81 N.Y.S. 927 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1903
Ellen Miarla Clune, the grandmother of the respondent, died intestate in 1857, leaving an account in the Bank for Savings, Manhattan Borough, New York, amounting to upwards of $2,300. In November, 1900, the bank advertised for information as to the heirs or next of kin of the depositor. The advertisement came to the notice of the appellant, who is an attorney at law practicing in the city, and a cousin of the respondent, who is the only, next of kin of the deceased. The appellant, shortly after seeing the advertisement, visited the respondent (they being previously unacquainted), and procured from her on December 11, 1900, a signed agreement or authority, as follows: ' '
“I hereby authorize and empower George Wm. Olune as my Attorney to demand, receive or collect in my stead and for me any money or monies credited to or coming to Ellen Maria dune or to which the said Ellen Maria Olune was entitled to, or her heirs are now entitled to, and to obtain the same for me as heir of said Ellen Maria Olune, and I agree to pay him for collecting the same, one-third (%) of the amount recovered or received. All expenses of any kind whatsoever are to be paid from the one-third received by the said George Wm. Olune, my attorney.
“Dec. 11, 1900. Adele T. Pieris.”
The appellant rendered certain services pursuant to the authority conferred, the details of which need not be stated, but he brought no •action and instituted no special proceeding in the Supreme Court. He did apply in the Surrogate’s Court of the county of New York for the issuance of letters of administration to the respondent upon the estate of the deceased, which application was granted by that court; but the respondent had then become dissatisfied with the terms of the agreement, and refused to qualify as administratrix through the appellant’s agency, or to deal with or recognize him further as her attorney. On May 16, 1901, the respondent procured on petition an order of the Supreme Court requiring the appellant to show cause why an order should not be granted, pursuant to the provisions of section 66 of the Code of Civil Procedure, determining his lien. On the return day a reference was directed requiring the referee to take proof of the facts, and to report the same with his opinion. The referee, after taking proof, reported the same, with his opinion, in the following words, the “paper” alluded to being the authorization signed by the respondent on December xx, 1900:
“I am of the opinion that in failing to advise the client of the amount of her interest in the fund, which was two thousand three hundred and thirty-five and 88/ioo dollars, the persistent persuasion of her by him not to have independent advice before signing the paper, the promise to tear up the paper if she should be dissatisfied, and the failure to do so upon the expression of the dissatisfaction, makes such paper no contract between the attorney find the client. It is also my opinion that for the work done in this case, as hereinbefore set forth, one-third of a fund of two thousand three hundred and thirty-five and 08/ioo dollars is an unjustly excessive charge, and it is my opinion that the reasonable- value of the attorney’s services is three hundred ($300) dollars.”
On the appellant’s motion to dismiss the proceedings the order appealed from was granted denying the same, and further ordering that the report be “in all respects confirmed.”
The section of the Code of Civil Procedure under which this pro
It was held in Matter of King, 168 N. Y. 53, 60 N. E. 1054, that upon the petition of the client or attorney under the section of the Code in question the court not only has jurisdiction, but it must either itself, or by a reference, in its discretion, determine the amount of a client’s indebtedness to. his attorney, as the provision conferring such summary power only provided a new remedy for an existing right, is not unconstitutional, and the parties are not entitled to a jury trial. The question presented, of course, is not one relating to the general employment of counsel, or the rendition of professional services, where no legal proceedings are pending or result in behalf of the client, or in which he is interested, but applies only to the case at hand, where the employment is to collect a specific fund, and legal proceedings are conducted in aid of that purpose. I see no reason, under the authorities, for denying the jurisdiction of the court to ascertain and determine the lien which the appellant has upon the deposit in this case and upon the proceedings taken in order to collect it.
There is no ground for disturbing the result upon the merits. The respondent did insist upon an opportunity to obtain independent advice several times before she signed the authorization as the appellant himself admits. He did not tell her where the money was, nor its exact amount. The information conveyed to her was that he had
“She still spoke about seeing this friend before signing. I arose, and said, ‘If you want me to go ahead, you have got to have confidence in me; if not, then I will not proceed.’ She said, ‘Of course, I want you to get the money for me, but I haven’t had experience with lawyers.’ I told her that the relations between a lawyer and client were sacred, and that, as I knew about this money, that, if she wanted me to go ahead with it, that I wanted to be protected. She then signed the paper.”
I think a court of equity having jurisdiction may, in the adjustment of the indebtedness between client and attorney, discard the agreement so procured as not conclusively binding upon the former, and limit the lien to such an amount as will afford ample compensation. It cannot be said upon the proof that the sum fixed by the referee is ■insufficient. The order should be affirmed.
Order affirmed, with $10 costs and disbursements. All concur. •