54 P. 413 | Okla. | 1898
Opinion of the court by The above-named defendants in error commenced an action in the district court of Canadian county on February 22, 1897, to enjoin the defendants (in that suit) T. R. Jackson and Gillette Libby, from assigning or in any way transfering a certain judgment rendered in that court against the board of county commissioners of Canadian county, and in favor of T. R. Jackson, which judgment Jackson had previously assigned to Gillette Libby; but plaintiffs claimed that they were the equitable owners thereof.
The facts leading up to the present suit are about as follows: T. R. Jackson was the duly elected, qualified and acting sheriff of Canadian county during the years 1893 and 1894. He failed to make annual settlements with the board of county commissioners; but some time during the month of January, 1895, and after he had retired from office, he filed with such board itemized accounts for services claimed to have been performed by him as sheriff for that county, amounting to $839.80. On January 15, 1897, the county commissioners audited and allowed all of the accounts or claims of Jackson, and ordered warrants drawn therefor in his favor; but on the next day, January 16, 1895, the county commissioners rescinded and canceled the order of allowance made the *94 previous day, and assigned as a reason therefor that Jackson had collected and retained fees in an amount greater than his lawful salary, and that he (Jackson) was at the time indebted to the county in consequence thereof. On January 25, 1895, Jackson was indebted to the firm of Murphy, Carrol Brough in the sum of $221.05, and on that day he made and delivered to such firm the following order:
"EL RENO, January 25, 1895.
"County Clerk of Canadian County — Sir: Please issue and deliver to Murphy, Carrol Brough warrants allowed me as follows: One for $179.20, one for $42.00, one for $9.05, and one for $6.00.
[Signed] T. R. JACKSON."
And as a part of the same transaction, and at the same time, the parties entered into an agreement by which Jackson executed his note to Murphy, Carroll Brough for the amount due them, which note was to mature 60 days from that date; and the above order was delivered to Murphy, Carroll Brough upon the condition that, if the warrants mentioned in the order were issued and delivered to Murphy, Carroll Brough, the warrants were to be in full satisfaction and discharge of Jackson's indebtedness to them, and his promissory note was to be surrendered and canceled, but, if the warrants were not issued and delivered as directed in the order, then the promissory note was to remain in full force and effect. The warrants were never delivered to Murphy, Carroll Brough, and this note has never been paid by Jackson. They have frequently demanded payment, and Jackson has at all times acknowledged his liability thereon.
On February 1, 1895, Jackson was indebted to J. E. Jones in the sum of $162.75, and on that day he executed and delivered to said Jones his order, as follows: *95
"EL RENO, O. T., Feb. 1, 1895.
"J. K. Stone, County Clerk, Canadian County, O. T. — Dear Sir: You will please reserve out of warrants due me by Canadian county, O. T., the sum of $162.75, and deliver same to Mr. J. E. Jones, and oblige, yours truly.
[Signed] T. R. JACKSON."
At the time this order was given, it was agreed between the parties that the warrants referred to in the above order were to be delivered to and received by Jones in absolute payment of Jackson's debt to him. If, however the warrants mentioned in the order were not delivered as directed therein, then the debt due from Jackson to Jones was to remain a valid, subsisting liability until otherwise satisfied. Jones, some time after receiving the above order, assigned the same to one D. J. Young, who was the owner thereof at the commencement of the present suit.
On February 14, 1895, Jackson was indebted to one V. D. Tinklepaugh in the sum of $58, and on that day he executed and delivered to Tinklepaugh the following order and agreement:
"EL RENO, O. T., Feb. 14, 1895.
"Hon. County Clerk and Commissioners of Canadian County, O. T.: Please accept this order to issue and deliver to V. D. Tinglepaugh county scrip to the amount of $61.50 face value, and charge the same to my account.
[Signed] T. R. JACKSON."
Agreement: "This article of agreement, entered into this 14th day of February, 1895, between V. D. Tinklepaugh and Thomas Jackson, to-wit: that the said Jackson has this day and date issued an order on the county clerk and commissioners to V. D. Tinklepaugh for the said $61.50 as payment of an account of $58.00, and this shall be a receipt in full for the same when said scrip is issued and delivered to the said V. D. Tinklepaugh, but, in case *96 the scrip is not allowed, the said Jackson is still held for the amount.
