Opinion ID: 1244906
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: It is also claimed by these objectors the trial court erred in allowing Guy A. Barber any sum for services rendered by him for the benefit of decedent.

Text: The burden imposed upon Barber was that he established his claim by a preponderance of the evidence. In re Estate of Stratman, 231 Iowa 480, 487-488, 1 N.W.2d 636, and Roth v. Headlee, 238 Iowa 1340, 1343, 29 N.W.2d 923. Of course, he was aided in this by the inference that where one ordinarily performs services for another which are known to and accepted by him, the law implies a promise to pay for such services. See In re Estate of Talty, 232 Iowa 280, 283, 5 N.W.2d 584, 144 A.L.R. 859. On the other hand this implication does not usually apply where there exists between the parties a husband and wife, or parent and child relationship. Ferris v. Barrett, 250 Iowa 646, 652, 95 N.W.2d 527. But in the case now before us the relationship between Martin and claimant was that of uncle and nephew by marriage, as a result of which any inference of gratuitous assistance would at most be relatively slight. Ferris v. Barrett, supra. In addition, while a claim in probate stands denied, the defense of gratuity is a special one not raised by general denial. Ferris v. Barrett, supra, loc. cit., 250 Iowa 650, 95 N.W.2d 527. And in the instant case no such special defense was asserted according to the record. So the matter of gratuitous service as a defense is not here involved, leaving to be determined only two questions, (1) whether an implied agreement arose under the facts and circumstances disclosed, by virtue of which it can be said decedent intended to pay for services rendered; and (2) whether claimant expected to be compensated for any benefits conferred on decedent. We are persuaded Guy A. Barber failed to establish his claim by the requisite degree of proof. Even aided by the foregoing inference or implication against any gratuity he was still required to establish his claim by a preponderance of the evidence. See Maasdam v. Estate of Maasdam, 237 Iowa 877, 889, 24 N.W.2d 316, and Roth v. Headlee, supra. In that regard the record discloses claimant, as a witness in his own behalf, testified as follows: (1) he kept no record of services allegedly performed; (2) he never expected to be paid for transportation, food, laundry and care supplied to Martin; (3) neither he nor his wife ever told Martin they wanted pay for these services; (4) there was never any understanding with Martin as to payment; (5) he did not decide to file a claim until the summer after Martin's death; and (6) he, Barber, derived a benefit from some of the things done for Martin. Touching on the foregoing this court said in Bartholomew v. Adams, 143 Iowa 354, 358, 121 N.W. 1026, 1027:    in order to recover upon an alleged implied contract with a person since deceased, it is the only just and safe rule to require that facts justifying the implication be well established, and nothing be left to mere conjecture. Without in any manner disparaging the present case, it is nevertheless unfortunately true that not infrequently claims which would never have been made against a party living are asserted against his estate when death has closed his mouth to speak in his own defense, and services for which a modest compensation would have been perfectly satisfactory if paid in his lifetime suddenly acquire added value to the mind of the creditor when payment is to be made by an administrator; and, in view of this tendency, and of the difficulty under which the representative of the estate must labor to defend against such demands, it is proper for the courts to require the showing for their allowance to be at least reasonably satisfactory. The case before us does not present such a record. Under existing circumstances we conclude the trial court erred in granting to Guy A. Barber any recovery on the claim filed by him.