112 Neb. 327 | Neb. | 1924
Plaintiff, an adult daughter, filed a claim in the county court of Otoe county against her father’s estate, defendant herein, for $4,000, being $10 a week from November, 1910, to March 24, 1919, which she alleges is due her on an unwritten contract between them entered into before the services were rendered, she agreeing, in consideration of his promise to pay, to do the housework and to nurse and care Tor her aged parents, which she did up and until their death. The administrator objected to allowance of her claim, for the reason that the estate did not owe the debt; that whatever services she rendered she rendered as a member of the family; that the greater part of the claim is barred by the statute of limitations. These allegations were followed by a general denial. Case tried to county court, finding and judgment for plaintiff. Administrator appealed, tried in district court, on same pleadings, to jury, verdict and judgment for amount claimed. Administrator appeals.
The defendant for reversal relies on the following: That the verdict is not supported by the evidence; that a guardian was appointed for the father on the 20th day of May, 1913, and by reason thereof the contract terminated; that the claim is barred by the statute of limitations.
Taking these questions in their order, we find from the
The contract is one without any definite time of payment, as well as without any definite time of termination, hence it is a continuing contract and the statute of limitations did not commence to run until on the father’s death, to wit, March 24, 1919. Hence, the claim that no part thereof was barred by the statute of limitations. Ah How v. Furth, 13 Wash. 550; Purviance v. Purviance, 14 Ind. App. 269; Whitehead v. Rhea, 168 S. W. (Tex. Civ. App.) 460; Clark v. Gruber, 74 W. Va. 533; In re Estate of Oldfield, 158 la. 98; Sullenbarger v. Ahrens, 168 Ia. 288; Story v. Story, 1 Ind. App. 284; Grave v. Pemberton, 3 Ind. App. 71; Knight v. Knight, 6 Ind. App. 268.
The appointment of the guardian did not terminate the contract. “Where the relation of master and servant exists by reason of a mutual contract of hiring and service, the contract is not terminated by subsequent insanity of the master, as the relation in such case is more than the bare relation of principal and agent.” Sands v. Potter, 165 Ill. 397. In this Illinois case the master was found to be insane, taken to the asylum, and his wife appointed conservator, after the service contract was made. In the instant case the father’s ability to make the contract is not and never was questioned. The law as announced in the Sands
Other assignments of alleged error have been presented, which we have examined, but in view of our decision we do not find it necessary to discuss.
The judgment of the district court is right, and is in all things
Affirmed.
Note — See Limitations of Actions, 25 Cyc. p. 1104 — Insane Persons, 32 C. J. p. 731, sec. 502; Executors and Administrators, 24 C. J. p. 867, sec. 2184.