[Signed] V. D. TINKLEPAUGH, T. R. JACKSON."
Since the execution and delivery of the order and contract, Jackson has paid Tinklepaugh $35, which reduces his claim from $61.50 to $26.50. This amount remains unpaid. At the time Jackson executed and delivered the order to Murphy, Carrol Brough, neither Murphy, Carroll Brough nor Jackson had any knowledge of the action taken by the board of county commissioners, on January 16, 1895, rescinding and disallowing Jackson's account. Murphy, Carroll Brough, Jones, and Tinklepaugh each filed their respective orders with the county clerk as soon as they received them, but no warrants have ever been issued in conformity therewith.
On may 29, 1895, the board of county commissioners of Canadian county instituted an action against T. R. Jackson, as sheriff of that county, and the sureties on his official bond, to recover from them a sum exceeding $3,000 alleged to have been collected and received by said Jackson as sheriff during his term of office, in the way of fees, and in excess of the amount of his lawful salary. Jackson answered by a general denial, and by a counter-claim, and in his counter-claim included the items and accounts for which he had issued the above orders to Murphy, Carroll Brough, Tinklepaugh and Jones, and which accounts had been allowed by the board of county commissioners on January 15, 1895, and warrants directed to be issued therefor, but which order was rescinded the following day.
On the trial of the cause between the board of county commissioners and Jackson, it was found by the district *97 court, upon a full accounting between Jackson, as sheriff, and said county, that Jackson was not indebted to the county in any sum whatever, but that the county was indebted to Jackson on the 15th day of January, 1895, in the sum of $588.16, and judgment was rendered in favor of Jackson and against the county, for that amount, which judgment included all of the accounts of Jackson against the county for which orders were by him executed and delivered to Murphy, Carroll Brough, Jones, and Tinklepaugh.
After Jackson had been sued on his official bond by the board of county commissioners, he employed Gillette Libby, a firm of attorneys living in El Reno, the place where such suit was pending, to defend that action and prosecute his counter-claim against the county; and, having no means with which to pay them for their services, he made an agreement with them whereby they were to have whatever judgment that Jackson might recover against the county, but, if Jackson failed to recover any judgment against the county, then and in that event Gillette Libby were to receive nothing for their services. During the pendency of the action, and before judgment, Jackson made, executed and delivered to Gillette Libby an assignment in writing whereby he conveyed or attempted to convey and transfer to them his claim against the county, which claim consisted of all his unpaid demands against the county involved in that action, and all of his right, title, and interest in and to any judgment thereon which might be recovered. Gillette Libby at the time of their employment as attorneys in the action between the county and Jackson, and at the time Jackson executed the written assignment to *98 them, had no actual knowledge or information that Murphy, Carroll Brough, Jones, or his assignee, Young, and Tinklepaugh, had any interest in any of the accounts or claims set up by Jackson in his defense against the action of the county against him. They first received information to this effect after the referee had filed his report in the district court, and before final judgment in the case.
On January 19, 1897, and after final judgment had been rendered, Gillette Libby filed an attorney's lien for $700 on such judgment for services rendered in that case, and caused the same to be entered of record in the judgment docket in said court opposite said judgment. At and prior to the bringing of this suit, Gillette Libby were trying to sell and transfer the judgment recovered by Jackson against the county, and claimed that they had a right to do so under their assignment and attorney's lien. Murphy, Carroll Brough then brought this suit, praying that Gillette Libby be enjoined from assigning such judgment, and for other relief, and made T. R. Jackson, V. D. Tinklepaugh, and the board of county commissioners co-defendants with Gillette Libby. Pleadings were filed by all of the parties to the action except the board of county commissioners, who filed no pleading of any kind, and did not appear at the trial before the referee or when the case was tried by the court. On the trial the court held that the rights of the persons holding the orders made by Jackson were prior and superior to those of Gillette Libby. From this judgment Gillette Libby and Jackson appeal to this court, without making the board of county commissioners a party defendant in error; and the defendants in error insist that, by reason of *99 this failure, all of the necessary parties were not made parties to the appeal, and there being a defect of parties on appeal this court has no power to consider the case, but should dismiss the appeal, and remand the case to the lower court. As this question goes to the jurisdiction of this court, we will consider it first, because, if it should be determined that all of the necessary parties are not made parties to the appeal, we would have no right or power to consider any other question in the case.
