47 Kan. 104 | Kan. | 1891
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This controversy grows out of a proceeding originally instituted by the defendant in error, L. J. Webb, before the board of county commissioners of Hamilton county. On December 12, 1887, Webb filed with the county clerk and the board of county commissioners of Hamilton
Many questions are presented to this court, among which is the question of the validity of the contract upon which the plaintiff below, Webb, bases his claim. It purports to be a contract between the board of county commissioners of Hamilton county and Webb, employing him as an attorney and counselor at law to perform legal services in certain cases pending in the supreme court, and agreeing to pay him therefor the sum of $1,000. It appears, however, conclusively from the evidence in the case that the contract was not made by the board of county commissioners, nor in legal session, nor at the county seat, nor in Hamilton county, nor by all the members of the board, nor in the presence of the county clerk or county attorney; but it was made by only two members of the board, at the city of Topeka, and these two members made the contract without any previous authority from the board, and the contract has never been ratified, confirmed or recognized as legal or valid by the board. Such a contract is of course void. (Merrick Co. v. Batty, 10 Neb. 176; P. & F. R. Rly. Co. v. Comm’rs of Anderson Co., 16 Kas. 302; Comm’rs of Anderson Co. v. P. & F. R. Rly. Co., 20 id. 534; Aikman v. School District, 27 id. 129; Mincer v. School District, 27 id. 253; Sullivan v. School District, 39 id. 347.)
As the aforesaid contract was and is void, and as the case was tried by the court below upon the theory that the contract was entirely valid, it follows that the judgment of the court below must be reversed. But it does not follow, however, that the plaintiff below, Webb, is entirely without remedy, or that he cannot recover anything for any of his services. The tend
The judgment of the court below will be reversed, and the cause remanded for a new trial.