McEldery v. McKenzie

By Mr. Justice Hitchcock. Murdoch M. • McKenzie brought an action of as-sumpsit, in the Circuit Court of Morgan county, against Thomas McEldery and Reuben Chapman, executors of William S. Goodhue, and declared against them for work and labor done by him for them as executors of said estate, at their instance and request, in and about the settlement of the estate of the said Goodhue. The declaration avers a liability, and super se assump-sit, in the common form. McEldery pleaded in short, “ non-assumpsit, and set-off,” to which there was a replication and issue, in short. The cause was tried at March term, 1833, and a verdict was had in favor of the plaintiff against both defendants, for the sum of eighty-eight dollars and fifty-five cents, and a judgment de bonis testatoris was rendered thereon. No notice appears to have been taken of the failure of Chapman to plead. At the trial, two bills of exceptions were taken to the opinion of the Court. In the first, and only one which it will be necessary for the Court to notice, it is stated, that “itwas proved that the work and labor done, and which is sued for, was done at the request of the executors, as set forth in an account which is made part of the bill of exceptions, and which appears to be principally for posting up the books of the testator : upon which evidence the Court charged the jury, that if they believed that the work done was such as was beneficial to the estate, that, in that case, it was char [36] geable to them in their representative capacity of ex©' eutois, and not to them as individuals; and that such ■ evidence did sustain the action against them in their representative capacity.” The case appears to have been treated by the plaintiffs, and the Court below, as a suit against them as-executors, and the charge of the Court directly involves the question, whether an executor or administrator, by virtue of their general powers as such, can make any contract in their representative' character, which at law, will bind the estate, and authorise a judgment de bonis iesiatoris. This Court, in the case of Greening vs. Sheffield,a at December term, 1824, where the defendant had given his note as executor, and was sued- in his representative capacity, decided, “ that in a court of law, the estate could not be charged in such a contract”— that Greening*, the defendant, though liable in an action properly brought against him in his individual character, could not be made liable in the action against him as executor. This decision is decisive-of this case : for if an executor cannot give a note to-bind the estate, he cannot make any other contract in law to bind it. The limitation which the Court, in this case, has jolaced upon the plaintiffs’ right, “ 'that he should show that the work was beneficial to the estate,” cannot affect the case. • It is a very proper inquiry, as between the executor and the County Court, when the executor presents his accounts for final settlement. But to say that the plaintiffs’ right to recover for work and labor faithfully performed, shall depend upon the benefit which the estate shall have derived from that labor, would be establishing a new principle in the law of contracts, not heretofore known. If the executor is able to contract and bind the [37] estate, the evidence of such contract and performance of the stipulations under it, by the plaintiff, would entitle him to recover. If he is not able to contract, except under the above restriction, then it would seem to follow, that he cannot contract at all. That an * executor or administrator can, at his discretion, em- , ploy workmen, make contracts, give notes and bonds, i ad libitum, and bind the estate, and where there are * more than one, bind all in that capacity, is a princi- * pie that seems only necessary to be stated, to be re- * jected. That an executor or administrator may con- > tract for all necessary matters relating to an estate, j cannot be doubted, but that he does so on his person- , al responsibility ; and the action to recover on such I contract, at law, must be against him individually, isff equally clear. That there are cases in which a court of equity would charge the estate, there can be no doubt; but where the executor is living, liable to be sued, and for aught that appears, able to pay, the remedy is against him individually. In this case, the action is against both executors : only one has pleaded. The evidence is, that the work was done at the instance of one, and which one does not appear; and the judgment is against both, and the estate is charged. So much error, in so short a case, does not commonly occur. The judgment must be reversed; and as the action is misconceived, the case cannot be remanded. Footnotes [a] Ala.Rep.276.