Case ID: ind_5/html/0445-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Perkins, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Scobey v. Ross.
    
      A. employed B. and C., attorneys, to collect a decree in .á.’s favor of 500 dollars, and agreed in writing to pay them for their services 150 dollars of the decree, when they should collect the same. B. having received 200 dollars, refused to pay it to A. on demand; whereupon A. discharged B. and O., employed another attorney to collect the decree, and brought an action for money had and received against B. for the 200 dollars collected. B. pleaded the general issue.
    
      Held, that if the contract was in force, B. and Q. were not entitled to compensation till the decree was fully collected.
    
      Held, also, that if the contract was broken and rescinded, the claim of B. and O. could only he for a reasonable compensation for the services performed, with damages, perhaps, for the breach of the contract.
    
      Held, also, that such compensation and damages could not he deducted in this suit, as no special plea, notice or counter-claim was filed.
    APPEAL from the Decatur Circuit Court.
    
      Tuesday, December 5,
    
   Perkins, J.

Assumpsit by Nancy Ross against John S. Scobey, for money had and received. Plea, the general issue. Trial by the Court, and judgment for the plaintiff. The facts of the case may be briefly stated. Mrs. Ross made a contract with Scobey and Test, as follows: “ Greensbmg, Indiana, September 21, 1846. I, Nancy Cole, alias Nancy Ross, have employed Charles H. Test and John S. Scobey as attorneys to collect a judgment rendered by the judges of the Decatur Circuit Court in chancery sitting, in my favor, against John Ross, in a suit for divorce, for five hundred dollars, and I agree to pay to said Test and Scobey one hundred and fifty dollars of said judgment for their services, when they shall collect the same. [Signed] Nomcy Ross.” Near the decree, above called a judgment, was a receipt in these words: “ January 27, 1851. Received of Marine D. Ross two hundred dollars on the opposite decree. [Signed] J. S. Scobey, attorney.”

About a month after Scobey received the money, Mrs. Ross demanded it of him, but he refused to pay it to her. She became dissatisfied, and discharged her then attorneys, and employed John Rymcm, Esq., to collect the balance of the decree against Ross; and, in April, 1853, commenced this suit against Scobey, in which she recovered judgment below for the 200 dollars and interest.

The question arises, upon what ground could Scobey retain said 200 dollars, or any part thereof?

Supposing the contract between Mrs. Ross and Messrs. Test and Scobey valid and in force, it had not been fulfilled. The 500 dollar decree had been but in part collected, and no claim for compensation arose under the agreement till the whole of said decree was collected. Supposing the contract valid, but broken and rescinded, then the claim of Test and Scobey would only be for a reasonable compensation for service actually performed, with, perhaps, damages for the breach of the contract; but such compensation and damages could not be deducted in this suit, as no plea, notice, or counter-claim was filed, but the general issue simply pleaded. Pruitt v. Miller, 3 Ind. R. 16.

J. S. Scobey, for the appellant.

J. Ryman, for the appellee.

In any event, then, the decision of the Court below must be affirmed. We are consequently relieved from the necessity of deciding the question mainly labored by counsel in argument, viz., whether the contract above set out between Mrs. Ross and the counsel named, is champertous and void, and we shall not decide it. See, upon this point, Holloway v. Lowe, 7 Porter 488.—Lathrop v. The Amherst Bank, 9 Metcalf 489.—Satterlee v. Frazer, 2 Sandf. 141.—Dumas v. Smith, 17 Ala. 305.—Wallis v. Loubat, 2 Denio 607.

Per Curiam. — The judgment is affirmed, with 1 per cent, damages and costs.