{ "id": 1562276, "name": "In re WARD'S ESTATE. FRASER v. WARD et al.", "name_abbreviation": "Fraser v. Ward", "decision_date": "1943-01-13", "docket_number": "No. 4738", "first_page": "55", "last_page": "58", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "47 N.M. 55" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "134 P.2d 539" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M.", "id": 8835, "name": "Supreme Court of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "257 S.W. 815", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "215 Mo.App. 531", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo. App.", "case_ids": [ 1825770 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mo-app/215/0531-01" ] }, { "cite": "16 L.R.A.,N.S, 431", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.N.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "68 A. 860", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "103 Me. 224", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Me.", "case_ids": [ 8844574 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/me/103/0224-01" ] }, { "cite": "6 L.R.A.,N.S, 855", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.N.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "108 N.W. 382", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "144 Mich. 395", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mich.", "case_ids": [ 1500443 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mich/144/0395-01" ] }, { "cite": "78 S.W. 1047", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "105 Mo.App. 672", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo. App.", "case_ids": [ 1540850 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mo-app/105/0672-01" ] }, { "cite": "188 Ill.App. 431", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App.", "case_ids": [ 5389893 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app/188/0431-01" ] }, { "cite": "125 U.S. 339", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 3528383 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/125/0339-01" ] }, { "cite": "10 Pet. 532", "category": "reporters:scotus_early", "reporter": "Pet.", "case_ids": [ 5616332 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/35/0532-01" ] }, { "cite": "8 Wheat. 174", "category": "reporters:scotus_early", "reporter": "Wheat.", "case_ids": [ 6136577 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/21/0076-01" ] }, { "cite": "38 Am.Rep. 441", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "Am. 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App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2270926 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/cal-app-2d/14/0271-01" ] }, { "cite": "73 P.2d 892", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "23 Cal.App.2d 528", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4520132 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/cal-app-2d/23/0528-01" ] }, { "cite": "114 P.2d 586", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "18 Cal.2d 184", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2185771 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/cal-2d/18/0184-01" ] }, { "cite": "120 P.2d 177", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "48 Cal.App.2d 622", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4635480 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/cal-app-2d/48/0622-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 520, "char_count": 7922, "ocr_confidence": 0.745, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.80306736984919e-07, "percentile": 0.7167080011228454 }, "sha256": "277b150fac6aef86016614c3fb107504776dfb5cddafd5fe20b329cfeb1e0a1a", "simhash": "1:d1a763d0162d946f", "word_count": 1353 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:28:58.781619+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "SADLER, MABRY, and BICKLEY; JJ, concur.", "ZINN, C. J, not participating." ], "parties": [ "In re WARD\u2019S ESTATE. FRASER v. WARD et al." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "BRICE, Justice.\nThe probate proceeding in which appellant\u2019s claim was filed originated in the district court by virtue of \u00a7 16-312, N.M.Sts. 1941, which is as follows: \u201cIn addition to their existing jurisdiction the district courts of this state shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the probate courts in each county within their respective districts as to all matters heretofore within the exclusive jurisdiction of said probate courts.\u201d\nThe appellant filed therein a claim against the estate of James D. Ward, deceased, and Sadie Ward (the administratrix) individually, asserting that the deceased employed him to sell deceased\u2019s ranch properties consisting of real property, live stock and ranch equipment, for the sum of $35,000; and that deceased\u2019s estate and Sadie Ward, his widow, were indebted, to him in the sum of $2,000 for his services in securing a purchaser for said property.\nThe question is whether the appellant is entitled to a broker\u2019s commission because of the sale made by the heirs and the administratrix of the estate of his principal.\nThe substance of the facts found by the court, necessary to a decision, are as follows :\nThe property in question was listed with the appellant for sale at a price of $32,000, in January, 1940. Ward agreed to pay appellant a commission of $2,000 if he furnished a purchaser who would pay that price. Thereafter, on June 18, 1940, the owner Ward raised the price at which appellant was authorized to sell said property to $40,000 net to the owner. In August, 1941, John F. Callioux made inquiry of one Porterfield as to the latter\u2019s knowledge of the property. Porterfield advised him that he would secure information regarding it, and for that purpose contacted appellant and secured from him a mimeographed prospectus containing facts regarding the property and the name, address and telephone number of the owner Ward. This prospectus had been furnished to appellant to assist him in making a sale. The owner Ward died on the 11th of September thereafter, and a few days later Callioux was informed of that fact when he attempted to contact Ward in Amarillo.