21 P.2d 638 | Cal. Ct. App. | 1933
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *395 This is an appeal from a judgment rendered against the distributee of an estate, for attorney's fees for services performed with the acquiescence of the executrix, which employment was not completed at the time of final distribution.
The respondent is an attorney at law. He was employed by Alexander F. Forni as an associate counsel with other attorneys in the prosecution of three important civil actions. Pending the trial of these cases, Forni died. His surviving widow, Nettie L. Forni, who is one of the defendants in this action, was appointed executrix of his estate. The respondent did not represent the executrix in the probating of the estate. There is ample evidence to indicate that subsequent to her appointment as executrix of the estate of her deceased husband, Nettie L. Forni ratified the employment of respondent as one of the attorneys in the civil actions and accepted the benefit of his legal services in behalf of the estate; that these actions were terminated favorably to the interest of the estate, but were not completed until after distribution of the estate had been made; that the residue of the estate valued at $200,000 was distributed to the widow of said deceased; that the respondent had no knowledge of the proposed distribution of the estate until after the decree had been rendered, and that the probate court had no knowledge *396 of the pending litigation or the unpaid counsel fees at the time of distribution.
After the termination of the civil suits, the respondent demanded of the defendant Nettie L. Forni, payment of his fees. This was refused on the claim that he was employed by the other associate lawyers to assist them, and that he did not represent the executrix. This suit was then instituted against Mrs. Forni, the distributee of the residue of the estate of her husband on the theory that she ratified respondent's employment and accepted the benefit of his legal services in behalf of the estate, and that she wrongfully procured a settlement of the final accounts of the estate representing that all debts and expenses of administration had been paid, and obtained distribution of the residue of the estate to herself before the legal services of the respondent were completed and without notice of the distribution or knowledge thereof on his part. The other attorneys were made parties defendant because they did not join respondent as plaintiffs in the action.
Upon trial, the court found that the respondent was employed by Nettie L. Forni, as executrix of the estate, together with the other attorneys, and that he performed legal services for the benefit of the estate of the reasonable value of $700, no part of which had been paid. All of the allegations of the complaint were found to be true. Judgment was accordingly rendered against her for that sum. Judgment for costs only was rendered against the other defendants. From this judgment all of the defendants have appealed.
The appellants contend that under the provisions of section
[1] The complaint alleges facts sufficient to constitute an equitable cause of action against the defendant Nettie L. Forni personally. It recites that the respondent was employed by Alexander F. Forni, together with other attorneys, to represent him in three civil actions; that pending the trial of these cases Forni died; that his surviving widow, Nettie L. Forni, was appointed executrix of his estate; that as such executrix she thereafter employed these attorneys, including the respondent, to continue their employment until the civil actions which involved property belonging to the said estate were completed; that the respondent did not represent the executrix in the probating of the estate; that without notice to or knowledge on the part of respondent, the executrix procured a decree of the probate court settling her final account in the estate of her husband, representing to the court that all debts and expenses of administration had been paid, and procured final distribution to herself of the residue of the estate valued at $200,000; that the executrix was thereupon discharged; that at the time of distribution the pending litigation had not been completed, as the executrix well knew; that she procured distribution of the estate and her discharge as executrix to defeat respondent's claim for services against the estate, and that his legal services were reasonably worth the sum of $2,000. No demurrer to this complaint was filed.
These facts, in the absence of a demurrer, constitute a good equitable cause of action, establishing a resulting trust which is founded on extrinsic fraud so as to charge the executrix personally with the obligation to pay for the legal services rendered in behalf of the estate.
[2] While it is true the prayer of the complaint fails to ask for an adjudication that a resulting trust founded upon extrinsic fraud was created, the allegations of the pleadings necessarily include that issue, and the cause was tried upon the theory that it was involved in the litigation. The nature of an action must be determined from a consideration of the pleadings as a whole. While the prayer should be considered, together with the allegations of the pleadings in determining the nature of an action, it is not necessarily controlling. The theory upon which an *398
action is mutually tried by respective litigants may determine the nature of the cause. (15 Cal. Jur. 335, sec. 12; Woolsey v.Woolsey,
[3] In the present case it was unnecessary to specifically find that a resulting trust was created by the fraud of the executrix for the reason that the allegations of the complaint were sufficiently clear and unambiguous to present that issue, and the court did find that all the allegations of the complaint were true. (Fritz v. Mills,
[4] When a judgment is fully supported by the findings which are adopted by the court, a failure to specifically find upon a material issue does not necessarily require a reversal of the cause, when it is apparent that the court, in support of the judgment, would be required to adopt a finding adverse to the appellant. (2 Cal. Jur. 1033, sec. 614; Jianou v. PickwickStages System,
[5] It is ordinarily true under the statute as it now exists, that an administrator or executor of an estate is not personally liable for the payment of attorney's fees for services performed in behalf of an estate, or for other costs of administration. Upon the contrary, such costs and expenses are a proper charge against an estate, which must be paid in the course of administration. (Sec. 910, Probate Code; sec.
[6] The decree of distribution is ordinarily final and conclusive as to the rights of all heirs, devisees and legatees. (Sec.
The appellants contend that respondent may not complain of his lack of knowledge of the final distribution of the estate because he was negligent in failing to serve upon the executrix, pursuant to the provisions of section
[7] The failure to serve a request for such notice did not constitute negligence on the part of the respondent. He was not a creditor of the estate at the time of distribution. The litigation which he was prosecuting in behalf of the estate was not then concluded. His claim for compensation had not yet accrued. He was not then entitled to present his claim to the probate court for allowance in the estate. [8] An attorney is not ordinarily entitled to a claim for legal services until his work is fully performed and his employment is fulfilled. (Hancock v. Pio Pico,
While there is a conflict of evidence regarding the material issues of the case, there is substantial evidence to support *401 the findings and judgment of the court against the appellant Nettie L. Forni.
[9] The court also rendered judgment against the other defendants, who were merely associate counsel with the respondent in the prosecution of the civil actions, for costs of suit in the sum of $54.65. We are unable to apply any theory of the case upon which the imposition of these costs upon the defendants Bradford, Cross Prior or the estate of Charles A. Swisler may be lawfully upheld.
The judgment is therefore modified to relieve the defendants Bradford, Cross Prior and the estate of Charles A. Swisler from the judgment of costs against them in the sum of $54.65. With this modification, the judgment against Nettie L. Forni for the sum of $700 and costs of suit is affirmed, respondent to recover costs on appeal.
Pullen, P.J., and Plummer, J., concurred.
A petition for a rehearing of this cause was denied by the District Court of Appeal on May 28, 1933.