiffs in the present case, supposing the law to be as it was before August, 1868; for, in any view, it would not be less than ten years, and as much as ten years did not elapse from the arrival of the plaintiffs at full age, to the bringing of the present action. The learned counsel for the defendant, however, contends that the present action comes within the scope of the Code and within section 34, that it is in the words of that section: “ An action upon a contract, obligation or liability arising out of a contract express or implied, except those mentioned in the preceding sections and that consequently it is barred in three years. Whether an action by a cestui que trust against an express trustee created by contract, comes within sec. 34, or as one of the “ actions for relief not herein provided for,” which are provided for in sec. 37, is a question of very great importance, but which we think does not arise in the present case. The first question which we have to decide is, whether the present action is within the scope of the C. C. E., and we *348 think it is not, but is governed by the law existing prior to the enactment of the Code in 1868. Section 16 of C. C. P., Title IV, is as follows: “ The provisions contained in chapter 65 of the Bev. Code, entitled “ Limitations,” are repealed, and the provisions of this title are established. This title shall not extend to actions already commenced, or to cases where the right of action has already accrued, but the statutes previous to the ratification of this act shall be applicable to such cases ; and in cases where the right of action has already accrued, but the action has not been commenced, the said statutes shall be applied according to the subject matter of the action, and without regard to the form.” It is not denied that a right of action had accrued to these plaintiffs before 1868, and the section cited (16) expressly excepts from the operation of the whole title, “ cases where the right of action has already accrued.” This would seem to be conclusive that the case of the plaintiffs was not embraced within the title, in which case it would be left under the pre-existing law, that is, subject to no statute, but to the principle established by Courts of equity in such cases. If the section cited had stopped at the words “ already accrued,” just quoted, there would have been no color at all for the defendant’s contention. The plaintiff’s case would have been left to the old law, notwithstanding the repeal as to new cases of the chapter 'concerning “ Limitations ” in the Bevised Code. But in as much as that statute, (which no way affected the plaintiff’s case) had been repealed by previous words, it became necessary, in order to provide for cases to which that statute did apply, to insert the words following which provide that notwithstanding its repeal as to after accruing actions, it should continue in force as to such as had already accrued, and which by their form did come within it. . The learned counsel contends that “ statutes ” means the written law only, and that only is continued in force. Grant it; the word taken strictly does mean only the written law. But still Title IV, under which the counsel contends that *349 plaintiffs are barred does not apply to “ causes of action already accrued,” as the plaintiff’s had. Grant that the previous statutes of limitation had been repealed, the right of the plaintiffs to sue within (say) ten years was not affected, for no statute applied to his case. And, as his case is expressly excluded from Title IY, there is no statute which applies to it at this time. ~W e think his Honor committed no error on this point. 2. The defendant says there is error, in that the j udgment is a consolidated one for both plaintiffs, whereas their claims are several. That is an error, and if the defendant had suggested that he was injured by it, he would clearly be entitled to leave the j udgment reversed on that account. But there is no ground that appears to us for any such suggestion, and none such has been made. The record contains the materials upon which a severance of the judgments can be made, and if asked for by any party it will be referred to the Clerk of this Court to make it. 3. The defendant also charges error, in that, by the decree, there is a consolidated judgment for principal and interest, whereby the interest bears interest. This is manifest error, which could only have proceeded from inadvertence. The plaintiffs, however, consent to a correction of the judgment in that respect, which will be made accordingly. After this correction is made, and subject to the application for a severance above allowed, the judgment of the Superior Court is affirmed, and j udgment will be given here in accordance with this opinion. The judgment below being in part erroneous, each party will pay his own costs in this Court. Her Curiam. Judgment accordingly.