\nIn October, 1941, Callioux purchased the property from the heirs and the administratrix Sadie Ward for $35,000. At the time the sale was made Mrs. Ward knew nothing of the listing of the property with appellant or of any agreement to pay a commission to him if a sale was made. Mrs. Ward owned as her separate estate 250 head of the cows sold to Callioux in addition to her community interest in the remainder of the property. \u25a0\nFrom these facts the trial court concluded that the district court had no power or jurisdiction to determine in this action the individual liability of Sadie Ward, and that the agency of claimant was revoked by the death of Ward before any liability was incurred by him.\nThe district court was without jurisdiction to determine the individual liability of Mrs. Ward for a commission. Its original jurisdiction in probate matters is statutory (\u00a7 16-312, N.M.Sts.1941, supra) and is limited to those powers conferred upon probate courts by \u00a7 16-410, N.M.Sts. 1941, which is as follows: \u201cThe probate courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in all the following cases, to wit: The probate of last wills and testaments, the granting of letters testamentary and of administration and the repealing or the revocation of the same, the appointment and removal of administrators, the appointment and removal of guardians of minors, the settlement and allowance of accounts of executors, administrators and guardians, the hearing and determination of all controversies respecting wills, the rights of executorship, administration and guardianship, the hearing and determination of all controversies respecting the duties, accounts and settlements of executors, administrators -and guardians, the determination of heirship. * * * \u201d\nThe superior courts of California have jurisdiction in probate matters. The courts of that state have held that a superior court sitting as a court of probate cannot exercise general civil jurisdiction. Gunn v. Giraudo, 48 Cal.App.2d 622, 120 P.2d 177; In re Marre\u2019s Estate, 18 Cal.2d 184, 114 P.2d 586; Fisher v. Superior Court, 23 Cal.App.2d 528, 73 P.2d 892; In re McLellan\u2019s Estate, 14 Cal.App.2d 271, 57 P.2d 1338; Texas Co. v. Bank of America, 5 Cal.2d 35, 53 P.2d 127. Also, see, Ashbaugh v. Sinclair, 300 Mich. 673, 2 N.W.2d 810; In re Quinney\u2019s Estate, 287 Mich. 329, 283 N.W. 599; Palmer v. Reeves, 120 Conn. 405, 182 A. 138; In re Meredith\u2019s Estate, 275 Mich. 278, 266 N.W. 351, 104 A.L.R. 348.\nThe trial court did not err in holding that it had no jurisdiction to adjudicate in the probate proceedings the claim against Mrs. Ward as an individual.\nThat the death of Ward revoked appellant\u2019s power to sell the property, is well settled. Unless he had earned his commission before Ward\u2019s death he is without remedy.\nThe case of Trickey v. Crowe, 8 Ariz. 176, 71 P. 965, is an almost identical case. The broker had secured for his client an option to purchase certain mining property and a deed was placed in escrow, to be delivered upon payment of the purchase price. If the sale was effected the owners agreed to pay the broker a commission. During the life of the option the owners of the property died. Thereafter the option lapsed and the deed was delivered to the administrators of the estate. The administrators and heirs sold the property at the same price, although on different terms, to the person who had held the option. The Supreme Court of the Territory of Arizona held that as no binding contract had been made, and no purchaser furnished during the lifetime of the owners who was ready, able and willing to buy the property at the price and upon the terms specified, that notwithstanding the subsequent sale of the property at the same price to the same person by the administrators and heirs, that no commission could be recovered because the agency had been revoked by the death of the owner. This case, was appealed to and affirmed by, the Supreme Court of the United States (204 U.S. 228, 27 S.Ct. 275, 51 L.Ed. 454), and that court stated that the deaths of Chapin and Neville (the owners) terminated the authority of Crowe to sell on commission; as the power to sell was not coupled with an interest in the property on which the power was to operate. To support its conclusion the Supreme Court cited McGavock v. Woodlief, 20 How. 221, 15 L.Ed. 884, and Sibbald v. Bethlehem Iron Co., 83 N.Y. 378, 38 Am.Rep. 441.\nAlso see Hunt v. Rousmanier\u2019s Adm\u2019rs, 8 Wheat. 174, 5 L.Ed. 589; Peter\u2019s Ex\u2019r et al. v. Beverly et al., 10 Pet. 532, 9 L.Ed. 522; State of Missouri v. Walker, 125 U.S. 339, 8 S.Ct. 929, 31 L.Ed. 769; Martin & Son v. Lamkin, 188 Ill.App. 431; Kyle v. Gaff et al., 105 Mo.App. 672, 78 S.W. 1047; Weaver v. Richards, 144 Mich. 395, 108 N.W. 382, 6 L.R.A.,N.S, 855; Hartford v. McGillicuddy, 103 Me. 224, 68 A. 860, 16 L.R.A.,N.S, 431, 12 Ann.Cas. 1083; Swearingen v. Moore, 215 Mo.App. 531, 257 S.W. 815.\nAs the appellant was not the agent of the administratrix and heirs, and his agency for the sale of the property having been revoked by the death of Ward prior to any sale or the furnishing of a client ready, able and willing to purchase upon the terms authorized by the contract, and his power to sell not being coupled with an interest, it follows that the appellant is not entitled to a commission for the sale of the property by the heirs and administratrix. The judgment of the district court should be affirmed, and it is so ordered.\nSADLER, MABRY, and BICKLEY; JJ, concur.\nZINN, C. J, not participating.", "type": "majority", "author": "BRICE, Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Frank Faircloth, of Santa Rosa, for appellant.", "Joseph T. Cole, Jr., of Santa Rosa, and Sanders & Scott,' of Amarillo, Tex., for appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "134 P.2d 539\nIn re WARD\u2019S ESTATE. FRASER v. WARD et al.\nNo. 4738.\nSupreme Court of New Mexico.\nJan. 13, 1943.\nRehearing Denied. March 18, 1943.\nFrank Faircloth, of Santa Rosa, for appellant.\nJoseph T. Cole, Jr., of Santa Rosa, and Sanders & Scott,' of Amarillo, Tex., for appellees." }, "file_name": "0055-01", "first_page_order": 79, "last_page_order": 82 }