Schulz v. Schulz

128 Wis. 28 | Wis. | 1906

The following opinion was filed April 1Y, 1906:

KjdRwxw, J.

1. It is claimed on the part of the appellant that the court should have discontinued the action unconditionally, and that it had no power to allow attorney’s fees after notice of discontinuance. The notice did not discontinue the action nor did it purport to do so. It was an application to the court for an order dismissing the action. The court had control of the action and could impose reasonable and proper terms as a condition of discontinuance to protect the interests of the parties. State ex rel. Milwaukee v. Ludwig, 106 Wis. 226, 82 N. W. 158; Sumner v. Sumner, 54 Wis. 642, 12 N. W. 21. Under sec. 2361, Stats. 1898, in every action to confirm or annul a marriage, or for divorce, the court or judge may during the pendency of the action make such orders requiring the husband to pay such sums for the support of the wife, and to carry on or defend the action, as in its discretion shall be deemed reasonably necessary or proper. Such orders may be made during the pend-ency of the action, and the court may, upon rendering judgment of dismissal, order the husband to pay such sum as was reasonably necessary to meet the expenses of defending the suit. Sumner v. Sumner, supra. We think it clear that upon motion for discontinuance by the plaintiff in this action he was not entitled to an unconditional discontinuance, but the court had the right in its discretion to require him to pay the reasonable expenses incurred by the wife in defense of the action as a condition of snob, discontinuance. Sumner v. Sumner, supra,. Counsel contends that after the motion to discontinue the action the court had no power to make any order allowing attorney’s fees and expenses. But the motion of itself could not divest the court of jurisdiction or deprive it of the power to make such order as was reasonably necessary to protect the rights of the parties litigant as a condition of discontinuance. The incurring of attorney’s fees and expenses by the wife at the suit of her husband for divorce gave her an interest in the action sufficient to enable the court to make proper and suitable orders for the protection of such interest. State ex rel. Milwaukee v. Ludwig, supra; Sumner v. Sumner, supra. The plaintiff in this case did not seek to* discontinue absolutely of his own motion without the intervention of the court, but applied to the court for an order discontinuing the action, and upon such motion the court had ample power under the statute and decisions of this court to make an order requiring the payment of reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses as a condition of discontinuance.

2. It is further contended that the court had no authority to allow $21.50, balance of temporary alimony due February 1, 1905, under previous orders of the court, for the reason that by the discontinuance of the action plaintiff assumed the obligations of husband and was, therefore, bound to support and maintain his wife. But, as before observed, the action had not been then discontinued and the amount of alimony had become due before the motion was made. The court had the right under the statute to require plaintiff to pay such temporary alimony due and unpaid before discontinuance as a condition thereof.

It is earnestly contended, however, that the whole amount ordered paid was unreasonable and excessive, and that, assuming the court had power to order payment, still it abused its discretion in that regard. After plaintiff moved to discontinue, the defendant made a counter motion that he be required to pay temporary alimony due and a suitable sum for expenses incurred in carrying on tbe defense of tbe action. Tbe matter was referred to a court commissioner to determine tbe amount, of temporary alimony due and unpaid, and also to ascertain and determine tbe value of attorney’s fees, expenses and disbursements of tbe defendant incurred in defending tbe action, and. report tbe same to tbe court. Tbe referee reported to tbe court, and tbe court confirmed sucb report and ordered plaintiff to pay defendant $21.50, balance due for temporary alimony under previous orders; also $50 to Sberidan & Wollaeger, attorneys, $10 to John Toobey, attorney, $43 to J. C. Officer, attorney, $100, balance due said J. O. Officer, and $250 to Geo. Sylvester, attorney, amounting in the aggregate to $474.50, and tbat upon payment of said sums tbe action stand discontinued. Tbe question arises whether tbe amount ordered paid was unreasonable and excessive.

It appears from tbe record tbat tbe defendant unnecessarily employed and discharged at different times different attorneys. It is very obvious tbat she incurred much larger expenses by way of attorney’s fees in consequence of tbe repeated changes in attorneys than was necessary. No necessity whatever appears for any of tbe.changes in attorneys, and with tbe exception of tbe services performed upon appeal to this court but very little necessary services were actually performed in tbe action on tbe part of tbe defendant. It is not the purpose or policy of tbe statute to allow a wife to tax tbe husband with fees of as many attorneys as she may employ regardless of tbe necessities of the case. Dugan v. Dugan. 1 Duv. 289. Tbe attorney’s fees should be sucb only as are reasonable and necessary to compensate for tbe services' performed in carrying on tbe litigation in view of all the circumstances of tbe case, regardless of tbe number of attorneys employed. A careful examination of tbe bill presented for services, together with the evidence respecting the same, convinces ns that the bill allowed by the lower court was excessive and that the court abused its discretion in allowing such amount. It appears that about half of the bill rendered is made up of charges for services on various motions respecting attorney’s fees and substitutions of attorneys. The practice of allowing fees to numerous attorneys unnecessarily employed and discharged by the wife, without reason or excuse, in divorce actions cannot be tolerated. The allowance of attorney’s fees in such cases must be measured by the services performed, not by the number of attorneys employed. We think, therefore, in view of all the circumstances of this case that the amount ordered paid as a condition of discontinuance, $474.50, should be reduced to $250. Williams v. Williams, 29 Wis. 517.

It is claimed, however, on the part of the respondent that, since no exception was taken to the report of the referee, the court was without power to chango the findings. But this does not follow. The matter of fixing the amount of attorney’s fees rested with the court. The reference was simply advisory and the report was not binding upon the court. The contention of counsel for respondent that the statute and rules of court as to trial of actions before referees and proceedings thereon apply to mere special proceedings like the one in question, resorted to by the presiding judge for the purpose of obtaining assistance in passing upon the account of attorneys, cannot be sustained. Harrigan v. Gilchrist, 121 Wis. 127, 414, 99 N. W. 909.

3. On the motion in this court by the respondent for a suitable allowance to enable her to defray the expenses of defending upon this appeal, we think a reasonable allowance should be made, and, therefore, the sum of $7 5 is allowed,

By the Court. — The judgment of the court below is re■versed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion. Further ordered, that appellant pay respondent, or ber attorneys, $75 as and for attorney’s fees and expenses on this appeal.

On April 28, 1906, the following order was made:

By the Gowrt. — Ordered, that the mandate of the court in this action be changed so as to read as follows:

The judgment of the court below is modified by inserting the sum of $250 in place of $474.50 as condition of discontinuance, and as so modified is affirmed without costs, except that appellant pay the clerk’s fees. Further ordered, that appellant pay respondent, or her attorneys, $75 as and for attorney’s fees and expenses on this appeal.