Fogg v. Holbrook

Wiswell, J. This is an action of assumpsit, brought against the defendant in his capacity as executor of the will of Sarah M. Stetson, to recover for a .casket and other articles furnished by the plaintiff, an undertaker, for the burial of the testatrix. The articles were selected and ordered by a brother of the deceased, her nearest relative, and others, without the personal knowledge, consent or subsequent ratification of the defendant, the executor, who although he knew of her death and that he [172] was named as executor in her will, gave no directions and made no arrangements in regard to the funeral. The only questions raised are, whether the estate of a deceased person is holden for the reasonable and proper burial expenses, neither ordered nor ratified by the subsequently appointed executor or administrator, so that a suit may be maintained against an executor in his representative capacity, to recover for such reasonable expenses ; and if so, how much of the expenses incurred and sought to be recovered in this case, are reasonable in view of all the circumstances. It is urged by the counsel for the executor that, under these circumstances the law implies an individual promise upon the part of the executor to pay reasonable expenses, and that he is personally liable therefor, for which he may reimburse himself out of the estate ; but that the estate is not directly holden, and that this suit which is against the executor in his representative capacity, and in which if there is judgment for the plaintiff, it must be de bonis testatoris, cannot be maintained. They cite various authorities to this effect. But we think that it is the more reasonable rule to hold that the estate of a decedent should be liable for all such reasonable expenses as are properly incurred in providing a decent burial. When such expenses are incurred, necessarily after the death of a person, there is no one legally authorized to represent the estate. The services must be rendered and necessary articles furnished immediately; it is better that these things should be done upon the credit of the estate, than that there should be hesitation and inquiry as to who is liable to pay. Reliance is had upon the cases in this State of Davis v. French, 20 Maine, 21, and Baker v. Fuller, 69 Maine, 155, which cases hold that an executor or administrator can create no debt against the estate of the deceased. It is argued that if an executor or administrator can not create a debt against the estate, that certainly the brother of the deceased, who ordered the articles of the undertaker, could not do so. There is no question of the soundness of the doctrine laid down in thes(e cases. But under the circumstances which we are considering, neither the executor [173] nor the person who orders necessary articles for the burial, creates the debt, the law does so. The law implies a promise, from the peculiar necessities of the situation, upon the part of the executor or administrator to pay the funeral and burial expenses out of the estate, so far as he has assets. This is the rule which was early adopted in Massachusetts and has since been followed. Hapgood v. Houghton, 10 Pick. 154; Luscomb v. Ballard, 5 Gray, 403; Sweeney v. Muldoon, 139 Mass. 304. In Luscomb v. Ballard, supra, it is said: "In this Commonwealth ah exception is made in the case of funeral expenses of the deceased. For these the executor may be charged in his representative character and judgment be rendered de bonis testatoris. But the case stands on its peculiar ground and is to be limited to it.” This court has decided, in the recent case of Phillips v. Phillips, 87 Maine, 324, that: "The law pledges the credit of the estate of the deceased for a decent burial immediately after the decease, and for such reasonable sums as may be necessary for that purpose, even though such expenses may have been incurred after the death and before the appointment of an administrator.” The sum sued for, at the market prices for the articles furnished, amounts to $136. Were these expenses reasonable? The following facts are admitted. The testatrix owned a house and about two and a half acres of land in Freeport village unencumbered. It was genei’ally known that she had money at interest and she was considered to be in ,comfortable circumstances. Her nearest relatives were a brother and nephews and nieces, to neither of whom were there any bequests or devises in the will. These articles were selected by the brother and other relatives. The whole estate, when converted into money, amounted to $1061, and she was indebted to the amount of $78. In view of all these circumstances we do not think that the burial expenses were so unreasonably large as to be disallowed. Judgment for plaintiff for ‡136 and interest from the time of demand upon the executor against the goods and estate of the testatrix, in the hands of the defendant. '