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8 Mich. 34

Fish v. Morse

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided January 9, 1860

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1860-01-09

From the return to the writ of error, it appeal's that plaintiff in error took an appeal to the Circuit Court from the decision of commissioners, appointed by the Probate Court of said county, to examine and adjust claims against the estate of Henry M. Fish deceased.

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1860-01-09

How this case has been cited

Cited by 12 later decisions (1 by the Supreme Court) — most recently October 1935

11 state decisions

5018601870188018901900191019201930decided

Later decisions citing this case, by decade. The current decade is in progress, and our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so the latest bars are undercounted — not a real decline.

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Manning J.:

¶1It appears from the report of the commissioners to the Probate Court, that the claim disallowed by the commissioners was a promisory note for $5,000. In making up the issue in the Circuit Court, the plaintiff filed a declaration containing two counts, instead of one. The first count is on a promise made by the intestate in his life-time, and the other on a promise made by the administrators on an account stated after the death of the intestate, between plaintiff and the administrators.

¶2A copy of the note, with notice that it would be given in evidence on the trial, was attached to the declaration.

¶3The first count, with a copy of the note attached to the declaration, was all that was necessary to put in issue the claim that had been passed on by the commissioners, and the second count may be regarded as surplusage merely. It is moreover defective on its face, as it does not show a valid claim against the estate of the deceased.

¶4Under our probate system, all claims against the estate of a deceased person, when commissioners have been ap*37pointed to hear and adjust such claims, are to be presented to, and to be allowed by them. The estate is not bound by any account stated with the administrator.

¶5Had the jury, therefore, found for plaintiff on the second count, and assessed damages in her favor, it would have been the duty of the court to render the judgment it did, notwithstanding such finding, as they had found for defendants on the ' first and only count in the declaration that set forth a valid claim against the estate.

¶6The judgment must be affirmed with costs.

Martin Ch. J., and Campbell J. concurred.Christiancy J., was absent.
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