Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

Bender v. Pfaff

Bender v. Pfaff, 282 U.S. 127 (1930)

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1930-11-24
Topic
general

*130 Me. Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court. • The question presented in this case is the same as that dealt with in Poe v. Seaborn, ante, p. 101, Goodell v. Koch, ante, p. 118, and Hopkins v. Bacon, ante, p. 122.

Citator

UpLaw has not yet analyzed Bender v. Pfaff. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.

Cited by
119 opinions

Headnotes

  1. Tax Law — Income Under the law of Louisiana, a wife has a present vested interest in community property equal to that of her husband, so that the spouses are entitled to file separate income tax returns, each reporting one-half of the community income as the income of an individual under the relevant provisions of the Revenue Act of 1926. 282 U.S. at 131
  2. Tax Law — Income Where the applicable state law recognizes the wife's ownership of one-half of community income, the ownership of that income—not the husband's managerial control over the marital partnership's affairs—determines how the income is to be allocated for federal income tax purposes. 282 U.S. at 130–131
  3. Tax Law — Income A wife's half interest in community property is not a mere expectancy during the marriage where state law treats the marital community as a partnership of acquets or gains and permits each spouse to dispose by will of only his or her own half of the community property. 282 U.S. at 130
BENDERv. PFAFF,282 U.S. 127(1930)
51 S.Ct. 64
BENDER, COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE,v. PFAFF.
CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT.
No. 86.
Argued October 22, 23, 1930.
Decided November 24, 1930.
Under the law of the State of Louisiana the wife has a present vested interest in community property equal to that of her husband, and, under §§ 210(a) and 211(a) of the Revenue Act of 1926, the spouses are entitled to file separate income tax returns, each of one-half of the community income. FollowingPoev.Seaborn, q.v., ante, p. 101. P. 131.38 F.2d 649, affirmed.
CERTIORARI,281 U.S. 715, to review a judgment of the Circuit
Court of Appeals affirming a judgment of the District Court,
38 F.2d 642, for the taxpayer, in an action to recover, from the
Collector of Internal Revenue an amount paid under protest on
account of income taxes for 1927. See statement inPoev.
Seaborn, ante, p. 101.
Solicitor General Thacher, with whomAssistant AttorneyGeneral Youngquist, Mr. Sewall Key, Miss Helen R. Carloss, Special Assistants to the Attorney General,Mr. Paul D. Miller, andMessrs. Clarence M. Charest, General Counsel, andT.H.Lewis, Jr., Special Attorney,Page 128Bureau of Internal Revenue, were on the brief, for Bender, Collector of Internal Revenue.

Under the laws and judicial decisions of the State of Louisiana, the husband's interest in the community income is such that he should properly be required to report the entire amount in his return; the wife's interest is not such that she should be permitted to report one-half of the community income in her return. Citing numerous statutes and decisions, including: Louisiana Code of Practice, Arts. 105, 106, 107, 118; Louisiana Rev. Civ. Code, Arts. 121-132, 150, 155, 160, 2403, 2404, 2408, 2410, 2425, 2430, 2446; Act 132 of 1926;Mitchellv.Dixie IceCo.,157 La. 383;Kellyv.Robertson, 10 La. Ann. 303;Demaretsv.Demarets,144 La. 173;McCaffreyv.Benson, 40 La. Ann. 10;Falconerv.Falconer,167 La. 595;Le Rosenv.Oil Co.,169 La. 973;Luthyv.Phillips WerleinCo.,163 La. 753;Marshallv.Mullen, 3 Robinson 328;Succession ofCurtis, 10 La. Ann. 662;Succession of McCloskey,144 La. 438;Successions of M., S. P. Cason, 32 La. Ann. 790;Beckv.Natalie Oil Co.,143 La. 153;Hawleyv.Crescent City Bank, 26 La. Ann. 230;National City Bankv.Barringer,143 La. 14;Succession of James,147 La. 944;Gosserandv.Monteleone,164 La. 398;Fabacherv.Rouprich,160 La. 433;Hellbergv.Hyland,168 La. 493.

