Case ID: minn_29/html/0146-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Berry, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Theodore W. Nelichka vs. Charles A. Esterly and another.
    May 27, 1882.
    Part-performance of Entire Contract by Servant — Wilful Default. — • In case of a contract to work for an entire month for an entire price, a servant who leaves his master’s service before the expiration of the month, without excuse and by his own wilful fault, can recover nothing for the portion of the month for which he has worked.
    Appeal by defendants from a judgment of the municipal court of St. Paul, a motion for a new trial having been denied.
    
      I. V. D. Heard and Jas. F. O’Brien, for appellants.
    
      J. N. Rogers, for respondent.
   Berry, J.

The evidence in this case shows that plaintiff was in defendants’ employ, under an engagement to work for them for the entire month of December for $50. That plaintiff left defendants’ service on December 23d, and remained away for four days without any excuse, and not only without defendants’ consent, but in the face of their express objection, and that defendants refused to permit him to re-enter their service upon his return, is undisputed, and in fact admitted by both parties. The contract was, then, entire. The plaintiff did not perform on his part. He offers no excuse for his nonperformance, but, on the contrary, his failure to perform was wholly his own wilful fault. In such a state of facts he is not entitled to recover anything for the partial performance of his engagement; namely, for the work performed by him prior to leaving defendants’ service on December 23d. Metcalf on Contracts, 8; Mason v. Heyward, 8 Minn. 116, (182;) Williams v. Anderson, 9 Minn. 39, (50;) Stees v. Leonard, 20 Minn. 494; Weber v. Clark, 24 Minn. 354; Beach v. Mullin, 34 N. J. Law, 343.

The verdict is entirely unsupported by the evidence, and the judgment is accordingly reversed.