Case Name: Peter F. Campbell, respondent, v. Nelson H. Tunnicliff, Appellant; Thomas A. Campbell, Respondent, v. Nelson H. Tunnicliff, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1918-12-20
Citations: 185 A.D. 506
Docket Number: 
Parties: Peter F. Campbell, respondent, v. Nelson H. Tunnicliff, Appellant; Thomas A. Campbell, Respondent, v. Nelson H. Tunnicliff, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 185
Pages: 506–510

Head Matter:
Peter F. Campbell, respondent, v. Nelson H. Tunnicliff, Appellant; Thomas A. Campbell, Respondent, v. Nelson H. Tunnicliff, Appellant.
First Department,
December 20, 1918.
Decedent’s estate — validity of agreement between heirs of decedent and an attorney to pay latter percentage of property realized from estate and assigning such percentage — power of attorney — when not void ab initio.
Agreement between heirs at law and an attorney to pay the latter a percentage of moneys and property realized from the estate of the deceased and assigning such percentage to the defendant, and also a power of attorney executed to the defendant held not void ab initio.
Page, J., dissented, with opinion.
Appeal in each case by the defendant, Nelson H. Tunnicliff, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of plaintiffs, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of New York on the 30th day of July, 1918, upon the decision of the court after a trial at the New York Special Term, and also from orders entered in said clerk’s office on the 2d day of August, 1918, denying defendant’s motion in each case to resettle the findings of fact and conclusions of law herein.
Francis M. Scott of counsel [Scott, Gerard & Bowers, attorneys], for the appellant.
James A. O’Gorman of counsel [Almuth C. Vandiver and Leon N. Futter with him on the brief; O’Gorman, Battle & Vandiver, attorneys], for the respondents.

Opinion:
Per Curiam [Peter F. Campbell v. Tunnicliff]:
The judgment should be modified by .reversing the 9th finding of fact, and by striking out the 1st, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th and 21st conclusions of law; and by striking out the provisions of the judgment adjudging that the power of attorney to the defendant and the agreement between him and the plaintiff, and any assignment by him of an interest thereunder, were void ab initio. As so modified the judgment is affirmed, without costs.
Present — Clarke, P. J., Laughlin, Smith, Page and Merrell, JJ. Page, J., dissented.
Per Curiam [Thomas A. Campbell v. Tunnicliff]:
The judgment should be modified by reversing the 7th and 8th findings of fact and the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th and 21st conclusions of law; and by striking out the provisions of the judgment adjudging that the power of attorney to the defendant and the agreement between him and the plaintiff, and any assignment by him of an interest thereunder, were void ab initio. As so modified, the judgment is affirmed, without costs.
Present — Clarke, P. J., Laughlin, Smith, Page and Merrell, JJ.; Page, J., dissented.