{ "id": 8630185, "name": "ETHEL M. CAIN MOFFITT, General Guardian of HETTIE M. CAIN; MINNIE F. CAIN and GRACE CAIN BRITT, Minors; and SELMA CAIN REGAN, RUTH CAIN CALLINGER, H. T. CAIN, L. J. CAIN and E. W. CAIN, v. IRENE DAVIS, COUNTY OF BLADEN, and H. C. BRIDGER, Jr., E. N. DAVIS and D. M. SHAW", "name_abbreviation": "Cain Moffitt v. Davis", "decision_date": "1934-01-10", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "565", "last_page": "570", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "205 N.C. 565" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "203 N. C., 291", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8608945 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/203/0291-01" ] }, { "cite": "201 N. C., 577", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626992 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/201/0577-01" ] }, { "cite": "177 N. C., 404", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8654601 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/177/0404-01" ] }, { "cite": "75 N. C., 347", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8695564 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/75/0347-01" ] }, { "cite": "190 N. C., 250", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8600100 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/190/0250-01" ] }, { "cite": "188 N. C., 52", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653221 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/188/0052-01" ] }, { "cite": "173 N. C., 167", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11269330 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/173/0167-01" ] }, { "cite": "171 N. C., 551", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271410 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/171/0551-01" ] }, { "cite": "152 N. C., 445", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271753 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/152/0445-01" ] }, { "cite": "169 N. C., 551", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8660277 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/169/0551-01" ] }, { "cite": "97 N. C, 155", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8649624 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/97/0155-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 714, "char_count": 14811, "ocr_confidence": 0.468, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.1534982941155409e-07, "percentile": 0.768761421997962 }, "sha256": "0085893e7678214ca86d4b49523287a2650c4fa251a4f8ee4dfda12dcf62137d", "simhash": "1:b8df62bc241ca7ee", "word_count": 2604 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:12:31.066060+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "ETHEL M. CAIN MOFFITT, General Guardian of HETTIE M. CAIN; MINNIE F. CAIN and GRACE CAIN BRITT, Minors; and SELMA CAIN REGAN, RUTH CAIN CALLINGER, H. T. CAIN, L. J. CAIN and E. W. CAIN, v. IRENE DAVIS, COUNTY OF BLADEN, and H. C. BRIDGER, Jr., E. N. DAVIS and D. M. SHAW." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "ClaeksoN, J.\nTbe only exception and assignment of error is to tbe judgment as signed by tbe court below. Tbe defendant, Irene Davis contends that tbe personal judgment against her should be modified. In this we think she is correct. Tbe record discloses that Irene Davis was tbe devisee under tbe last will and testament of W. J. Davis, clerk of tbe Superior Court of Eladen County, N. 0.\nTbe plaintiffs in their complaint say: \u201cTbe judgment against Irene Davis, tbe devisee under tbe last will and testament of W. J. Davis, should be declared by tbe court to be a specific and prior lien against said property according to law,\u201d etc. And in their prayer for judgment: \u201cThat in event tbe funds derived from a sale of tbe property included in said deed of trust fails to pay and satisfy any judgment rendered herein against her, then tbe said judgment to be declared by tbe court to be a specific and prior lien against any other property that may have been owned by W. J. Davis, at tbe time of bis death.\u201d We think tbe judgment should be modified in accordance with tbe complaint and tbe prayer of plaintiffs.\nIn Andres v. Powell, 97 N. C, 155 (160), we find: \u201cSection 1528 (C. S., 59), enacts, that \u2018all persons succeeding to tbe real or personal property of a decedent, by inheritance, devise, bequest, or distribution, shall be liable jointly and not separately, for tbe debts of such decedent.