Case Name: Fleming v. Flagg
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1856-12-13
Citations: 8 Ind. 363
Docket Number: 
Parties: Fleming v. Flagg.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 8
Pages: 363–364

Head Matter:
Fleming v. Flagg.
In an action brought by A. against B., for services rendered by him as attorney at law, in a case in which B. and 'thirteen others were defendants, B. offered to prove that A. had been paid by one of his thirteen co-defendants 40 dollars, and 12 dollars by another, for services as ■ attorney in that cause. The Court refused to admit the evidence. The jury found specially that the services sued for were rendered for B. alone.
Held, That the evidence so excluded was irrelevant; and that, in the absence of anything from which a different, inference might be drawn, such payments must be presumed to have been made on the separate liability of those who made them.
APPEAL from the La Grange Court of Common Pleas.

Opinion:
Davison, J.
Flagg sued Fleming before a justice of the peace to recover 15 dollars for services as an attorney at law. The cause of action, filed before the justice, shows the services for which Flagg sued, to have been rendered in a case in the La Grange Circuit Court, wherein one Isaac Robbins was plaintiff, and Alexander Fleming, Silas Thrailkill, John A. Kenton, and eleven others, were defendants. The justice gave judgment for Flagg. Fleming appeals.
During the trial in the Common Pleas, Fleming offered to prove that Thrailkill, one of his co-defendants in the Circuit Court case, had paid Flagg 40 dollars for services as attorney in said case; also, that Kenton, another co-defendant, had paid him, Flagg, 12 dollars for services in the same case. The Court refused to admit the evidence. The case was submitted to a jury, who gave a general verdict, in favor of the plaintiff, for 40 dollars; and also found, specially, that the services in question were rendered for F leming alone, and that he alone-was liable to pay for them. Judgment, over a motion for a new trial, was rendered on the verdict.
The ground upon which the Court refused the evidence, is not stated in the record. We think, however, that it was irrelevant. In the absence of any thing from which a different inference might be drawn, it must be Presume<^ that payments made to Flagg, were made on account of the separate liability of those who made not on account of services for which a recovery is sought in this action. The evidence, ia our opinion, was not pertinent to the case, and was, therefore, inadmissible.
A. Mlisoriy for the appellant.
Per Curiam.
The judgment is affirmed with 10 per cent, damages and costs.