Andrews v. Morse

12 Conn. 444 | Conn. | 1838

Church, J.

The facts, as drawn up and agreed to, by the parties in this case, present but a single question. Have the attorneys of the plaintiff in the execution, by whom professional services have been rendered and moneys disbursed, in the progress of the suit which produced the execution, such a claim upon the judgment and execution, as against the defendant therein, as ought to be protected ?

We have believed that the opinion expressed by us, in the case of Gager & al. v. Watson, 11 Conn. Rep. 168. sanctioned this claim of the attorneys; but as this has been doubted, we will consider the question again. We do not say, nor do we believe, that attorneys in any case have a lien upon the judgments and papers of their clients similar to that which manufacturers and others have upon goods and moneys in their hands. We only say, that they have, in certain cases, of which this is one, such a claim upon them as courts of law and equity will protect and enforce, until their lawful fees and disbursements are paid, subject to the equitable rights of others.

This claim, which has been generally denominated a lien, has long been recognized, by the English courts of law and equity ; although the court of King's Bench has extended the claim of the attorney farther than the court of Common Pleas has been willing to follow. And in courts of equity, the precise extent of the lien has not been uniformly recognized. The variety of practice on this subject in the English courts, at length produced a rule of the twelve judges, by which, in 1832, the practice of the court of King's Bench was adopted, as applicable to all the courts. But we think the attorney’s lien, to the extent to which wTe recognize it, has not been denied, in any of the common law courts of England.

In the case of Rumrill v. Huntington, 5 Day 163. Trumbull, J., in giving the opinion of the court, says: “ It is a gene-i - ■ , i • j ral principle, that an attorney has a hen for his services expenses on the papers and securities of his client, &c. But an attorney has no lien upon a judgment obtained in favour of his client, which can vary or affect the rights of a stranger.” And we said in the case of Gager & al. v. Watson, that “ the attorney’s lien upon judgments is subject to the equitable claims of the parties in the cause, as well as to the rights of third persons, which cannot be varied or affected, by such lien.” A claim of the attorney to this extent was recognized in the following cases, decided by the court of Common Pleas and King’s Bench. Emden v. Darley, 1 New Rep. 22. Swain v. Senate, 2 New Rep. 98. Wilkins & al. v. Carmichael, Doug. 97. Mitchell v. Oldfield, 4 Term Rep. 123. Run-dle v. Fuller, 6 Term Rep. 452. Read v. Dapper, 6 Term Rep. 360. Ormerod v. Tate, 1 East, 464.

In the case of Pinder v. Morris, 3 Caines’ Rep. 165. the supreme court of the state of New- York held, that if the defendant pay to the plaintiff the debt and costs, after notice from the attorney, he pays in his own wrong ; and this is the principle established or recognized in the two last cases cited from the English books. This subject is well considered, by the same court, in the case of Martin v. Hawks, 15 Johns. Rep. 405.; and the claim of the attorney placed, as we think, upon its true ground. In that case, the attorney is treated in regard to his lien, as the assignee of a chose in action is considered, who takes it subject to all the rights and equities attached to it. And this is considered the true doctrine, by Lord Mansfield, in the case of Welsh v. Hole, Doug. 238. and by Lord Kenyon, in the case of Read v. Dapper, 6 Term Rep. 361. and by the court of errors of the state of New- York, in the case of Nichol v. Nichol, 16 Wend. 446. This principle is entirely consistent with the doctrine of this court in the cases of Rumrill v. Huntington, and Gager &, al. v. Watson.

If we apply this principle to the facts in this case, we cannot fail to discover, that the claims of the attorneys here have not been defeated, by any legal or equitable rights of others; but exist as perfectly against Andrews, the execution debtor, who prosecutes this injunction, as against their own client, Morse. The execution was delivered, by the attorneys, to the officer, with a notice of their lien, and with directions to collect and pay over its proceeds to them. And the same notice was given to the debtor in the execution, before any thing had transpired, changingthe relative rights or duties of any of the parties interested, and before any thing had been paid on the execution. Under these circumstances, this debtor had no equitable claims. He paid with full notice of the attorneys’ prior claim, and in defiance of it. In this, his conduct was collusive and fraudulent; and the payment was made in his own wi'ong.

We shall advise the superior court, that the injunction in this case ought to be dissolved ; and that the plaintiff take nothing by his bill.

In this opinion the other Judges concurred.

Bill to be dismissed.