Case ID: ad_23/html/0144-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hatch, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

John P. Morris, Plaintiff, v. Frances E. Barritt, Defendant.
    
      Agreement by a client to compensate her attoi'ney by malting him her residum'y legatee —• notice that no further services are required and a request for a bill are not a rescission of it— action on quantum meruit.
    A contract by a woman to compensate an attorney for performing such legal services as she should require, by making him the residuary legatee of her estate, followed by the execution by her of a will to that effect, cannot be deemed to have been rescinded because she notifies the attorney that she will no longer require his services, and asks for a bill for those rendered.
    
      In such a case, in the absence of any proof that she had canceled or changed her will, or contemplated doing so, the attorney cannot maintain an action on quantum meruit to recover the value of the services rendered.
    Motion by the plaintiff, John P. Morris, for a new trial upon a case containing exceptions, ordered to be heard at the Appellate Division in the first instance, upon the dismissal of his complaint by direction of the court, after a trial at the Kings County Trial Term.
    
      William S. Cogswell, for the plaintiff.
    
      Herbert T. Ketcham, for the defendant.
   Hatch, J.:

The parties to this action entered into a contract whereby the plaintiff was ‘to perform legal services for the defendant as she should require, and make no charge therefor, and, in consideration of such services, the defendant agreed to make the plaintiff the residuary legatee of her estate. This agreement was consummated. The plaintiff drew the defendant’s will. in accordance with her directions, and, after certain specific bequests to different persons, the plaintiff was named as the sole residuary legatee. This will the defendant executed in due form. Subsequently a codicil was added to the will, the effect of which was to increase the residuary estate. It was drawn by the plaintiff at the instance of' the defendant, and was by her duly executed. So far as is disclosed by the bill of exceptions, the will was in force until defendant’s remarriage. But this fact cannot affect the question, as the action was commenced before this event happened. It is not suggested hut that' the arrangement constituted a valid binding contract between the parties, and we see no reason why it may not be sustained as such, assuming that the parties dealt upon equal terms and in fidelity to the relation which existed between them.

The action, however, is not to enforce the contract, or for damages arising out of its breach; it is brought upon a quantum meruit to recover for the value of the services rendered under it, or which became subject to its terms. The theory of the action is, that the contract has been canceled by the mutual act of the parties, and that thereby the plaintiff has become remitted to a recovery for the services rendered upon tire basis of reasonable value.. The ground upon which a remission is claimed rests upon the act of the defendant in notifying the plaintiff that she would no longer require his services, and requesting him to send a bill for the amount of the services rendered. We are not able to see that there is such inconsistency between this step and the continued existence of the contract that the latter may not stand as the subsisting engagement of the parties. It may be assumed that the defendant had concluded that she did'not wish the plaintiff to pérform any more service for her, but of this the plaintiff could not complain if she was still willing to allow the will to remain of force. ■ Indeed, it would be to his advantage, for he would then have completely performed his part of the contract. If she chose to employ others to perform services for her, the plaintiff could not complain so long as she stood ready to fulfill her contract, with him and did not impair its value. The case is destitute of proof to show that she had canceled or contemplated canceling her will or had threatened so to -do or that she had in any manner changed the will or contemplated so doing. It does not appear that she requires any further legal service or will require, any. She simply says I do not wish you to perform any further service. Blit this is not the equivalent of saying that she cancels her contract or that she will not compensate him for what he has done in the manner - contracted. The same observations apply to a request for the amount of the bill. It may be assumed, in the ordinary course of dealing, that when a debtor asks his creditor for a bill, it furnishes some evidence of an intent to pay the same. But when a particular method of payment has previously been-agreed upon, it would scarcely furnish evidence of an intent to depart from the prescribed method unless it. would be wholly inconsistent therewith. This contract is novel and peculiar, one in which a disagreement with, or dissatisfaction of, the party making the will furnishes strong ground for a suspicion that the method of compensation will be disregarded, especially if the stipulated amount be disproportionate to the- value of the service. But such suspicion cannot be said tó amount to proof that the contract has been canceled. There was no suggestion that the defendant would pay the bill upon rendition or that she wished so to do. We may conjecture . many reasons why she ’ might wish to see the bill or the value which the plaintiff placed upon the service, and yet not impute.a violation and rescission of the contract. The fact that she did not pay the bill when rendered, and denies the averments of plaintiff’s complaint, is quite1 consistent with the claim that the contract is in force, and it certainly destroys any inference which might arise out of the request for the bill that she intended to rescind the contract and discharge the bill by payment, instead of through the medium of the will. In no view, therefore, does it appear that the contract has been rescinded, in consequence of which the plaintiff has failed to make out his cause of. action. It is quite true that the parties may by mutual stipulation rescind this contract and the defendant thereby furnish a sound basis for a recovery of the value of the service upon quantum meruit. But the proof in this case fails of establishing mutual rescission of the contract. On the contrary, the proof is consistent with the continued existence of it, and until that is extinguished it furnishes the measure of plaintiff’s right and prevents the maintenance of this action.

The exceptions should, therefore, be overruled and judgment directed for defendant on the dismissal of the complaint, with costs.

All concurred.

Exceptions overruled and judgment directed for defendant on dismissal of the complaint, with costs.