It is sometimes very difficult to decide who are necessary parties to an appeal, but in a case like the one under consideration we think the application of one or two simple tests given us by our law writers will settle the question: First, can a reversal or modification of the judgment appealed from in any way affect the board of county commissioners? And, second, could the board, if made a party to the appeal under any circumstances, change its present status? If it could not be in any way affected by the appeal, or could not under any circumstances change its status if made a party, then we think it would not be a necessary party. In the suit between the county and Jackson, Jackson recovered a judgment for $588.16. The board never appealed from that judgment, and it has long since become final, and the board, having failed to appeal from that judgment, can never change its liability thereon. The board of county commissioners was made a party in the present suit, but did not answer or appear at the trial. It defaulted in that suit, evidently because it had no interests that could be affected by any judgment which might be rendered in such action. This suit was an action over the judgment *100 rendered against the board of county commissioners, and in favor of Jackson. Gillette Libby were claiming all of said judgment by virtue of an assignment, and by their attorney's lien, while the plaintiffs and the other defendants were claiming a part of the judgment under their respective assignments of the claims against the county, which claims were included in said judgment. The board of county commissioners owes the judgment, and is only interested in seeing that it is not compelled to pay the judgment twice; and this, we think, it cannot be required to do under the circumstances in this case. It can go into court at any time, and pay the judgment standing against it, and take the clerk's receipt for the same, which would forever settle its liability. Neither of the parties to this action could thereafter cause such board any trouble. The board is simply a trustee, holding the fund for the party or parties whom the court may determine to be entitled to it. The court could at any time require it to pay the money or warrants therefor into court. It is immaterial to the board who it owes. Its liability is in the form of a judgment, and collection could be enforced at any time. A party is not a necessary party when he has no interests that can be affected in the suit, or does not stand as the representative of some other party who has some interest in the matter in controversy. We think the board of county commissioners is not a necessary party to the appeal in this case, and so hold.
The plaintiffs in error allege that the court erred in not sustaining the objections of plaintiffs in error (defendants below) to the introduction of any evidence on the trial on behalf of Murphy, Carroll Brough under their petition, on behalf of D. J. Young under his cross petition, *101 and on behalf of V. D. Tinklepaugh under his cross-petition, upon the ground that neither said petition and cross-petitions, nor either of them, stated facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against Gillette Libby or T. R. Jackson. An examination of the petition and cross-petitions referred to above satisfies us that there is no merit in the contention of plaintiffs in error, and without further comment we conclude that defendants' objections to the introduction of evidence under the pleadings referred to above were properly overruled.
The next point raised is that the several orders upon which the plaintiffs and cross-petitioners sought to recover were invalid, and not capable of being enforced, because not in writing, as provided by section 821 of the Statutes of Oklahoma, of 1893, which section is as follows:
"SEC. 821. The following contracts are invalid, unless the same, or some note or memorandum thereof be in writing, and subscribed by the party to be charged, or by his agent: * * Fourth, an agreement for the sale of goods, chattels or things in action, at a price not less than fifty dollars, unless the buyer accept or receive part of such goods and chattels, or the evidence of some of them, of such things in action or pay at the [time?] some part of the purchase money." * *
At the time these different orders for warrants were executed and delivered by Jackson to Murphy, Carroll Brough, Young, and Tinklepaugh, each of them, as well as Jackson, thought that Jackson's claims had been allowed by the board of county commissioners, and that they could secure warrants for the amount of their respective orders on presentation of such orders to the county clerk. The warrants, however, were never issued, *102 and evidently none of the parties thought that they had been issued at the time the orders were executed and the contracts entered into.
