Opinion ID: 2074116
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: case of mrs. rose c. kline, formerly rose natle.

Text: Rose Natle was the wife of Tony Natle, who was killed in a railroad accident. John Kline had been a friend of Mr. and Mrs. Natle for many years. When Tony Natle was killed, John Kline returned to Nebraska to assist Rose Natle, and they subsequently were married. Reverend Balty was the minister of the church Mr. and Mrs. Natle attended. Rose Natle apparently had faith in him and relied on his advice after her husband was killed. Rose Natle Kline's deposition appears as petitioner's exhibit Z-54. However, she appeared as a witness at the hearing in Minneapolis, and her testimony in most respects agreed with the deposition. Reverend Balty's deposition is petitioner's exhibit Z-60. William H. Smith was Rose's attorney before she employed respondent. His deposition is petitioner's exhibit Z-62. At the trial, Rose's husband, John Kline, also appeared as a witness. The following is the testimony of Rose Kline taken at the Minneapolis hearing. She was called as a witness by the referee so that both parties might have an opportunity to cross-examine her. She testified that at the time her first husband was killed she lived in Republican City, Nebraska; that her husband was killed in a cave-in accident while dismantling a trestle on the Burlington railroad; that at the time her husband was killed she had no money, was ill, and needed assistance; that her son worked with John Kline in a shipyard on the west coast; that both she and her deceased husband had known Kline for some time; that after the accident her son Donald wired John Kline to return and help them; that John Kline arrived 10 or 12 days after Natle's death. She further testified that she had trouble with the railroad company in effecting a settlement, so John Kline, in whose advice she placed great confidence, recommended that she hire a lawyer; that because she was so ill she told her son and Kline to go ahead and handle the matter for her; that they went to the telephone office and when they came back they told her that they had called a Eugene Rerat in Minneapolis; that respondent told them that he would come down or send someone; that a few days later William McDonald arrived; that before McDonald arrived the witness had discussed the matter with friends and had definitely decided to put it in the lawyer's hands. She further definitely testified that McDonald was invited and that he did not come of his own initiative; that while McDonald was in town he took pictures of the accident scene and interviewed witnesses; that the church to which the witness belonged, of which Reverend Balty was pastor, did not believe in lawsuits, so she discussed with Reverend Balty the matter of suing the Burlington and apparently came to the conclusion that the suit was proper; that also killed in the same cave-in with her husband was the husband and son of a Mrs. Alexander; that Mrs. Alexander became a client of respondent; that she decided to return to Minneapolis with McDonald; and that at that time Rose was too ill to travel. She again positively testified that respondent had not solicited her case; that she was well satisfied with the settlement which respondent arranged for her, in which she received $8,333.34 out of a $12,500 settlement; that she considered respondent a good friend; and that she never complained to anyone of his solicitation. The statement which Rose Kline gave to John Samson (petitioner's exhibit Z-55) was taken January 6, 1944. In it Rose Kline states that she was outright solicited by William McDonald; that she did not want to sue; that she changed her mind and decided to sue when McDonald persuaded her minister, Reverend Balty, to work on her. She also said in the affidavit that she went to Minneapolis with Reverend Balty; and that while they were in respondent's office respondent induced her to retain him by placing long-distance telephone calls to former clients and having these clients tell her that respondent was a good attorney. On the witness stand, Rose Kline testified that the above affidavit was obtained under the following conditions: She was attending a friend's funeral and most of the townspeople were there; that while she was standing at the church waiting for the casket to come down the steps Mr. Samson, who she said then called himself Johnson, got out of a car bearing the legend Sheriff went over to her, pulled her out of the line in front of all her friends, and pushed her into the sheriff's car; that he told her he was taking her home; that she was too scared to resist and was assured that it was all right  they just wanted to talk to her about the case; that they took her home, the sheriff waited in the car, and Samson went into the house with her; that, once inside, Samson set up a typewriter and proceeded to type out a statement; that he then handed the statement to her, told her that the sheriff was outside, and that she had better sign; that he also told her not to say anything about this to respondent; and that it was about this time that John Kline arrived at the house. With reference to her acquaintance with William Smith, Rose Kline testified as follows: That Smith was a young attorney in the town; that his father was a railroad agent for the Burlington in Kansas; that the father had recommended to her after her husband's death that she permit his son (William Smith) to handle the claim; that she thereafter received a bereavement card from William Smith and subsequently got in touch with him; and that she had him draw her will and asked him to probate her late husband's estate. She testified, however, that she never employed him to sue the Burlington. She