\u2019 And section 1529 (C. S., 60), provides, that hm person shall be liable under tbe preceding section, beyond tbe value of tbe property so acquired by him, or for any part of a debt that might by action or other due proceeding have been collected from tbe executor, administrator, or collector of tbe decedent, and it is incumbent on tbe creditor to show tbe matters herein required, to render such person liable.\u2019 All these acts are intended to limit tbe liability of executors, administrators, next of kin and heirs of decedents, and after reasonable time, to give quiet and repose to tbe estates of dead men.\u201d\nTbe defendants further contend: \u201cAccepting tbe findings of tbe referee to be true, as we must do, and as tbe court has done and adopted as a part of tbe judgment, are defendants, Bridger, Shaw and Davis liable?\u201d We think so.\nIt is alleged in tbe complaint: \u201cThat as tbe plaintiffs are advised, informed and believe, tbe defendants H. C. Bridger, Jr., E. N. Davis, and C. M. Shaw, while acting as county commissioners of said county during tbe years of 1926, 1927, and 1928, failed and neglected to perform tbe duties of their office as required by law, in that \u2014 (a) They failed and neglected to lawfully induct into office on the first Monday in December, 1926, the clerk of the Superior Court of Bladen County, in that they did not require or receive a bond from said clerk as required by law.\u201d The referee finds: \u201cIt is admitted that W. J. Davis had no bond from the time he was inducted into office in 1926.\u201d\nIt was the duty of the county commissioners: C. S., 1297 (12) \u2014 \u201cTo approve bonds of county officers and induct into office. To qualify and induct into office at the meeting of the board, on the first Monday in the month next succeeding their election or appointment, the following named county officers, to wit: clerk of the Superior Court, sheriff, coroner, treasurer, register of deeds, surveyor, and constable; and to take and approve the official bonds of such officers, which the board shall cause to be registered in the office of the register of deeds. The original bonds shall be deposited with the clerk of the Superior Court, except the bond of the said clerk, which shall be deposited with the register of deeds, for safe keeping,\u201d etc.\nIn Hipp v. Farrell, 169 N. C., 551, the liability of a public officer is thus stated, at p. 554-5 : \u201cIt is recognized in this State, supported, we think, by the weight of well considered authority in other jurisdictions, that one who holds a public office, administrative in character, and in reference to an act clearly ministerial, may be held individually liable, in a civil action, to one who has received special injuries in consequence of his failure to perform or negligence in the performance of his official duty. . . . Upon the question thus presented it must at once be conceded that there is a conflict in authority, but the very decided trend of modern decision is to hold such officers liable for acts of nonfeasance, or for the negligent performance of a duty when the duty is plain, when the means and ability to perform it are shown, and when its performance or nonperformance, or the manner of its performance involves no question of discretion. In short, where the duty is plain and certain, if it be negligently performed, or not performed at all, the officer is liable at the suit of a private individual especially injured thereby, Shearman and Redfield on Negligence (3d ed.), sec. 156, thus state the rule: \u2018The liability of a public officer to an individual for his negligent acts or omissions in the discharge of an official duty depends altogether upon the nature of the duty to which the neglect is alleged. Where his duty is absolute, certain, and imperative, involving merely the execution of a set task \u2014 in other words, is simply ministerial \u2014 he is liable in damages to any one especially injured, either by his omitting to perform the task, or by performing it negligently or unskillfully. On the other hand, where his powers are discretionary, to be exerted or withheld according to his own judgment as to what is necessary or proper, be is not liable to any private person for neglect to exercise those powers, nor for tbe consequence of a lawful exercise of them where no corruption or malice can be imputed, and he keeps within the scope of his authority.\u2019 \u201d See Hudson v. McArthur, 152 N. C., 445, and dissenting opinion by Brown, J., concurred in by Walker, J.