We do not believe that the orders executed by Jackson are limited to the construction given them by plaintiffs in error, viz. that by their terms they attempted to transfer warrants. The order of Murphy, Carroll Brough says: "Please issue and deliver to Murphy, Carrol Brough warrants allowed me as follows." * * The order of Jones says: "You will please reserve out of warrants due me by Canadian county, O. T., the sum of $162.75, and deliver the same to," etc. The order of Tinklepaugh says: "Please accept this order to issue and deliver to V. D. Tinklepaugh county script to the amount of $61.50, face value, and charge the same to my account," etc. The theory of plaintiffs in error regarding these orders is presented with a great deal of skill, and, from a casual reading it would seem some force; but taking into consideration the conditions as they then existed, and the relation of the parties to each other, we are of the opinion that these orders were intended as an assignment of the thing in action as it then existed; and, if the warrants were never issued, they were to transfer so much of Jackson's claim against the county as indicated by the respective orders to the holders of the same. If these orders reached the claims or accounts of Jackson against the county, what delivery could have been made of the chose in action, other than was made by Jackson to these parties? The delivery could only be a constructive one; actual delivery was impossible; and, when Jackson executed these orders to the defendants in error, such orders were such memoranda or writings, and the deliveries *103 thereof were such deliveries, as meet the requirements of section 821 of our Code.
It was held by this court in the case of Bank v. Gill,
"PHILLIPSBURG, Mont., Jan. 31, 1894.
"To James H. Henley, Superintendent Granite Mountain Mining Co., Granite, Montana — Dear Sir:
"Please deliver to Merchants' Miners' National Bank the check due me, March 15, for hauling wood from Cleveland shaft to Bimetallic Hoist,
[Signed] A. TYLER."
This order was immediately presented by the plaintiff bank to the mining company for acceptance, but it was not accepted, as there was no money yet due to Tyler. Tyler, however, continued to work for the mining company, which subsequently became indebted to him. The court, *104
in passing upon the question of the effect of such order, say: "The equitable doctrine with respect to an assignment of property to be acquired in future is extended to this species of equitable transfer. The fund need not be actually in being. If it exists potentially (that is, if it will, in due course of things, arise from a contract or arrangement already made or entered into when the order is given) the order will operate as an equitable assignment of such fund as soon as it is acquired, and will create an interest in it which a court of equity will enforce," — citing Brill v. Tuttle,
The court of appeals of Colorado, in the case of Bank v.Spratlen, 43 P. 1048, lay down the rule as follows: "An order to a bank to pay to the persons name a *105 specified sum, out of a special fund, belonging to the drawer, in the hands of such bank, constitutes an assignment of such fund to the persons named in the order, to the amount specified, whether the bank accept the order or not."
In Christmas v. Russell, 14 Wall. 84, it was decided: "A bill of exchange or check is not an equitable assignment, pro tanto, of the funds of the drawer in the hands of the drawee. But an order to pay out of the special fund has always been held to be a valid assignment in equity, and to fulfill all the requirements of the law."
In the case of Iron Works v. Kilgore, 67 N.W. 1017, the supreme court of Minnesota, in delivering the opinion in that case, used the following language: "An order attached to an account directing its payment to the party named in the order, and delivered to him, operates as an assignment of the debt or account, although the order is not accepted by the debtor, and is valid as against a subsequent garnishment."
It was said by the supreme court of Missouri in the case ofMacklin v. Kinealy, 41 S.W. 893, that "no particular form of words is required to constitute an assignment of a chose is action, any good showing of intent to transfer the owner's interest being sufficient."
The supreme court of Minnesota decided, in the case ofHurley v. Bendel, 69 N.W. 477, that, after a bill or account has been actually earned, an oral agreement between the parties, whereby one sells such account to the other, operates as a valid assignment thereof.
In the case of Griggs v. City of St. Paul, decided by the supreme court of Minnesota, and reported in 57 N.W. 461, where the party drew an order on the city which *106 was in words following: "To the City of St. Paul: Pay to S. $250, and deduct that amount from any money which may be due me on account of the grading of Parke avenue. [Signed] N." — it was held "that in view of the fact that the order was to a city which had no power to accept drafts generally on the credit of the drawer, that the instrument was not a draft or a bill of exchange, but an order payable out of a particular fund, and operated as a partial assignment of that fund." (See also the case of Lumber Co. v. Moore, handed down by the court of civil appeals of Texas, and reported in 41 S.W. 180.)
It was decided in the case of Hurley v, Bendel (Minn.) 69 N.W. 477, that, after a bill or account has been actually earned, an oral agreement between the parties, whereby one sells such account to the other, operates as a valid assignment.