While under certain circumstances the wife may bring the community to an end and secure a division of community property, she can not during the existence of the community substitute her management for that of the husband or demand any part of the community income for her own use. La. Rev. Civ. Code, Arts. 123, 150, 155, 160, 2408, 2410, 2425, 2430, 2446; La. Code of Practice, Art. 105;Gastauerv.Gastauer,131 La. 1;Vigueriev.Viguerie,133 La. 406;Snoddyv.Brashear, 13 La. Ann. 469.Page 129Messrs. Charles E. Dunbar, Jr., andMonte M. Lemann, with whomMessrs. J. Blanc MonroeandWalker B. Spencerwere on the brief, for Pfaff.

The wife, in Louisiana, is owner of one-half of community income and has a vested interest therein. La. Rev. Civ. Code, Arts. 915, 2334, 2399, 2402, 2404;Phillipsv.Phillips,160 La. 813;Succession of Marsal,118 La. 212;Succession ofMay,120 La. 692;Beckv.Natalie Oil Co.,143 La. 154;Liebmanv.Fontenot, 275 F. 688;Warburtonv.White,176 U.S. 484;Arnettv.Reade,220 U.S. 311;Dixonv.Dixon's Executors,4 La. 188;Theallv.Theall,7 La. 226. See also,Bekv.Miller,8 F.2d 797;Ruckerv.Blair,32 F.2d 222;McLarryv.Commissioner,30 F.2d 789. DistinguishingGuicev.Lawrence, 2 La. Ann. 226.

The modern French commentators upon the Code Napoleon, upon which the Louisiana law is largely based, likewise recognize the wife's half ownership in community property. See Baudry-Lacantinerie, Vol. 13, § 247; Planiol et Ripert, Traite Pratique de Droit Civil Francais (1925), Vol. 8, §§ 156-8, 516.

The husband does not have unfettered command or control of community income under the Louisiana law. La. Rev. Civ. Code, Arts. 2399, 2404;Childersv.Johnson, 6 La. Ann. 634;Meladyv.Succession of Bonnegent,142 La. 534;Bisterv.Menge, 21 La. Ann. 216;Radovichv.Jenkins,123 La. 355;Snowdenv.Cruse,152 La. 144;Succession of Moore, 42 La. Ann. 332;Smallwoodv.Pratt, 3 Rob. 132.

Whenever the husband proves a bad manager, the wife may obtain a dissolution of the community without seeking a divorce or personal separation, and may enjoin the husband from further management of community partnership property. La. Rev. Civ. Code, Arts. 2425 to 2437;Davockv.Darcy, 6 Rob. 342;Jonesv.Morgan,Page 1306 La. Ann. 630;Wolfe Clarkv.Lowry, 10 La. Ann. 272;Mockv.Kennedy, 11 La. Ann. 525;Webbv.Bell, 24 La. Ann. 75;Vickersv.Block, 31 La. Ann. 672;Chaffev.Watts, 37 La. Ann. 324;Brownv.Smyth, 40 La. Ann. 325;Walmsleyv.Theus,107 La. 417;Gastauerv.Gastauer,131 La. 1;Jonesv.Jones,119 La. 677;Larosev.Naquin,150 La. 353,358;Hillv.Hill,115 La. 489;Whitev.White,159 La. 1065;Smallwoodv.Pratt, 3 Rob. 132.

