Lenn v. Riche
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
331 Mass. 104, 117 N.E.2d 129 (1954)
- Written by Mary Phelan D'Isa, JD
Facts
Paul Bonn made a gift during Bonn’s lifetime to his niece (plaintiff), in Germany, of a valuable painting. Bonn later moved to France, and his niece loaned him the painting so he could enjoy and preserve it. Bonn died in France and his will named his widow as his universal legatee. Bonn’s widow refused to return the painting to Bonn’s niece, so Bonn’s niece sued the ancillary administrator of Bonn’s Massachusetts estate in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts court ruled in favor of Bonn’s niece, and Bonn’s widow appealed. Bonn’s widow, as the person who inherits the rights, obligations, possession, and debts of an ancestor’s title in property through a testamentary disposition, argued that under the terms of Bonn’s will and French law, the widow took all the deceased’s property and became personally charged with the deceased’s obligations and, therefore, Bonn’s niece should have claimed against her personally in France and that she had no claim against the ancillary administrator in Massachusetts.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Qua, C.J.)
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