The supreme court of Oregon, in the case of McDaniel v.Maxwell, reported in 27 P. 952, held that an order given to a bank by a party who had a claim against a city, and who at the same time entered into an oral agreement with such bank to the effect that it was to collect the money from the city, and the maker of the order was to draw orders on such bank in favor of persons working for him, in payment of their labor, which orders were to be honored by the bank whenever it had any such fund on hand, was an equitable assignment as against a third party garnishing the bank, and claiming to be a creditor of the party making such order.
In the case of Association v. Coleman, it was decided by the supreme court of appeals of Virginia. (26 S.E. 843,) that "to constitute an equitable assignment *107
all that is necessary is that the person to whom the fund is due, or is coming due, shall draw an order on the person having control of the fund, directing him to pay it to a person named," — citing Brooks v. Hatch, 6 Leigh. 541; Railroad Co.v. Miller,
In Joyce v. Wing Yet Lung, (Cal.) 25 P. 545, the court said "that an order drawn by a creditor on his debtor for the whole amount of the indebtedness operates as an equitable assignment of the debt to the payee, and a verbal acceptance of the order by the debtor is valid."
The authorities above cited, we think, are ample to sustain the position taken by this court, in holding that the orders issued by Jackson to Murphy, Carroll Brough, Tinklepaugh, and Jones, were sufficient to constitute an equitable assignment of the debt due from the county to Jackson to the amount named in the orders, such being the evident intent of the parties. The assignment of a part of a chose in action would have the same force and effect in law, and would convey the same title to the extent of the order as though the order were for the entire account; and it is not necessary to have the consent of the debtor to constitute an effectual assignment in equity of a part of a debt. The authorities supporting the right of a party to sell a portion of his chose in action are numerous, and emanate from the highest courts of this country. (See case ofPrice v. The Elmbank, 72 Fed. 610; In re Cofran, Id.)
Appellants contend that the liability existing from Jackson to Murphy, Carroll Brough, Tinklepaugh, and *108 Jones was not a sufficient consideration for the orders delivered to them as against the rights of Gillette Libby under their assignment and attorney's lien; especially so when it was agreed that Jackson should be liable to them if the warrants were not paid. We have already held that the delivery of these orders was a delivery of the chose in action, and that the order given to each of these parties constituted a written assignment thereof; this delivery and writing or memorandum took the transfer out of the statutes of fraud, as provided in section 821 of the statutes; and, having so decided, it is not necessary to determine the question of past consideration.
But what would be the legal effect if these orders were given as security for a past indebtedness? In our opinion, it would not make any difference whether the chose in action was assigned to the respective holders of the orders in full satisfaction of the claims due from Jackson to them, or to be held as security for the payment of such claims.
In the case of Fortunato v. Patten,
We come now to a consideration of the right of Jackson to set up the items included in the orders to Murphy, Carroll Brough, Tinklepaugh and Young (assignee of Jones) in his counter-claim, as an off-set against the suit of the county against him, and as to whether a judgment could be rendered in his name after the execution and delivery of such orders. The title of the chose in action, as heretofore stated, was vested in the parties holding the orders to the amount thereof, and they were the real parties in interest to that extent. Doubtless, under our statute, they could have each maintained an action against the county thereon, unless the county had objected to the division of the entire chose in action on account of the multiplicity of suits which might be occasioned thereby. Neither these parties, however, nor either of them, commenced any action but permitted Jackson to set up the items included in such orders as a counterclaim to the suit of the county against him. The holders of the orders entered no protest against Jackson, including the amount of their orders in his suit against the county, and did not even advise the attorneys representing Jackson in that suit that they had any interest in such accounts or claims; and, so far as we learn from the findings of fact, they may have said nothing to, Jackson with reference to such items. Jackson knew, however, that these items which he had included in his counter-claim were the property of the persons holding the orders. He, under the law, was bound to establish the validity of such account, and to show that the county was indebted to him for the amount of the same; and the *110 parties holding the orders had a right to presume that Jackson would truthfully and fully state the facts relative to the matter in controversy to his attorneys. The county had notice of the assignment of these items, but failed to plead such assignments in that controversy. Having failed to plead the assignments referred to above, after notice, it is possible that it would be still liable to the parties holding the orders had they not commenced the present suit, and sought to reach the fruits of the judgment recovered by Jackson against it; but, as all of the parties were before the court in this litigation, it might be said that the judgment in this suit would be res judicata. This, however, we do not decide. The question presented to us under the circumstances and under the findings of facts in this case is, who is the owner of the judgment rendered against the board of county commissioners, and in favor of Jackson? If the chose in action, to the amount of the orders, was not the property of Jackson when he filed his counter-claim, and was not his when judgment was rendered, can the judgment obtained on the items included in such orders be the property of Jackson, simply because he brought the suit in his own name, and recovered judgment on his counterclaim? We think not. The items assigned to Tinklepaugh et al. by the orders were, in equity, theirs. They had a right to the money derived therefrom, and, having that right, equity will grant them the proper relief; and Jackson is in no position in a court of equity to insist that he have the entire judgment, or that it be given to one to whom he had conveyed, after his conveyance of the chose in action on which the judgment was founded to other parties. *111
