52 Kan. 245 | Kan. | 1893
The opinion of the court was delivered by
John H. Mahan and W. P. Seeds recovered a judgment against J; B. Ehrsam for $242, a balance alleged to have been due for legal services rendered in a right-of-way controversy between .Ehrsam and a railway company. An award of damages had been made to Ehrsam for a right-of-way through his premises with which he was dissatisfied, and from which he desired to appeal to the district court. He authorized one Hoffman to employ counsel to take such steps as were necessary to perfect an appeal and protect his interests. On the part of Ehrsam, it was claimed that Hoffman employed Mahan only, and for no other purpose than to perfect an appeal, and that for this service he had paid Mahan
If the contract is as stated by Mahan and Seeds, they were entitled to recover the amount claimed, and if it is as claimed and testified to by Ehrsam and his witnesses, there was nothing due and no recovery could be had. The witnesses for the respective parties pointedly contradicted each other upon nearly all the essential facts in the case, but the jury, who heard the case, settled these disputes in favor of Mahan and Seeds. The finding of the jury, which has been confirmed by the trial court, substantially disposes of the case. While Hoffman’s authority to employ anyone other than Mahan is denied, he states that he had authority in a general way to attend to the right-of-way business for Ehrsam; and it is admitted that Mahan was employed. According to the finding of the jury the only contract that was made was the one that was negotiated directly with Seeds through a telephone, upon the last day when an appeal could be taken. By that contract, Ehrsam was to pay for legal services 20 per cent, of any excess which might be obtained over the award, and that much one or both of the attorneys were entitled to recover. There was unquestioned authority to employ Mahan at least, and the
There is some criticism of the instructions, but we discover no prejudicial error in them, nor do we see any ground for disturbing the verdict or judgment. Judgment affirmed.