Lathrop v. Hitchcock

The opinion of the court was delivered by Wilson, J. This is a petition ánd was originally filed in the probate court, praying that a certain order of reference of that court might be revoked and annulled on the alleged ground that the reference is collusive as between the claimant and the administrator on the estate of Jeffrey Barnes, and designed to cut off the rights of the children of William Penn Barnes, who are interested in the estate of the petitionees, intestate. The main question is whether the probate court had jurisdiction of the subject matter of the petition. The proceeding sought to be revoked is founded on section 39 of chapter 48 of the General Statutes, which provides that when there shall be any disputed claim existing between an executor or administrator in behalf of the estate he represents, or a guardian in behalf of his ward and any other person, such disputed claim may, with the consent of the parties in writing, be referred to referees, under an order of the probate court, and the award of. the referees, made in writing and returned to and accepted by the probate court, shall be final between the parties. No question is made but that the claim referred, and the parties to the reference are within the express provisions of the statute. It is obvious that suGh claim cannot be referred without the consent of the parties in writing ; nor does the right to a reference in such case depend upon their will or 'consent merely, but in order to authorize such mode of trial it must, upon the written consent of the parties, be ordered by the probate court. [498] Upon application for such reference the probate court, doubtless, would consider all known reasons both for and against making the order, and the qualifications of the referees. But a subsequent development might show that it would be injurious and even destructive to the interests of one of the parties to allow the reference to proceed to final judgment. It might turn out that the referees were interested in the claim, which was unknown to one or both of the parties at the time the reference was ordered, which would disqualify the referees to act in the premises. For other causes existing at the time or arising subsequent to the order of reference, it might be highly improper to allow the referees to try the case. A case would be as likely to ari.-e in that court as in any other court where fraud was practiced by one of the parties by which the other party was induced to consent to the reference; and cases frequently arise of change of the real parties arising from assignment of interest, but iu neither of the cases named would it be just to allow the reference to proceed. In the .present case it is alleged that the reference is entirely collusive as between the claimant and administrator, and designed to cut off the rights of persons interested in the subject matter referred. It is not important to inquire whether the-allegations of the petition are true or merely imaginary. The true point of inquiry is whether, by the order of reference, the adjudication of the claim is so far surrendered to the parties of record and referees that the consent of the parties is necessary in order to give the probate court further jurisdiction in the premises. '1 he statute under which the reference was ordered, expressly provides that the report of the referees shall be returned to the probate court, and the question whether it would be final between the parties is made to depend upon its acceptance by that court. We think the legislature intended to vest in the probate court such incidental power as would enable it to secure to the parlies an impartial trial in all matters cognizable before such court. A different rule would limit the power of that court in the correction of its proceedings in matters of vital importance to the parties, and subject them and other persons interested iu the settlement of estates to the sacrifice and loss resulting from fraud, collusion, accident or mistake, which it is conceded, common law courts have the power to prevent or remedy. At the time this peti [499] tion was filed in the probate court, the subject matter of the reference was pending before that court, and the claim was within the exclusive jurisdiction of the probate court; and we think it would be the duty of that court, upon proof of collusion or facts which might render further proceedings before the referees fraudulent and injurious as to the rights of any person interested in the elaim referred, or in the estate, to revoke the reference. In Adams v. Adams, 21 Vt. 162, Hall, J., in delivering the opinion of the court says, “ the power of revision of previous proceedings in some former other, has always been considered as incidental to all courts of general jurisdiction, and from the nature and character of the proceedings of the probate court, seem peculiarly necessary to its safe and satisfactory administration of justice.” It is urged by the petitionees that, as the act of reference was the concurrent act,.of the parties and court, the consent of the parties is necessary to justify its revocation. But it is apparent that under such a rule the rights of persons interested in the settlement of estates might depend upon the consent of a person who had unlawfully or by chance obtained the advantage, and not upon the jurisdiction, power and judgment of the probate court. Probate courts iu this state have the exclusive jurisdiction of the settlement of estates, to the same extent, that jurisdiction of matters of contract, or tort, inter vivos, is given to the common law courts. We are not called upon to say what decision the probate court ought to have made upou the merits of the petitiou in this case, nor is it important to consider whether the decision of that court was upon the merits of the petition or upou a question of jurisdiction. The decision of the probate court in this case, denying the relief sought by the petition, was a final dispi si-tion of the matter before that court, and was, in that respect a denial from which an appeal might he taken." Adams v. Adams, 21 Vt. 162. The statute regulating appeals from the probate court, declares that any person interested in any order, sentence, decree or denial of that court, who considers himself injured thereby, may appeal therefrom to the county court. It was not necessary in order to the right of appeal, for the petitioner (o have been a party to the reference ; all the statute required to give him the right of appeal was an interest in the order, sen-. [500] tence, decree or denial of tlie court, and the petitioner feeling himself aggrieved by it, had the right to have the decision reviewed on appeal. The judgment of the county court dismissing the appeal is reversed and the case is remanded to the county court for further proceedings.