\nIn Fore v. Feimster, 171 N. C., 551 (554), we find: \u201cIn some cases the members of the' board are made indictable; in others penalties are imposed. In certain specified instances, and particularly in cases of taking official bonds of sheriffs and tax collectors, the commissioners are expressly made individually liable as sureties where they knowingly take such a bond that is inadequate or inefficient, Revisal, secs. 313 (C. S., 335), and 2914; and under penalty of forfeiting his office, their clerk is required to keep a record of the vote on official bonds so that evidence may be available as to how each member of the board has voted on these questions.\u201d Hipp v. Farrell, 173 N. C., 167; Brown v. R. R., 188 N. C., 52; Noland v. Trustees, 190 N. C., 250.\nIn the Fore case, supra, the violation of the particular act is made a misdemeanor. In the Noland case, supra (p. 254-5), is the following: \u201cTrue, in a number of cases, notably Hipp v. Farrell, 169 N. C., 551, S. c., 173 N. C., 167, it was said, in substance, that one who holds a public office, administrative in character, and in reference to an act clearly ministerial, may be held individually liable in a civil action, to the extent of any special damages sustained by reason of his failure to perform his official duties; and in Holt v. McLean, 75 N. C., 347, there is a dictum to the effect that, under such conditions, he may also be liable criminally to the. public. But these decisions were made in reference to other statutes, and they are not controlling here. The fact that the General Assembly has imposed personal liability in some cases and failed to do so in others is equivalent to a legislative declaration that, in the latter instances, individual liability is not to attach. Ex-pressio unius est exclusio alterius. Fore v. Feimster, 171 N. C., p. 555, and cases there cited.\u201d\nC. S., 335, is as follows: \u201cEvery commissioner who approves an official bond, which he knows to be, or which by reasonable diligence he could have discovered to have been, insufficient in the penal sum, or in the security thereof, shall be liable as if he were a surety thereto, and may be sued accordingly by any person having a cause of action on said bond.\u201d\nC. S., 1297(12), above set forth is mandatory on the county commissioners. An imperative, unmistakable duty is imposed and there is no penalty or crime attached for the nonperformance of this clear ministerial duty in the act under consideration. C. S., 325, provides a penalty for officers acting without bond. C. S., 326, provides for condition and terms of official bonds. O. S., 1302, fixes a penalty on any county commissioner and also mates it a misdemeanor for neglect of duty. C. S., 4384, provides that wilful omissions, neglect or refusal to discharge any duties of his office \u2014 guilty of a misdemeanor and removal from office if wilful and corrupt.\nC. S., 335, supra,, which makes the commissioners liable as surety for taking an insufficient bond, construed in pari materia with C. S., 1297 (12), necessarily takes the present case out of the decisions in the Fore and Noland cases. Public officials entrusted in so important a matter as this mandatory statute, we find from the weight of authority, are held individually liable to any one injured by their wilful failure or neglect of duty. To hold otherwise would put a premium on inefficiency and neglect.\nTroop, Public Officers, section 726, in part, at p. 690, thus states the principle: \u201cBut an officer owes to every individual, the duty of performing his official acts with due care; and he is consequently liable to any individual, who is injured in person or in property by reason of his negligence in performing a ministerial act. Many instances, where actions for such negligence have been sustained, against not only the officer himself, but against the sureties in his official bond, have been given in former chapters of this work.\u201d\nThe defendants made no exception or assignment of error on the report of the referee. The referee found: \u201cThat at the time of the death of Mr. W. J. Davis (20 April, 1928), he was due the estate of L. T. Cain the sum of $2,133.33 and not $1,132.83 (the amount turned over to Newton Robinson by his widow). The estate then is entitled to the difference between $2,133.33 and $1,132.83, which is the sum of $1,000.50, and it is found that the estate is due the interest upon the sum of $1,000.50 from 23 July, 1928, until paid.\u201d\nIt is too late now for defendants to complain. In Mfg. Co. v. Lumber Co., 177 N. C., 404 (407), citing numerous authorities, it is said: \u201cAs to the referee\u2019s findings of fact, there was evidence to support them, and they were fully considered and approved by the judge. When this is the case, we do not review them here.