The First Hall of the Civil Hall did not allow plaintiffs to act as administrators of a vacant inheritance, since they did not follow the correct procedure laid down in the law. This was held in a judgement delivered on 25 May 2016 by Mr Justice Joseph Azzopardi in Paul Vella bħala Kuratur tal-eredita’ ġjaċenti ta’ Maria Calleja, l-Avukat Dottor Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici bħala amministratur tal-eredita’ ta’ Tommaso u Concetta Cilia -v- Beatrice Catania, Anton Catania u Andre Catania.
In their application the plaintiffs claimed that the defendants held to a house in St Paul’s Bay against their will and wanted them to be evicted from this property.
The Catanias filed a statement of defence with a number of pleas, the first of which was that the plaintiffs should prove their judicial interest in the action.
The Court pointed that the fact that Paul Vella were acting as a curator of the vacant inheritance of Maria Calleja, while Dr Mifsud Bonnici was acting as the administrator of the inheritance of Tommaso and Concetta Cilia. According Dr Mifsud Bonnici’s affidavit, the property in question formed part of the estate of Tommaso and Concetta Cilia and referred to a court case delivered on 18 February 2005 Azzopardi et -v- Zammit noe. Tommaso and Concetta Cilia made a will in 1938. They divided the estate to Tommaso family on his father’s side and on his mother’s side. Concetta Upon Concetta’s death, her family appointed Dr Mifsud Bonnici as the administrator the property. Concetta Cilia has sold the usufruct to Joseph Catania and the former instructed Dr Mifsud Bonnici not to accept the rent. Joseph Catania had a preference to purchase the property. Without informing anyone Joseph Catania sold his right to his brother Paul. The plaintiffs are contesting the fact that Joseph Catania could not convert his title to that of owner of the property. Dr Mifsud Bonnici had testified that the inheritance was vacant since the 1960s. The property was identified in the statement of assets of Concetta Cilia and in a judgement, which the defendants were not a party to. On the other hand Beatrice Catania testified that her husband went to live with Joseph Catania in the late 1980s. she always understood that the property was of Joseph Catania, in fact he promised to his brother. She explained that her husband was tight fisted and that no maintenance works were do. After her husband death her children inherited the property and she continued to live in it. The issue on her right to live there when she received a notice of judicial sale in September 2012.
Mr Justice Azzopardi examined the legal pointed on the judicial interest of the plainitffs. Paul Vella explained that he was nominated as curator of the vacant inheritance of Maria Calleja in the court case Azzopardi –v- Zammit. The Court was authorised to nominate him in terms of the Article 903, 904 and 905 of the Civil Code which reads:
“903. An inheritance, until it is accepted, shall be deemed to be vacant: and, on the demand of any person interested, the court shall, saving the provisions of article 886, appoint a curator, as provided in the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure.
904. (1) The curator of a vacant inheritance shall, first of all, make up an inventory thereof.
(2) The curator shall exercise and prosecute all actions pertaining to the inheritance: he shall answer all claims brought against it, and shall administer the property thereof, subject to the obligation of depositing any money which may be found in the inheritance, or the proceeds of the sale of any movable or immovable property, and of rendering an account to the person entitled to demand it.
905. The provisions of the last preceding article shall not apply to any curator appointed solely for the purposes of article 929 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure.”
Article 929 of the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure states that the Court may appoint curators in the superior courts for absent persons and persons under age.
The Court held that the scope of this article cannot be extended. In fact Paul Vella is basing its appointment on another case.
Article 512 of the Code of Organisation & Civil Procedure states that a person who would like to be an administrator of a vacant inheritance has to file an application to the Court of Voluntary Jurisdiction.
In this case even Dr. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici admiteed that he did not file such an application.
In a previous judgement Melita Marine Ltd v International Custom Service Yachting Ltd decided on 13 April 2011 held that the Code of Organisation & Civil Procedure is a law of public order and should be observed “as litteram”. Therefore, one can conclude that this special procedure has to be observed. An administer has to appoint according this procedure.
The Court concluded that the two plaintiffs did not observe this procedure and therefore upheld the plea and dismissed the case.
Av. Malcolm Mifsud
Partner
Mifsud & Mifsud Advocates
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