Now, what are the rights of Gillette Libby? They claim the judgment in this case by virtue of an assignment of the entire chose in action upon which the judgment was rendered, after the amounts represented by the orders had been assigned to Murphy, Carroll Brough, Tinklepaugh, and Young, and after the orders had been filed with the county clerk. They could acquire no greater right or interest in the chose in action than Jackson had at the time he assigned such claims to them. In other words, Gillette Libby took the chose in action subject to all existing equities of every other person therein. See 1 Pars. Cont. p. 229, sec. 3: "We have seen that an assignee of a chose in action takes it subject to all the equities of defense which exist between the assignor and the debtor. The assignee does not take a legal interest nor hold what he takes by a legal title; but he holds by an equitable title an equitable interest, and this interest courts of law will protect only so far as the equities of the case permit, and any subsequent assignee is subject to the equities of his assignor." When Gillette Libby received the assignment of this chose in action from Jackson, it was their duty to ascertain from the county what equities Jackson had to assign, and whether it had had actual notice of any previous assignment. It might be said, under the record in this case, that, even if Gillette Libby had made inquiry of the county as to what it owed Jackson, it would have denied any liability to him; yet these items were in controversy, and the county had been previously notified of the execution and delivery of these orders; and it is to be presumed that had it been asked as to any assignment of the claim, it, through its proper officers, would have answered truthfully. *112
The court of appeals of New York, in the case ofFortunato v. Patten,
It is stated in Drake on Attachment, in section 527, that "an equitable assignment will secure property against attachment for the debt of the assignor, though no notice be given, prior to the attachment, to the person holding the property, if it be given in time to enable him to bring it to the attention of the court before judgment is rendered against him, as garnishee. * * So, a judgment obtained in the name of A., to the use of B., is not attachable in a suit against A."
In Sutherland v. Reeve 38 N.E. 130, the supreme court of Illinois say: "A second assignee of a chose in action takes it subject to any equities between the original owner and the first assignee."
Many authorities could be cited sustaining the proposition that one to whom a chose in action is assigned takes it subject to all existing equities at the time of such assignment. If this be true, then the rights of Murphy, Carroll Brough, Tinklepaugh, and Young, and the rights of each and every one of them, were prior and superior to the rights of Gillette Libby under their assignment from Jackson. *113
The findings of fact in this case disclose that Gillette Libby learned of the assignment or the execution of these orders by Jackson to the defendants in error after the filing of the report of the referee, and before final judgment. Therefore, at the time the judgment was rendered in this case, they had full knowledge of the equities of the defendant in error. With this knowledge, can it be said that, by virtue of their attorney's lien filed after judgment, or by virtue of the assignment of the judgment after the rendition of the same, they acquired any interest in the judgment which was prior or superior to the interests of the parties holding the orders? Surely not. They do not even occupy the position of an innocent purchaser. They had knowledge of these assignments before judgment, and filed their liens with full knowledge of the same; and, having this knowledge, it cannot be said, on any hypothesis, either legal or equitable, that they should be preferred to the parties to whom Jackson had assigned the account or claims on which judgment was rendered. Under the record in this case, we also think that they are in no position to claim under their assignment, because by filing their attorney's lien they virtually admit that the judgment was not theirs, but debolnged to some one else. Their claims under the assignment and under their attorney's lien are inconsistent; and, having filed their lien after judgment, the assignment having been executed before judgment, the law presumes that they waive the assignment, and claim under their lien. It has been repeatedly decided that an attorney's lien after judgment will not take precedence over an assignment of either the chose in action or the judgment rendered thereon, executed prior to the filing of the lien. *114
The findings of fact in this case disclose that it was agreed by and between Jackson and Gillette Libby that they (Gillette Libby) were to have the proceeds of whatever judgment might be recovered against the county in that suit, but, if Jackson failed to recover an affirmative judgment against the county, Gillette Libby were to receive no compensation for their services. It is contended that this agreement gave them the right to any judgment recovered in that case. Could such a contract or agreement give them any interest in the subject-matter of the litigation? We hold that it could not.
