Cunningham v. Cunningham

"A clear duty of the guardian, defined by statute, is to loan the moneys of the ward, and, in making loans, to require bond and mortgage, or good personal security. * * * When, on the credit of the borrower alone, whether an individual, or a partnership, or a corporation," he hazards the money of the ward, he departs from the line of his authority and duty, and becomes an insurer against loss to the ward. Whatever be the credit or solvency of the borrower, the guardian is absolutely liable for a loan without security — "liable, because the loan is a breach of trust, a violation of duty." Code, § 8149; Lee v. Lee, 55 Ala. 590; May v. Duke, 61 Ala. 53; Lee v. Lee,67 Ala. 406; McGowan v. Milner, 195 Ala. 44, 70 So. 175; Leach v. Gray, 201 Ala. 47, 77 So. 341, 7 A.L.R. 890.

It is without dispute that the guardians loaned the ward's money to the corporation of which they were the managing officers and stockholders on the demand note of the corporation, without security; that the accruing interest from year to year was not paid, but credited to the guardian's account on the books of the corporation, and that cash dividends on the ward's stock were retained by the corporation as loans on open account, credited in like manner; that this continued until the bankruptcy of the corporation ensued in 1924, resulting in a loss to the ward's estate. However free from any purpose to cause ultimate loss to the ward, this action of the guardian was in law a devastavit. He must be held to the same accountability as if he had personally made use of the funds. Cases, supra; also, Brewer v. Ernest, 81 Ala. 435, 441,2 So. 84.

No commissions can be allowed on the funds thus converted or invested in breach of trust as defined by positive law. McGowan v. Milner, 195 Ala. 44, 70 So. 175; Leach v. Gray, 201 Ala. 47,77 So. 341, 7 A.L.R. 890; Ramsey v. McMillan, 214 Ala. 185,106 So. 848.

Compound interest at 8 per cent. per annum must be charged. In lending money to a corporation of which the guardian is the managing officer, and interested as a stockholder, the guardian of necessity is representing opposing interests. Making such loan without security, outside the law and in breach of trust, he must, as above stated, and as often declared, be regarded in the same position as if he had appropriated the money to his own use. While a severe rule, perhaps, it is sanctioned by experience and could not be relaxed without exposing the helpless to the risk of losses which the law has expressly declared shall not be incurred. McGowan v. Milner, 195 Ala. 44,70 So. 175.

The partial settlement of 1925 is presumed to be correct, but subject to re-examination on final settlement, and, it found incorrect, is to be corrected. Code, § 8206. The rulings in partial settlement are not subject to review by appeal, but are reviewable after final settlement when re-examined on such settlement. Code, § 6115, subd. 5.

The letter from the judge of probate approving the loan of the ward's funds to Cunningham Hardware Company on its demand note can furnish the guardian no protection. No authority was vested in the court or judge to authorize or ratify a loan in violation of law. The guardians were chargeable with knowledge of such want of power. In re Bates, 70 Okl. 321, 174 P. 743; Fidelity Deposit Co. v. Freud, 115 Md. 29, 80 A. 603; American Surety Co. v. Sperry, 171 Ill. App. 56.

Under the undisputed evidence the court erred on partial settlement in crediting the guardian with $7,685.37, loss on the funds loaned to and in the hands of Cunningham Hardware Company, thus reducing the debt to $2,722.57, the dividend of 26 per cent. obtained through bankruptcy and in refusing to surcharge this item on final settlement. There was also error in the interest charges and commissions allowed. The attorney's fee should also be reduced to $250 as per agreement upon the contingencies stipulated,

We take a different view upon the motion to charge the guardian with the par value of the capital stock owned by the ward in Cunningham Hardware Company. The contention of the appellant in this regard proceeds upon the theory that the stock was a hazardous investment, and it was the general duty of the guardian in conserving the trust estate to sell it for reinvestment. This stock came to Edward L. Cunningham, the ward, as an investment by his father. The guardian, Charles A. Cunningham, a brother of his ward, also inherited stock and held it until bankruptcy intervened. It was essentially a family enterprise, an estate left in the form of a going business, organized as a corporation. Most of the stock was owned by the family. While the fortunes of business fluctuated from year to year, sometimes dividends accrued and sometimes not, and the guardian as president of the company knew its condition. The evidence fails to show a market value for the stock at any time — does not undertake to fix a time when it should have been sold. Bankruptcy, according to the evidence, was not anticipated until an involuntary petition was filed.

Want of good faith and reasonable diligence on the part of the guardian in retaining the stock as invested, rather than hazard the chances of a sale for reinvestment, is not to be presumed without evidence. The ruling of the court on partial settlement has the presumption of correctness on this issue. Ashley v. Martin, 50 Ala. 537; Bentley v. Dailey, 87 Ala. 406,6 So. 274; Thompson v. Thompson, 92 Ala. 545, 9 So. 465. Different principles govern this issue from those above applied to an unlawful loan of trust funds.

The decree is reversed and the cause remanded for restatement of the account in keeping with this decision.

Reversed and remanded.

ANDERSON, C. J., and SOMERVILLE and THOMAS, JJ., concur.