Opinion ID: 2077880
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: francis j. bick

Text: Francis J. Bick, an employee of the E.J. & E. Railroad, died in an accident in November, 1947. His widow, who resided at Joliet, Illinois, testified that shortly after the death of her husband, Howard Curtin called at her home and said that he had found out about the case by reports from Washington; that he said respondent represented Dana Mayhew of Joliet; that he called Mrs. Mayhew by telephone and requested Mrs. Bick to talk with her; and that in this conversation, Mrs. Mayhew said they were pleased with the respondent's services. She further testified that Curtin said the respondent represented Clark Gable when Gable sued for the death of Carole Lombard and that respondent got him $75,000; that she should expect from $27,000 to $65,000 in this case; and that Curtin opened up a portfolio and showed her photostatic copies of large checks, settlements, etc. She was corroborated by a sister-in-law and brother. She further testified that she went to respondent's office with Curtin, who introduced her to respondent by saying, Mr. Heirich, you told me not to come in without the Bick case, and here it is. Respondent called J.R. Riley, a former client and sales manager for National Cartage Co. of Joliet, who testified that he attended the wake and funeral for the decedent; that he was a friend of the Bick family; that he talked with them and that at the request of the father of the deceased, he called respondent and asked him to see the relatives of the decedent. No rebuttal testimony was offered to refute this statement. However, it is significant that Curtin never referred to Riley as his contact in this case, but rather, cited the Washington reports as the source of his knowledge concerning this fatal injury. The majority notes that no rebuttal testimony was offered to refute the testimony of J.R. Riley and has applied the rule that under such circumstances a presumption arises against the party failing to produce contradictory testimony. Such rule is applicable here to the same extent as under a like factual situation hereinafter mentioned. The undenied testimony of Mrs. Bick is that after she had obtained an offer of settlement from the railroad in the sum of $20,000, Curtin offered to give her a written guarantee of $25,000 in connection with the case and later did present her with a letter signed by respondent, whereby respondent agreed that out of the money recovered from the railroad, Mrs. Bick would receive not less than $25,000 net to herself as administratix before attorney fees would be deducted and that she would receive three fourths of the total recovery. (Complainant's exhibit 49.) In the interim, Mrs. Bick had been offered $30,000 by the railroad and she so told Curtin who crossed out the $25,000 figure and wrote in $30,000 and wrote alongside this figure, O.K. Howard J. Curtin. This guarantee letter was dated March 19, 1949, and the retainer contract was dated and signed March 24, 1949.