In the case of Hull v. Culver, 32 N.E. 265, the supreme court of Illinois laid down the law as follows: "An agreement by a client to pay his attorney a reasonable compensation for his services, to be paid out of the proceeds of a proposed lawsuit, does not amount to an equitable assignment of an interest in the subject-matter of the litigation, or give the attorney a right to intervene in the suit."
It is contended by plaintiffs in error that the trial court erred in its findings of fact, and also in its refusal to make certain other findings requested by appellants. After examining the record, we conclude that the evidence reasonably supports the facts found by the trial court, and cannot discover any error in the court's refusal to make the special findings requested by plaintiffs in error.
This disposes of all questions of law presented by the plaintiffs in error, except the question as to the correctness of the judgment and order of distribution of the trial court. The court found that it was by virtue of the labor of Gillette Libby, as attorneys for Jackson, that *115 the judgment was recovered, and the indebtedness from the county to Jackson established. The court also found that the services of Gillette Libby were reasonably worth the amount of their claim of $700, for which they filed their attorney's lien. It also found that the items for which the orders were executed to Murphy, Carroll Brough, Tinklepaugh, and Young, assignee of Jones, were included in the judgment of $588.16 rendered against the county, and in favor of Jackson. The court, in its final order for distribution of the fund, held that, inasmuch as the items included in the orders given by Jackson to Murphy, Carroll Brough, Tinklepaugh, and Young, assignee of Jones, were included in Jackson's judgment against the county, said Murphy, Carroll Brough, Tinklepaugh, and Young were the equitable owners of the judgment so rendered, to the amount of their respective orders; but inasmuch as such claims had been established, and judgment recovered through the labor and skill of Gillette Libby, as attorneys in that case, that they each pay out of their respective claims to Gillette Libby, 25 per cent. thereof, and that Gillette Libby, under their contract with Jackson, should have the remainder of such judgment. This decree and order of the trial court, we think, was reasonable and just. While the court found as a fact that the services of Gillette Libby in that case were reasonably worth the sum of $700, it must be remembered that they not only prosecuted the claims for which this judgment was rendered against the county, but defended Jackson in a suit involving over $3,000; and, as the trial court did not find in express terms what part of the attorney's fees would be a reasonable proportion for the parties holding the orders to pay, we think it fair to conclude that it considered *116 25 per cent. of the respective claims a reasonable attorney's fee for prosecuting their part of the action against the county therefor. An attorney's fee of 25 per cent. of the amount recovered is under these circumstances, we think, a reasonable fee. It was admitted by the plaintiffs in error in this suit, that, at the commencement of this action in the district court, they were each insolvent, and not responsible in damages to the defendants in error. Having found that the defendants in error, Murphy, Carroll Brough, Tinklepaugh, and Young are the equitable owners of the judgment in controversy, to the amount of their orders, we must also decide that the injunction was properly granted. Our examination of the record in this case, and of the briefs of the respective parties to this suit, fails to disclose any error by the trial court.
For the reasons herein stated, the judgment of the lower court is hereby affirmed. The costs of this appeal will be taxed to the plaintiffs in error. The clerk of this court will issue a mandate to the court below in conformity herewith.
Tarsney, J., having presided in the court below, not sitting; all the other Justices concurring. *117