also said that after respondent had settled the matter with the Burlington she did not complain to Smith about respondent's handling of the case and in fact told him that the settlement was fine for her. When cross-examined by petitioner's attorney, Rose Kline testified that William McDonald arrived two or three weeks after the accident, which occurred May 13, 1943. She denied that William Smith told her that her case against the railroad company was an open and shut one so far as liability was concerned and that the only question was damages. She denied telling Smith that the Minneapolis outfit (meaning respondent) put so much heat on her that she felt obliged to sign or that they promised her if she signed she would have $10,000 clear in three weeks. She also stated that she could not remember telling Smith that respondent persuaded her to sign by saying that she was holding up the Alexander claim against the Burlington because they had already employed respondent. She denied hearing respondent call clients by long distance to persuade her that he was a good attorney. She also testified that Reverend Balty was present in respondent's office when the conversations with respondent took place. She testified that she never signed a contract of employment with respondent, but later admitted that she was not sure. She further testified that she did not tell Samson that when William McDonald found out that Reverend Balty was the executor of her will he bothered Reverend Balty to get her to turn her case over to respondent. She said it was true that Reverend Balty came to her house with tickets to Minneapolis and that she declined them because she was ill, but she admitted that Reverend Balty subsequently told her it would do no harm to go to Minneapolis. She also denied telling Samson that the statement she gave him was true. Reverend Balty stated in his deposition, which was read into the record, that he lived in Naponee, Nebraska, in June 1943 and that he was Rose Natle's pastor at that time; that in addition to his duties as a pastor he worked in a lumberyard; that he first met William McDonald at Republican City in the Rose Natle (Kline) home while he was paying a pastoral call; that he did have some conversation with McDonald, Just a general discussion is all I recall now; that he could not say if there was any conversation about respondent. When questioned as to any further discussion with McDonald at that time, respondent objected and was sustained on the ground that petitioner's witness (Rose Kline) had testified as to what the arrangements were. He said that McDonald gave him money and tickets to Minneapolis for him and Rose Kline in June 1943. Petitioner complains of the exclusion by the referee of certain parts of Reverend Balty's deposition. That deposition further stated as follows: That he and Rose Kline went to Minneapolis on the tickets which McDonald gave them; that there McDonald met them and furnished transportation; that the following day he had an interview with respondent; and that settling the case and the need for a specialized lawyer were discussed. He also testified that respondent showed him photostatic copies of cases and checks that he had settled; that respondent placed long-distance calls to former clients, who assured Reverend Balty that respondent was a good attorney. He stated that he believed Rose Natle Kline signed the contract the second day they were in Minneapolis. He also stated that McDonald specifically asked him to accompany Rose Kline to Minneapolis. At that point in the deposition, petitioner introduced petitioner's exhibit Z-61, which was an affidavit of Reverend Balty given to John Samson on January 6, 1944. That affidavit is found with the deposition of Reverend Balty and is as follows: He stated that Mrs. Alexander and her son were taken to Minneapolis by automobile by William McDonald; that McDonald then returned to Republican City and called on Reverend Balty, urging him and Rose Kline to go to Minneapolis; that Mrs. Alexander also urged her to do so; that McDonald gave Reverend Balty tickets to Minneapolis and $50; that they decided to accept these tickets and go to Minneapolis; that while he was in Minneapolis respondent talked of big verdicts, showed him photostatic copies of checks, told him that the Burlington would not do right by Mrs. Kline, and placed the telephone calls already discussed. In the deposition, Reverend Balty acknowledged the above affidavit to be true. When the Balty deposition was read into the record at the trial, the referee admitted this affidavit for the purpose of impeachment only. In connection with this affidavit, Reverend Balty said that Samson then used the name Johnson. The cross-examination in the Balty deposition was read into the record in part. Here, Reverend Balty said that he knew nothing of Samson's taking Rose Kline from the funeral. He then identified petitioner's exhibit Z-63, which was taken January 12, 1948, and admitted his signature. In this statement, which was taken by Eleanor Greene, Reverend Balty said that he did not know who paid his expenses on the Minneapolis trip; that he advised Mrs. Kline to go to Minneapolis and consult with her brother and employ respondent only if she thought it proper; that respondent put no pressure on Reverend Balty and did not give him money; that Reverend Balty put no pressure on Rose Kline; that petitioner's charge that respondent gave Reverend Balty money to persuade Rose Kline to retain respondent was not true, but was just a joke between himself and respondent. This statement was offered as part of the cross-examination. Continuing his testimony in the deposition, Reverend Balty said that he did not discuss with respondent the subject of