77 Neb. 138 | Neb. | 1906
This action is for an accounting between former partners. The principal controversy is over the construction of a written agreement entered into by the parties at the time the partnership was formed. That part of the agreement over which this contention arises is in this language: “It is agreed between the parties hereto that they form a partnership in the practice of law in the city of Omaha, and to share and share alike in the profits therefrom. That so far as the business of John M. Macfarland is concerned, said business and all fees due and to become due is to be shared alike by the parties hereto, excepting the fees due said Macfarland in the Bohln and Cunningham cases.” At the time this agreement was entered into Mac-farland was of the Douglas county bar and maintainéd his office in the city of Omaha, while Altschuler was of the Lancaster county bar and maintained his office in the
The account stated by the district judge includes items of fees collected for services, a portion of which was rendered by individual members of the firm, after the dissolution of the partnership, in litigation where the firm had been retained prior to dissolution, as well as those received by appellant on account of business which he had on hand, where a portion of the services had been performed prior to the partnership agreement, and it is urged that these amounts should be diminished by the value of the services performed, both before the partnership and after its dissolution. It appears, however, in the decree that after the account was stated by the trial judge it was announced that the case would be reopened, if desired by either party, for the purpose of receiving evidence as to the fair and reasonable value of such services; that each party disclaimed any desire to offer further evidence, and the account was accordingly stated without reference to the value of the services involved. In view of this condition of the record we do not think either party should now be permitted to complain. The account is stated from a mass
We recommend that the decree be modified, by requiring the defendant to account for the sum of $1,145 only, and that he have a judgment in this court for a remainder of $35, and a decree foreclosing the chattel mortgage for that amount.
Judgment accordingly. •