Opinion
April, 1904.
Nathan P. Bushnell, for the appellant.
Cornelius B. Palmer, for the respondent.
An administratrix appeals from a judgment resulting from a reference of a disputed claim under section 2718 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The plaintiff has recovered for the use and occupancy of a house, for funeral expenses and for money advanced to the intestate.
I think that the evidence does not warrant a recovery for the use and occupation. As the plaintiff does not contend that, during the lifetime of the intestate he ever made claim for rent, his claim must be "carefully scrutinized and admitted only upon very satisfactory proof." ( Kearney v. McKeon, 85 N.Y. 136; Matter of Van Slooten v. Wheeler, 140 id. 624; Porter v. Rhoades, 48 App. Div. 635.)
The plaintiff must show either that the conventional relation of landlord and tenant existed, or must prove other circumstances sufficient for the law to imply a contract. ( Lamb v. Lamb, 146 N.Y. 317; Collyer v. Collyer, 113 id. 442.) The plaintiff was the nephew of the intestate. The intestate had leased from Mr. Ripley a house of nine rooms with a barn and outhouses, situated upon four and a half acres of land in a rural community, for sixty dollars a year, and it appears that the plaintiff had made some payments to Ripley on that rent. Thereafter the plaintiff purchased the house, and owned it for a time, and also for a subsequent time controlled it as lessee. After the house passed from the ownership of Ripley, the intestate and his maiden sister occupied it for five years and upwards. The claim is for the rental value of those five years. It appears from the evidence that the intestate was in very moderate circumstances. The plaintiff has not only presented a claim for the rent against the estate, but has also sued his aunt (the administratrix), contending that she, too, is separately liable therefor. As I have said, the plaintiff does not pretend that he ever made any claim upon either his uncle or his aunt for any rent until after the death of the intestate, or that the matter was ever discussed between them. Although he states that he kept books of account wherein he charged every large indebtedness to him, save in the instance of his own brother's debt, he admits that he never made any charge therein for this rent, although he kept a memorandum of what it cost him "to carry that place." The plaintiff's aunt, the joint occupant of this house, against whom the plaintiff now makes a separate demand for this rent, testifies without contradiction that the plaintiff never at any time said anything to her about a rent charge, never asserted any claim therefor, and never demanded any rent from the intestate or from her. The relationship and the relative situation of the nephew, his uncle and his aunt at least afford a reason why the nephew might have permitted such occupancy without charge of rent, while there is evidence of a dispute and disagreement between nephew and aunt subsequent to the death of the testator, which might be the explanation of the nephew's change of heart and for the present presentation of this claim. The fact that the intestate leased from Mr. Ripley the premises which the nephew subsequently acquired is not sufficient under the circumstances to establish that there was a continuance of that relation between nephew and uncle and aunt, especially in view of the fact that the nephew had on occasions paid the rent to Mr. Ripley, apparently on account of his relationship. What proof, beyond the bare fact of this occupancy, is there that establishes that the plaintiff even expected any rent? On the other hand, the proof justifies the conclusion that both the intestate and his sister had no reason to suppose that they were other than tenants by the bounty of their nephew. In Collyer v. Collyer ( supra) EARL, J., says: "But the law will not imply a contract contrary to the intention of the parties."
I think that the judgment for the funeral expenses cannot be upheld. The reference is expressly made pursuant to section 2718 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This statute is limited to claims which existed against the intestate. A claim for funeral expenses is not of this character, inasmuch as it is not strictly regarded as a debt due from the intestate, but rather a charge against his estate. ( Patterson v. Patterson, 59 N.Y. 574.) This charge, then, could not be made the subject of a reference, notwithstanding the consent of the administratrix and her omission to object upon the reference. ( Shorter v. Mackey, 13 App. Div. 20; Matter of Van Slooten v. Dodge, 145 N.Y. 327; Hovey v. Hovey, 46 Hun, 71.)
The checks of the plaintiff and the indorsements thereon, coupled with the writings of the intestate, are, I think, sufficient to sustain the findings of the indebtedness of twenty-seven dollars. But in all other respects the testimony is not sufficient to uphold the judgment.
The judgment should be reversed.
All concurred, except HIRSCHBERG, P.J., dissenting.
Judgment reversed, with costs, and proceedings remitted to the Surrogate's Court for further action.