his disbarment. However, he did mention to respondent that some people thought respondent was a shyster; that respondent then placed the telephone calls, earlier discussed, to satisfy Reverend Balty of his integrity; that respondent jokingly told him that if he could find any proof of respondent being a shyster he would donate a sum of money to Reverend Balty's church. He also testified that Rose Kline wanted to talk to respondent before they left for Minneapolis. John Kline, Rose Kline's husband, testified at the Minneapolis hearing. He stated that he had worked on the west coast with Rose's son. He said that respondent was well known and that he had heard of him out on the coast. He said that after he returned to Republican City, following the death of Natle, Rose, her son, and Mrs. Alexander had a conference about the matter; that they decided that inasmuch as they needed money, and in view of the railroad company stalling, they would hire respondent and that he, John Kline, went to the telephone office and called respondent. He confirmed Rose Kline's testimony to the effect that McDonald arrived later and commenced investigating. He also confirmed Rose Kline's testimony concerning Samson's taking of the statement. He believed that the telephone call to respondent was made in the month of May 1943. The William Smith deposition (petitioner's exhibit Z-62) was read into the record. In it, Smith said that he was an attorney at law and county judge in Franklin county, Nebraska; that on June 1, 1943, he was consulted as an attorney by Rose Natle (Kline); and that she engaged him to sue the Burlington. However, the referee excluded this part of the deposition. Smith then was shown petitioner's exhibit Z-58, a short letter from Rose Natle to Smith, saying that she had taken care of matters herself and that she did not need his services. He said that he turned this letter over to special assistant attorney general Samson . He also testified that by this letter Rose Kline terminated his employment. With reference to petitioner's exhibit Z-59, a settlement sheet between Rose Kline and respondent, Smith testified that he received this exhibit July 15, 1943; that at that time he had a conversation with Mrs. Kline; that he asked her how she happened to hire respondent; that she told him so much pressure was put on her by respondent that she felt she had to sign; that they promised her $10,000 in three weeks; that Smith was a young fellow and inexperienced; and that Mrs. Alexander had already signed and she was holding up their case. Smith also testified that Reverend Balty told him that Tautges, Rerat & Welch would give him (Reverend Balty) $200 for his church if Rose Kline signed a contract. The referee excluded this because the evidence was already in as part of Reverend Balty's deposition (petitioner's exhibit Z-60). Smith also testified that he had never met Eleanor Greene. The referee excluded Smith's statement that he believed the letter from Mrs. Kline which terminated Smith's employment came from Minneapolis. Respondent testified in regard to the matter. He confirmed Mrs. Kline's testimony to the effect that John Kline had called him. He said that Mrs. Alexander was brought to Minneapolis on respondent's orders; that she came ahead because Rose Kline was then ill and that the plan was to bring Rose Kline up when she was in shape to travel. He said that he took Mrs. Alexander's statement; that he is not sure if he entered into a contract of retainer with her; that McDonald then took her back to Nebraska; and that subsequently Rose Kline came up and asked him to handle her claim. He also testified that he knew nothing of William Smith. In regard to the telephone calls, respondent testified that he and Reverend Balty were in respondent's office when Reverend Balty brought up the reports of respondent's being a shyster which had come to his attention; that respondent offered to call some of his former clients and have them satisfy Reverend Balty that respondent was a reputable attorney; and that he believed that one such call was made. He also testified that he jokingly offered to give $200 to Reverend Balty's church if Reverend Balty could prove respondent was a shyster. Respondent testified that he made satisfactory settlements in both the Natle and Alexander cases and that neither party ever complained. He testified that he did advance money to Rose Kline to come to Minneapolis because she was destitute; that it was a loan and that it was repaid when the case was settled. The referee commented in his findings that the statement taken by special assistant attorney general Samson was taken under circumstances not approved by the referee; that Rose Kline appeared to be a frank and truthful witness; and that considering the evidence in its entirety he found no solicitation in the case of Rose Natle Kline against the railroad company. From our examination of the deposition and the testimony, and particularly in view of the fact that Rose Kline testified that We called him [respondent] ourself, it would appear that the referee was justified in finding no solicitation on the part of respondent in this case. She was further asked: Q. You called him yourself; you mean Mr. Rerat did not do any soliciting? A. That's right; he absolutely did not. Q. When Mr. McDonald was there, what McDonald was doing was investigating, so far as you knew? A. That's right. The four other cases considered by the referee were the following: John B. Schneider, H.J. Ireland, Frank Lowery, and Hershel Salters. While these cases were not emphasized in petitioner's brief, as were the six above outlined, we have reviewed the record in connection with them in order to compare it with the findings of the referee.