103 Mich. 62 | Mich. | 1894
Defendant, an attorney, was in February, 1890, employed by plaintiff in certain litigation then pending between herself and her husband, relating to a divorce, and also respecting a conveyance of land which was alleged to have been made in fraud of her rights. In June, 1890, he received from her $170, for which he gave her a receipt, as follows:
“This is to show that on the 9th day of June, 1890, I received from Polly Pierce $170, to be returned to her ■on demand.
“M. W. Underwood.”
.In December, 1891, plaintiff brought trover for the •aforesaid moneys, claiming a conversion of the fund. Defendant pleaded the general issue, and gave notice of set-off, and, upon the trial, claimed the right to show title in the husband.
It seems that in September, 1888, plaintiff's husband had secreted in the house in which the husband and wife lived some $1,200 or $1,400, to which plaintiff had access, and from which she had from time to time taken small
The only other question is whether defendant can be allowed to set off his claim for services, or show the extent of such claim in reduction of plaintiff’s damages. We think he can. The money in question came into his hands in the course of his employment. That employment continued for one year, during which time she made no-demand for the money. It was not until after the litigation had been disposed of that she applied for the money. In the'meantime he had expended, in the course of the litigation, various sums in her behalf, and had performed professional services for her without demand for further payments. It is well settled that an attorney has a lien upon the money of his client, in his possession, to secure
The action of trover has been termed an “ equitable action.” As is said in Rall v. Cook, the damages awarded in such action should only be such as the party is entitled to under .the circumstances of the case. If plaintiff is allowed to recover the full amount claimed, defendant may immediately sue her, and recover as damages the amount of his fees and expenditures. There is no valid reason why the whole matter may not he disposed of in the first suit, and circuity of action be thereby avoided.
The judgment is reversed, and a new trial granted.