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59 Me. 354

Bates v. Avery

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided July 1, 1871

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1871-07-01

On Repokt. Trespass quare clausum, and de bonis, .and waste, set forth in four counts, alleging the trespass on Dec. 2, 1867, and divers other succeeding days. Writ dated Aug. 13, 1868. Plea, general issue and brief statement. 1.

Decided 1871-07-01

Walton, J.

¶1An administrator may recover damages, in an action of trespass, of a person committing waste or trespass on the lands of the deceased, when the estate is insolvent. R. S. c. 66, §20.

¶2But in this case, the defendant denies that there is any evidence that the estate of the deceased is insolvent; he says that the only *356proper evidence of insolvency is the documentary evidence from the probate office.

¶3Such is undoubtedly the law ; but in this case the administrator was allowed to state without objection, that “ the estate was, represented insolvent Aug. 4, 1868and that “ a license from the judge of probate to sell the real estate was issued Aug. 4,(1868;” and the conclusion of the report is, that “ if, upon the foregoing facts and evidence, the action is maintainable, a new trial is to be granted; otherwise a nonsuit is to be entered.”

¶4In this state of the case, it seems to us that, for the purpose of determining whether or not the action is maintainable, we are to regard it as an admitted fact, that the estate is insolvent.

¶5We see no difficulty in maintaining the action if the estate is, in .fact, insolvent. Action to stand'for trial.

Appleton, C. J.; Cutting, Kent, Dicicerson, and Danforth, JJ., concurred.
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