Wilhelm v. Hendrick

167 Ky. 219 | Ky. Ct. App. | 1915

Opinion op the Court by

William Rogers Clay, Commissioner

Affirming as to James E. Wilhelm, executor, and individually, and reversing as to James E. Wilhelm, guardian, and as to Ella B. Wilhelm and others.

John K. Hendrick and Hal S. Corbett, who were partners in the practice of law at the time the services were rendered, brought this suit against Ella B. Wilhelm, Amanda Wilhelm, William B. Wilhelm, James E. Wilhelm, Jr., and James E. Wilhelm, Sr., as executor of Ella B. Wilhelm, deceased, and James E. Wilhelm, Sr., the statutory guardian of Ella B. Wilhelm, Amanda Wilhelm, William B. Wilhelm, and Jas. E. Wilhelm, Jr., and against James E. Wilhelm individually, to recover attorneys’ fees aggregating $1,500, for services rendered the defendants in two actions brought by-the Globe Bank & Trust Company, of Paducah, against the defendants, and one action brought by the First National'Bank of Paducah, Ky., against the defendants, and one action brought by George Bains against the defendants, and also for certain services rendered the defendants in the United States Court in the case of the Register Newspaper Company, Bankrupt. The trial before a jury resulted in a finding in favor of plaintiffs for $1,200. Judgment was rendered' against all of the defendants and an execution directed to be issued for that amount. The defendants appeal.

It appears from the petition that Ella B. Wilhelm, the wife of James E. Wilhelm, Sr., 'died testate, and in the year 1903 her will was probated in the McCracken County Court. By this will, James E. Wilhelm, Sr., was appointed and qualified as the sole executor of his wife’s estate. On April 7th, 1908, he was appointed by the McCracken County Court and qualified as the statutory guardian of his children, the defendants, Ella B. Wilhelm, Amanda, Wilhelm, William B. Wilhelm, and James E. Wilhelm, Jr. The petition charges, in substance, that plaintiffs were employed by James E. Wilhelm, Sr., in his individual capacity, and as executor of his deceased wife, and as the 'statutory guardian of his-children, Ella B., Amanda, William B., and James E., Jr., to represent each and all of said defendants, as individuals, and James E. Wilhelm individually, and as executor of his wife and also as the statutory guardian of his children, to defend for all of the defendants in the actions above referred to.. It further appears from the petition that the actions in the State court were brought for the purpose of subjecting the real estate of the defendants to certain debts and claims, and that judgment in all four of the action’s were rendered against defendants in the court below. On appeal to this court, the judgments were reversed and the four petitions against the defendants dismissed. It further appears that plaintiffs rendered certain' services in the United States Court in the case of the Paducah Register Company, Bankrupt. In all of this litigation about $20,000 was involved. It also appears from the petition that the children of James E. Wilhelm, Sr., were all infants at the time the services were rendered, but perhaps two, and maybe three of them, are now of age.

The point is made that the petition is not sufficient to support the judgment, because it does not allege an employment by the infants themselves, or that the services rendered by plaintiffs were necessary.

It is the well-settled law in this State that a guardian has the power to employ counsel to prosecute and defend actions for his ward and to bind the estate of the ward for the payment of a reasonable attorney’s fee. Section 2030, Kentucky Statutes; Sears v. Collie, 148 Ky., 444, 146 S. W., 1117. Therefore, in an action to recover attorneys’ fees for services rendered the ward, it is not necessary to allege employment by the ward himself, but it is sufficient to allege that the contract of employment was made by the guardian, for and on behalf of his ward.

There is no merit in the contention that the petition is insufficient because it does not allege in terms that the services were necessary. Here the petition shows that there were certain actions pending against the wards. Plaintiffs were employed to represent them in these actions. In four of these actions there were judgments against the wards in the court below. On appeal the judgments were reversed and the petitions dismissed. Manifestly, if it had not been for the services of plaintiffs the estate of the wards would have been subjected to the payment of the claims on which the suits were based. Clearly the facts alleged show that the services were necessary, and, that being true, the petition is not insufficient because it did not allege in terms that the services were necessary.

It appears, however, that, although the wards were infants at the time the services were rendered and the contract of employment was made on their behalf by the guardian alone, yet personal judgment was rendered against the wards. and execution directed to be issued against their estate. Inasmuch as the guardian had authority only to bind the estate of his wards, it was error to enter personal judgment against the wards and to direct that an execution issue thereon. Indeed, the proper practice in a case like this would be to bring suit in equity to subject the wards’ property to the payment of a reasonable attorneys’ fee. .Inasmuch, however, as either party would have had the right to have the question of the amount of the fee determined by a jury on an issue out of chancery, the action will not be dismissed because not brought in equity, but the finding of the jury in the absence of the testimony will be regarded as final and conclusive. On the return of the case, plaintiff will be permitted to file an amended petition for the purpose of subjecting the wards’ estate to the payment of the fee fixed by the jury.

Inasmuch as the pleadings show that the contract of employment was made by James E. Wilhelm, Sr., as executor, and in his individual capacity, it follows that the judgment as to him, as executor and individually, is proper. But that portion of the judgment which adjudges a recovery against him as guardian and directs an execution to issue, is erroneous, because the estate of the infants' could not be subjected in that manner.

As to James E. Wilhelm, executor and individually, the judgment is affirmed. As to James E. Wilhelm, Sr., guardian of his children, and as to Ella B. Wilhelm, Amanda Wilhelm, William B. Wilhelm, and James E. Wilhelm, Jr., the judgment is reversed for proceedings in conformity with this opinion.