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

Heading: christian butherus case.

Text: Petitioner calls our attention to the deposition of Christian Butherus as establishing a clear-cut picture of solicitation. Butherus, a man about 65 years of age and a resident of Holbrook, Nebraska, was injured on March 2, 1944, in a railway accident. Among the exhibits is a retainer agreement signed by Christian Butherus employing respondent to represent him in connection with his claim against the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. According to Butherus's deposition, he was asked if John E. Kalar came to his home after the accident, and he replied that he did not know his name, but supposed that's what it was; that he did not ask him to come; that he did not know respondent before he saw this man and had never heard of him until that time; and that he later settled his case with the railroad company without respondent and that he paid respondent no attorney's fees. Petitioner also introduced its exhibit Z-66, purporting to be the address of Kalar and respondent, claimed to have been left with Butherus by Kalar. Petitioner's exhibit Z-42 to Z-45, inclusive, were included in the deposition of Butherus. They purport to be letters addressed to Butherus, written on respondent's stationery and signed with respondent's name. The letters appear to contain statements thanking Butherus for placing the case in respondent's office, and they contain certain instructions and admonitions in connection with the case. Also included in the record is petitioner's exhibit Z-33, a joint account card of the Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis upon which one of the names signed is John E. Kalar. Petitioner's handwriting expert testified that the name of Eugene A. Rerat on exhibits Z-42 to Z-45, inclusive, was signed by the same person who signed the name John E. Kalar on exhibit Z-33. Respondent's handwriting expert testified that the names on the bottom of exhibits Z-42 to Z-45, inclusive, were not written by the same person writing the name John E. Kalar on exhibit Z-33. Thus, we have a conflict between the handwriting experts as to just who signed the letters. In any event, it does not appear to be the contention that respondent signed any of the letters personally. The record further shows that Butherus testified on cross-examination that he was long acquainted with a party named Breaker, who had also been injured while working for the Burlington. Butherus had been his foreman for some years. It appears that after Butherus was injured his son-in-law sent him a newspaper clipping about Breaker's suit in connection with his case, which was handled by respondent. It later appeared that Breaker called on Butherus, and the latter showed Breaker the newspaper clipping. There was some talk about their injuries and about Breaker's suit against the railroad company. Breaker wrote respondent on February 12, 1945 (respondent's exhibit 19 [2] ) to the effect that Butherus wanted him to come and see him. The latter denied that he had asked Breaker to do so. On February 21, 1945, Kalar, who has been classified as an investigator by respondent, called on Butherus, and the latter signed a contract retaining respondent to represent him. After this, according to the referee's findings, respondent commenced an action against the Burlington Railroad Company in the United States District Court at Minneapolis. Thereafter and without the knowledge of respondent, two men from the railroad, according to Butherus, called upon him and settled the case. When asked if he knew John Samson, Butherus said he did not, but answered that he remembered one fellow from the attorney general's office who took an affidavit from him. The referee found that it was the claim agent for the Burlington who settled the case without the knowledge of respondent and that he was accompanied by the omnipresent Special Assistant Attorney General Samson. It appears that Butherus paid no attorney's fees to respondent. The railroad company apparently recognized respondent's employment and paid his fees. The referee considered that, while the testimony of Butherus on direct examination might sustain petitioner's claim of solicitation, if Breaker's letter to respondent was genuine, the latter was not guilty of solicitation, and the referee found that there was no solicitation on the part of respondent in this case. Under the facts and circumstances here, this finding of the referee would appear to be reasonable, inasmuch as we have a situation where Butherus's son-in-law sent him a newspaper clipping of the Breaker case settlement, and Breaker, whom Butherus knew, called on Butherus. Inasmuch as both had been injured, it was reasonable that they would talk over their injuries and discuss the matter of who represented Breaker in his case. If, as exhibit 19 shows, Breaker then wrote respondent to the effect that Butherus wanted to see him, it is logical that respondent would arrange to see Butherus. Accordingly, we cannot say in this instance that the referee's finding should be set aside.