Opinion ID: 2074116
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: c.t. curran case.

Text: C.T. Curran, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, testified in his deposition taken January 12, 1948, that he was injured March 27, 1942, while in the employ of the Burlington railroad; that he first met respondent at his (Curran's) home in Lincoln when Pete Grandmougin brought him there, but not at the request of Curran, although he knew that Grandmougin was coming and that he had known the latter for many years. He said that respondent wanted him to turn his case against the Burlington over to him. He said that respondent called again several months later and that he furnished the money for Curran to go to Minneapolis to be examined by a doctor, but that he could not remember the time of year nor was he sure as to the year that he was there. Curran said that while he was in Minneapolis he talked the case over with respondent, but, because liability would be hard to prove, respondent lost interest in the case. On cross-examination, he said that while in Minneapolis he talked with respondent about the case, and the latter advised him to try to settle it himself and that if he could not do so to come back and see him; that he settled the case himself sometime in 1943 without aid or assistance from respondent and that he never made any contract with respondent to represent him. He admitted that respondent did not influence him. He said that he talked with the claim agent of the Burlington, with Mr. Samson (Nebraska's special assistant attorney general), and with petitioner's attorney. He admitted signing petitioner's exhibit Z-72 sometime during the summer of 1947. This was a statement to the effect that he was injured on March 27, 1942; that about six weeks afterward Pete Grandmougin, who he said was a friend of his and whom he had known for a long time, brought respondent to see him; that he discussed his case with respondent, who advised him to come to Minneapolis to see how badly he was hurt. He then stated that he went to Minneapolis a few days later and, after having a medical examination there, discussed the matter further with respondent, who then advised him to try to settle the case himself and that if he could not to come back. He explained that Eleanor Greene took from him the statement referred to after spending two days trying to get into his house. He said that she insisted on his giving a little statement and that he finally signed it. He said that he had given a sworn statement to the railroad claim agent and to Mr. Samson in 1942 or 1943, and that he had refreshed his recollection from that statement the day he testified. He said that he had no idea as to the date he was in Minneapolis. Petitioner's counsel offered the statement in evidence at the time the deposition was taken, but before offering it wanted respondent to agree that it would be received in evidence without his seeing the statement. This respondent refused to do. None of this testimony, however, pertaining to Curran's statement, taken by Samson, referred to in the deposition, was read into the record before us. Respondent testified that he was in Denver in 1942 and that he wrote Pete Grandmougin informing him that he was stopping off in Lincoln on his return to take some depositions. He claimed that Grandmougin referred him to Curran, who, he said, wanted to talk with him. While in Lincoln he called on Curran with Grandmougin, and he claims that he informed Curran that he had a tough case for liability. He further claimed that Curran wanted him to handle his case, but that he would not do so until he had made a further investigation as to liability. Respondent further testified that Curran mentioned to him that several railroad men who were injured were examined by Minneapolis doctors and that he intended to go to Minneapolis for an examination. Respondent claims that he told Curran that if he came to Minneapolis he should drop in to see him while he was there. It appears then from respondent's testimony that he got a medical report in connection with Curran's injuries and found that they were not too serious, and he claims that he recommended to Curran that he go back and settle his case and go to work again for the Burlington. He further claims that he did not charge Curran anything for services and that the latter never complained to him about any service rendered. Pete Grandmougin testified that he had known Curran for perhaps 10 or 12 years and that the latter talked to him about his injuries. He said that Curran had a back injury and was in a cast at practically the same time that he (Grandmougin) was when he was injured; that he could not get around very well, and he called up Grandmougin and asked him to come over and see him, as both parties lived in Lincoln. He claimed that he did call at Curran's home and that the latter wanted to know about respondent, as he was considering respondent or Mr. Davis for his lawyer. Grandmougin claimed that he told Curran he could not tell him which one to take, but that he had been very well satisfied with his attorney (respondent). He claims that Curran then asked him how can I get hold of him. Grandmougin testified that in the meantime he had written respondent about some insurance business he had in regard to his case and had just received a letter from respondent, who had been in Denver, that he would stop in Lincoln on his way to Minneapolis. This was before Grandmougin had gone to the Curran home. He claims that in response to Curran's inquiry as to how he could get hold of respondent he replied,    well, I'll tell you, Con, if you're not in too big a hurry, Mr. Rerat is going to be at my home in a day or two, and if you want to see him I'll bring him over, which he did. He claims that he did not know what took place after that or whether respondent handled Curran's case or not. He reiterated his statement that Curran asked him to contact respondent and that he took the latter over to Curran's home because of the request made to him by Curran to do so. The referee found that respondent did not accept employment by Curran and did not act as attorney for him in connection with his injuries. He conceded that Curran's testimony by deposition was positive and adverse to respondent, but also said that the testimony of respondent and Grandmougin was fully as positive as Curran's in contradiction of what the latter said, and that their testimony was corroborated by Curran's statement, petitioner's exhibit Z-72 referred to above. The referee found from the preponderance of proof that respondent was not guilty of solicitation in his connection with the Curran case against the Burlington. From our examination of the record, in considering the various statements, contradictions, and uncertainties on the part of Curran as to the dates and times when he is claimed to have visited Minneapolis, we feel that the referee's findings should not be disturbed in this case.