In re Succession of Geisler

The opinion of the Court was delivered by Fenner, J. Opponent in this case, as natural tutor of his minor, child, claims $1000 from the insolvent succession of the deceased grandmother of the child, under the provisions of article 18252 of the Eevised Code. That article confers upon “ the widow or minor children of a deceased person, left in necessitous circumstances,” no other riglit whatever except the right “ to demand and receive from the succession of their deceased father or husband a sum which, added to the amount of property owned by them, or either of them, of their own right, will make up the sum of $1000, which said amount shall be paid in preference to all other debts, except those for the vendor’s privilege, and expenses incurred in selling the property.”. The meaning'of the article, so far as it designates the succession against which the demand may be made, is as clear as language can make it. To translate a vigorous French expression, it “jumps to the eye.” It is “ from the succession of their deceased father or husband.” The minors would have no more right to claim the amount from. the succession of their deceased mother than from the succession of their deceased aunt. Yet here we have a minor child, whose father is living, claiming this bounty from the succession of the mother of his mother. The motive of the law is equally transparent. It is to save the widow or minors from absolute destitution upon the loss, by death, of their natural supporter and protector. We admit that, upon the death of a widowed mother, the reason of the law would equally apply to her minor children dependent on her for support; but, even in that case, the [1290] language of the law is too clear to permit their claim against her succession. The case at bar, however, is in no respect within either the letter or spirit of the law. We take it for granted the learned judge a quo considered himself precluded from opening this question by the decision of this Court in the case of the Succession of Ooleman, 27 An. 289. That decision is without foundation in law or reason, and presents no ground for the application of stare decisis. We, therefore, overrule it. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed that the judgment appealed from be annulled, avoided and reversed, and that the opposition of Laurence Rombach, natural tutor of his minor child, George Emile, be overruled and dismissed, opponent paying costs in both courts.