Meyers v. Meyers

141 Ala. 343 | Ala. | 1904

IIABALSON, J.

The complaint contains the common counts only, each claiming $2,500; the 1st, for that sum due from defendant’s intestate, on July 1st, 1901; the 2nd, for money loaned by plaintiff to defendant’s intestate on January 1st, 1901; the 3rd for a like amount due on an account stated between plaintiff and defendant’s intestate, on July 1st, 1900; the 4th, for the same sum due for merchandise, goods, and chattels sold by plaintiff to defendant’s intestate July 1st, 1900; the 5th, for money paid by plaintiff for said intestate at his request on the 1st day of January,. 1900, and the 6th, for the same sum due for work and labor done by plaintiff for said intestate, at his request, on the 1st day of January, 1900, etc.

The pleas were the general issue, and the statute of limitations of 3, 6 and 10 years, and on these pleas, the cause was tried. There was no proof of the time when the intestate died, nor of when administration was taken on his estate.

The suit was really to recover of defendant the sum of $2,500, for services rendered liis intestate, W. J. Meyers, by the. plaintiff for 25 years before intestate’s death.

The proof for plaintiff tended to show that deceased, in bis lifetime, OAvned a farm of 200 acres, with stock and farming, implements, and that plaintiff, Avho was his son, and his Avife, lived with him and conducted the farm for 25 years before his father died; that for about 15 years before he died, his father was not able to do any Avork in the field, but spent his time about the house working in small patches, gutting wood and feeding the stock.

The evidence for the defendant tended to shoAV, that intestate was in good health up to the time of his death; Avas able to work, and until 2 or 3 years before he died, Avorked as a regular hand in the field, and for the last two or three years of his life, worked around the house, looked after the stock and put in full time at work.

There Avas no evidence allowed to be introduced that there Avas any agreement betAveem plaintiff and deceased, that the former should .be paid by the latter, for any services rendered by him for attending to the farm or for boarding and taking care of his father.

It is well settled here and elseAvhere, that betAveen parent and child, there can be no recovery by the child for the board, of the parent or for services rendered him by the child, in the absence of ah express agreement therefor. Although a son may render services to his parent, the: laAv regards such services as but the performance of a filial duty, Avhich every man OAves his párents, and implies no contract for compensation therefor. A recovery may, of course, be had upon the express contract, but to authorize a recovery thereon, such contract should be shoAvn by proof clear and unequivocal in terms. — Borum v. Bell, 132 Ala. 86; Leidig v. Coover's, Ex’rs. 47 Pa. 534; Zimmerman v. Zimmerman, 129 Pa. 229; Tyler v. Burrington, 39 Wis. 376; 3 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law (1st ed.), 361.

Recognizing these principles, the plaintiff sought to prove by his Avife, that she heard the deceased, in his life-time, make an agreement Avith plaintiff, to pay him for taking care of him; and by James Meyer, a son of plaintiff, that he heard his grandfather, the deceased, promise the plaintiff to pay him for supporting and earing for him. The defendant objected to such proof, on the ground in each instance, that the witness was interested in the result of the suit, and was incompetent to testify to any conversation or transaction between plaintiff and the deceased, which objection was sustained. The objection should have been overruled. The wife of the son of the intestate, and his grandson, James Meyer, Avere not heirs or legatees of deceased, nor were they beneficiaries of his estate, or have pecuniary interest therein, in such sort as disqualified them from testifying for the plaintiff under section 1794 of the Code. The mere fact of their relationship to plaintiff did not disqualify them. — Hill v. Helton, 80 Ala. 528; Harraway v. Harraway, 136 Ala. 500, 506.

The demurrer to the 6th plea, should have been sustained. This plea Avas filed as an answer to the entire complaint, which contained a count on a stated account, and the statute of limitations of three years pleaded to the complaint does not bar an action on such an account.

The case AAras tried with this evidence sought to be introduced to .show an agreement on the part of the deceased with plaintiff to pay the latter for talcing care of and supporting him excluded. Whether or not the evidence sought to be introduced by plaintiff, and injected, Avas competent or not, Avould depend upon the relation and terms of such an agreement, if one Avas had. If no agreement be shoAvn, then the plaintiff would not be entitled to recover. If one be sho>Avn, Avhetlier he Avould be entitled to recover anything, and Iioav much, would depend upon the relation and terms of such agreement.

As the case must be reversed for the exclusion of the testimony offered, Ave see no reason for deciding, at this time, any of the other questions raised in the case.

Reversed and remanded.