Court Opinion

ID: 7045270
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 06:54:22.258591+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:11:30.430658
License: Public Domain

Howk, J.
This was a suit by the appellees against the appellant, upon an open account for legal services rendered by them for the appellant, as his attorneys. The cause was put at issue and tried by a jury, and a verdict was returned for the appellees, and judgment was rendered accordingly.
In this court, the appellant has assigned the following errors:
1. Appellees’ complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.
2. The circuit court erred in sustaining the appellees’ demurrer to the fourth paragraph of the appellant’s answer.
In their complaint, the appellees alleged in substance, that on June 1st, 1880, the appellant became and was indebted to the appellees in the sum of $275, for legal services on and before that date performed for him by them as his attorneys, at his instance and request, as by bill' of particulars therewith filed and made part thereof, which said sum the appellant then and there promised to pay, but had ever since failed and wholly refused so to do; wherefore, etc.
*578The only point made in argument by the appellant’s counsel, against the sufficiency of appellees’ complaint, is, that it does not show that the debt in suit was due when this action was commenced. This point would not have been well made, as it seems to us, even if it had been presented by a demurrer to the complaint, before trial and judgment; but even if the complaint were defective, on the ground suggested, the defect is one that might have been cured by the verdict. This suit was commenced on June 17th, 1880, and it was alleged in the complaint, that on and before June 1st, 1880, the appellant “ became and was indebted,” etc. We think this averment was sufficient to show an indebtedness then due. Mayes v. Goldsmith, 58 Ind. 94. The last allegation of the complaint showed with reasonable certainty that the debt in suit remained unpaid. Higert v. Trustees of Ind. Asb. University, 53 Ind. 326, and cases cited. The complaint stated facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.
In the fourth paragraph of his answer, the appellant alleged, in substance, that, at the time the services sued for were rendered, the appellees and one Patrick C. Leary were partners in the practice of the law, having formed a partnership on May 26 th, 1879; that the agreement of partnership was in the words and figures following to wit: “ It is agreed between Julian and Julian, and Patrick C. Leary, that the said Julian and Julian are to attend professionally to all legal business of the said Leary, in the State of Indiana, and to do it skilfully and well, without any other compensation than as hereinafter stated; said Leary to pay all the cash expenses of travelling, boarding, etc., where it is necessary to go out of Marion county, and in connection with the business; and the said Leary is to get up such legal business as he, by means of his acquaintance and popularity, and by the use of the name of Julian and Julian, can get, and is to turn the same into the hands of Julian and Julian, who are to attend to the same faithfully and skilfully, and charge for the same fair prices, and collect and divide the same as follows, to wit: one-third *579to said Leary and two-thirds to said Julian and Julian • said Leary is not only to get up such business as he can, but is to render such assistance as he can, in getting up testimony,” etc. Signed and dated, May 26th, 1879.
And the appellant averred, that, as such partners, the appellees and said Leary performed the services sued for, and that said Leary, under and by virtue of the foregoing agreement, had a one-third interest in the cause of action, .stated-in appellees’ complaint; wherefore the appellant said that said Leary was a necessary party plaintiff in this action.
This paragraph of answer was duly verified by the appellant.
We are of the opinion that the court committed no error in sustaining the appellees’ demurrer to this fourth paragraph of answer. It is very clear, that the appellees and Leary did not, under or by force of their written agreement set out in said paragraph, become co-partners in the general practice of the law. By its terms, the agreement is expressly limited to the legal business of Leary in this State, and such legal business as he might get up and turn over to the appellees. All such business the appellees agreed that they would faithfully and skilfully attend to, charge fair prices therefor, and collect and divide with Leary the fees therefor in certain specified shares. The agreement did not give Leary any interest or share in the professional business of the appellees, except such as he got up and turned over to them, and, therefore, of itself, the agreement was not sufficient to show that the appellees and Leary were jointly interested in the account sued on in this action, or that Leary had any share or interest therein. In order to show that, under the agreement, Leary had any interest in the appellees’ cause of action, the appellant ought to have alleged, in the fourth paragraph of his answer, that the legal services mentioned in the complaint were rendered by the appellees, either in and about the legal business of said Leary, in this State, or in and about legal business got up and turned over by Leary to the appellees. In the absence of *580such allegations, it seems to us that the fourth paragraph of answer failed to show that Leary had any share or interest in the account in suit, or that he was a necessary party plaintiff in this action. Macy v. Combs, 15 Ind. 469; Emmons v. Newman, 38 Ind. 372.
Besides, the matters alleged in the fourth paragraph of answer could have been, and no doubt were, given in evidence under the third paragraph of answer, wherein the alleged partnership between the appellees and Leary, among other things, was pleaded in bar of this action. So that, even if the court had erred in sustaining the demurrer to the fourth paragraph of answer, the error would be harmless, and would not-be available for the reversal of the judgment below.
The judgment is affirmed, with costs.