Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

9 F.2d 409

Docket No. 341.

Croker v. Croker

Florida Southern District Court

Decided November 5, 1925.)

Florida Southern District Court · decided 1925-11-05

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently June 1931

2 federal appellate ·

3 counsel of record

Relies on Croker v. Croker

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1925-11-05

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1Homestead 133 — Person who was mere conduit for conveyance of husband’s homestead to him and bis wife not necessary party to suit to avoid conveyances.

¶2To suit by heirs to avoid as illegal, under Constitution of state, deeds by deceased and his wife of his homestead to 13., and like deeds by 13. to deceased’s wife, or to deceased and his wife, E., who was a mere conduit for so vesting title, is not a necessary party.

¶3In Equity. Suit by Howard Croker and others against Bula Croker and others. On motion to strike portions of answer.

¶4Motion granted.

¶5See, also, 7 F.(2d) 218.

¶6John T. G. Crawford and George C. Bedell, both of Jacksonville, Fla., and M. D. Carmichael, of West Palm Beach, Fla., for complainants.

¶7Treadwell & Treadwell, of Arcadia, Fla., for defendant Bula Croker.

¶8Fleming, Hamilton, Diver, Lichliter & Fleming, of Jacksonville, Fla., and C. D. Blackwell, of West Palm Beach, Fla., for defendants McDonald and Palm Beach Estates.

¶9CALL, District Judge.

¶10In this cause the defendants Bula Croker, J. B. McDonald, and Palm Beach Estates, by their answers, raise the question that Alice Eceleston, the person charged in the bill of complaint to be the conduit of title of the homestead of Richard Croker, through whom it was attempted to vest title of said homestead in Bula Croker, the wife, and in Richard and Bula Croker, in entireties, was not a party to the eause. It is settled beyond controversy that all parties having an interest in, or whose rights will be affected by, the decree in the eause, must be made parties.

¶11The question, therefore, for decision, is: *410Has Alice Eeeleston an interest in, or will her rights be affected by, the decree to be rendered herein? The theory of the bill of complaint is that the Crokers conveyed the properties' by warranty deeds to Alice Eeeleston ' without ■ consideration, for the purpose of vesting the title to a portion of the homestead property in Mrs. Bula Croker, and the title to the other portion in Mr. and Mrs. Croker, in entireties, and that this was done by the deeds of Alice Eeeleston to the parties. In this view, it seems to me that Alice Eeeleston has no interest in, nor can her rights be affected by, any decree to be rendered in this cause.

¶12It is contended that the conveyances executed by Alice Eeeleston are warranty deeds, and as such warrantor of-the title she is a necessary party. In the ordinary case, where the warrantor is liable on his warranty such is the ease; but in the present case there , is no liability on the warranty, and the reason of the rule céases.

¶13I do not find any charge of fraud against Alice Eeeleston. If the facts charged in the bill are sustained by proofs, the illegality of the transaction results from the provisions of the Constitution of the state of Florida, and not from any fraud practiced upon the rights of the heirs of Richard Croker in the homestead.

¶14I am of opinion that the motion to strike the portions of the answers raising the question should be granted, and those portions of the answers stricken. It will be so ordered.

/9/f2d/409 · .json · Public domain