Even if the husband is a good business manager, the wife may terminate his administration by suing for divorce or personal separation whenever he is guilty of misconduct and may then enjoin him from further management or disposition of community property. La. Rev. Civ. Code, Arts. 123, 149, 150, 159;Dillonv.Dillon, 35 La. Ann. 92;Succession of Le Besque,137 La. 567;Crochetv.Dugas,126 La. 285;Williamsv.Goss, 43 La. Ann. 868;McClellandv.Gasquet,122 La. 241.
MR. JUSTICE ROBERTS delivered the opinion of the Court.
The question presented in this case is the same as that dealt with inPoev.Seaborn, ante, p. 101,Goodellv.Koch,ante, p. 118, andHopkinsv.Bacon, ante, p. 122. The only variant is that here we are concerned with the community property law of Louisiana. The case comes here on certiorari to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed (38 F.2d 649) a judgment of the District Court (38 F.2d 642) in favor of the respondent, whereby respondent recovered the amount of an additional assessment paid under protest. As in the other cases the Commissioner made this additional assessment on the theory that under the law of Louisiana the whole community income is to be treated as the income of the husband.Page 131

If the test be, as we have held it is, ownership of the community income, this case is probably the strongest of those presented to us, in favor of the wife's ownership of one-half of that income. The relevant statutes of Louisiana are noted in the margin.fn*So called "common property" includes all property acquired in any manner by husband and wife during marriage except donations made to one of the spouses, and except the wife's earnings and actions for damages when she is living apart from her husband, or carrying on a separate business or trade. The statutes speak of a marriage superinducing as a matter of right, "partnership or community" of acquets or gains. Repeatedly the statutes refer to the relation as a "partnership or community." The decisions of the Supreme Court of Louisiana clearly recognize the wife's ownership of one-half of all the community income. They unequivocally declare that the wife's half interest in such community property "is not a mere expectancy during the marriage." (Phillipsv.Phillips,160 La. 813.)

As in the case of other states, whose law we have discussed in connection with this matter in thePoe, GoodellandHopkinscases,supra, each spouse may by will dispose of only his or her one-half of the community and is powerless to affect the other's half. In case of death intestate one-half descends to the heirs of the decedent, and the other spouse is powerless to prevent this.Page 132

While the husband is the manager of the affairs of the marital partnership, the limitations upon the wrongful exercise of his power over community property are more stringent than in many states which have a community system. In Louisiana, if the husband proves, by reason of financial difficulties or the like, an unfit manager, the wife may bring about an immediate dissolution and liquidation of the community property. (WolfClarkv.Lowry, 10 La. Ann. 272;Webbv.Bell, 24 La. Ann. 75;Brown Learnedv.Smythe, 40 La. Ann. 325.) And when the wife sues for a separation of the property she is entitled to an accounting from the husband for community income or property in his hands and to reimbursement and retribution for any act done by him in fraud of her rights. (Hillv.Hill,115 La. 489;Whitev.White,159 La. 1065.)

In conclusion it may be noted that the Supreme Court of Louisiana has cited our own decisions inWarburtonv.White,176 U.S. 484, andArnettv.Reade,220 U.S. 311, indicating that the exposition of the wife's rights and of the nature of the community therein contained correctly states the Louisiana doctrine.

Inasmuch, therefore, as, in Louisiana, the wife has a present vested interest in community property equal to that of her husband, we hold that the spouses are entitled to file separate returns, each treating one-half of the community income as income of each "of" them as an "individual" as those words are used in

§§ 210(a) and 211(a) of the Revenue Act of 1926.

The judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals isAffirmed.

The CHIEF JUSTICE and MR. JUSTICE STONE took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.Page 133
  1. Page 131 La. Revised Civil Code, 1870, Articles 57, 64, 120-121, 128, 131-132, 149-150, 155-156, 159-160 (as amended by Act 247 of 1916, p. 521); 915 (as amended by Act 160, 1920, p. 250); 917, 2332, 2334 (as amended by Act 186, 1920, p. 304); 2383, 2386, 2392-2401, 2402 (as amended by Act 68 of 1902, p. 95); 2403, 2404 (as amended by Act 96 Reg. Sess. 1926, p. 136); 2405-2409, 2410 (as amended by Act 4 of 1882, p. 5); 2411-2414, 2417-2419, 2421-2425, 2430; La. Code of Practice, 1870, Articles 105-107, 298; Act 102 of 1916, p. 223; Act 132 Reg. Sess. 1926, p. 207. ↩