Hale v. Cummings

GOLDTHWAITE, J. The matter to be determined from this record is, whether an administrator can plead the insolvency of the estate committed to his charge, in abatement of a suit commenced by capias in the lifetime of the intestate, in which an attachment also was sued out as an auxilliary process, and levied on real and personal estate. We state the question in this manner, to avoid complexity, for it is apparent that the only effect of the replication, is to place the fact of the levy upon the record. The 33d section of the act of 1806, Aik. Dig. 151, § 2, provides, among other matters, as follows: And to the end that the executor or administrator, may have an opportunity to ascertain the situation of the estate of the testator or intestate, no suit or action shall be commenced or sustained against such executor or administrator, in such capacity, till after the expiration of six months from the time of proving the will of the testator, or of granting letters of administration on the estate of the deceased. Nor shall any suit or action be commenced, or sustained against him, after the estate of the testator or intestate is represented insolvent; excepting however, in all cases, actions for debts due for the deceased’s last sickness and funeral expenses: excepting also, that if the executor or admin [400] istrator, having objections to the claim on which any action (other than these last mentioned) maybe brought, shall consent to have such claim settled by action at law, — in such case, the judgment shall determine the debt, and. be reported by the commissioners as such. It is proper tp remark, that an antecedent part of the same statute provides for a pro rata distribution of the proceeds of an insolvent estate among ail its creditors, but-giving a preference to'debts due for the last sickness, and for funeral expenses. ' It is very clear, that this enactment does not contemplate any cases, in which suits can be maintained after .an estate is represented insolvent, except those which are specified, and therefore, we conclude there is no difference between those suits prosecuted by attachment, and those commenced in the ordinary mode. , But the plaintiffs insist that they fyave acquired positive rights by the levy, which would have been recognised if the intestate was living, and therefore opght to be-enforced notwithstanding his death.' To this, we answer, that it is much more probable that the attachment laws were intended to prevent the debtor from eloigning his estate, than for the purpose of giving any creditor a preference; but whatever may be the object of such enactments, it is very certain the statutes now in force on this sub-jéct, do not repeal the act which has been quoted. But independent of this, we think the assumption of the plaintiff, is based upon a mistaken conception of- the effect of the lien of an attachment; it is inchoate and imperfect, until a judgment is rendered, for it is that alone which determines the claim on which the attachment rests to be just. If he fails to establish his claim, the inchoate lien is entirely gone, and there is no difference between such a case and this, because the statute has, in effect, declared that it is unjust for one creditor to absorb the whole estate when that is insolvent. It is because the law declares that no suit shall be sustained after the estate is represented insolvent, that the lien is gone. ■ Let the judgment be reversed, and the cause remanded.