\u201d Abbitt v. Gregory, 201 N. C., 577 (596) ; Thigpen v. Trust Co., 203 N. C., 291. For the reasons given, the judgment of the court below is\nModified and affirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "ClaeksoN, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "P. B. Hines and H. L. Williamson for plaintiffs.", "H. H. Clarlc for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "ETHEL M. CAIN MOFFITT, General Guardian of HETTIE M. CAIN; MINNIE F. CAIN and GRACE CAIN BRITT, Minors; and SELMA CAIN REGAN, RUTH CAIN CALLINGER, H. T. CAIN, L. J. CAIN and E. W. CAIN, v. IRENE DAVIS, COUNTY OF BLADEN, and H. C. BRIDGER, Jr., E. N. DAVIS and D. M. SHAW.\n(Filed 10 January, 1934.)\n1. Wills F i \u2014 Devisee may be held liable only to extent of pi\u2019operty devised.\nIn an action against a devisee under the will of a former clerk of the Superior Court and others to recover for the clerk\u2019s shortage in accounting for the funds of an estate, judgment may be rendered against the devisee only to the extent of the property passing under the clerk\u2019s will, and personal judgment against the devisee is error. C. S., 60.\na. Public Officers C d \u2014 County commissioners may be held liable for failure to perform ministerial duty of requiring bond of clerk.\nThere is no penalty or crime prescribed by C. S., 1297(12), for failure of county commissioners to perform the ministerial duty therein imposed upon them of qualifying and inducting into office certain county officers and approving the bonds of such officers, but C. S., 335, makes them liable as sureties on bonds which they approve with knowledge, actual or implied, that they are insufficient in penal sum or security, and construing the statutes together it is held, that the county commissioners may be held individually liable by a person sustaining loss by reason of their failure to perform their ministerial duty of requiring bond of a clerk of the Superior Court.\n3. Appeal and Error J c\u2014\nFindings of fact by a referee, supported by evidence and approved by the trial court, are conclusive on appeal.\nAppeal by defendants from Sinclair, J., at August Term, 1933, of BlabeN.\nModified and affirmed.\nThe judgment of the court below is as follows: \u201cThis cause coming on to be heard before his Honor, N. A. Sinclair, judge presiding at the August Term, 1933, of Superior Court of Bladen County, and it appearing to the court that at the April Term, 1933, of the Superior Court of Bladen County, on motion of H. H. Clark, attorney for the defendants, for a reference of this action, that the same was referred to R. J. Hester, attorney, who filed his said report in this court; and it further appearing to the court that no exceptions were filed to said report either by the defendants or plaintiffs; and a jury trial having been waived and the questions of facts involved submitted to the court for adjudication, together with the referee\u2019s report, and motion being made by attorneys for plaintiffs for adoption of said referee\u2019s report as the judgment of this court, said report adjuding that the plaintiffs were entitled to recover of the defendants the sum of $1,000.50 and interest thereon from 23 July, 1928, until paid. It is therefore, on motion of P. R. Hines and H. L. Williamson, attorneys for plaintiffs, ordered, adjudged and decreed by the court that the report filed by said referee to this action be and the same is hereby adopted as the judgment of this court, and that the plaintiffs recover of the defendants, Irene Davis, H. C. Bridger, Jr., E. N. Davis and D. M. Shaw, or either of them, the sum of $1,000.50 with interest thereon from 23 July, 1928, until paid, and that the costs of this action, including allowance to referee, be taxed against the defendants. It appearing to the court that plaintiffs, through their counsel, made a motion as of nonsuit as to the defendant, county of Bladen, it is further ordered and adjudged that a judgment of nonsuit be entered in this action as to the county of Bladen. It is further adjudged that the referee be allowed the sum of $100.00 in full for his services. It is further adjudged that the attorneys for the plaintiffs be allowed for their services in this action the sum of $350.00 jointly.\u201d\nThe exceptions and assignments of error and necessary facts will be considered in the opinion.\nP. B. Hines and H. L. Williamson for plaintiffs.\nH. H. Clarlc for defendant." }, "file_name": "0565-01", "first_page_order": 629, "last_page_order": 634 }