Edwards v. Logan
Edwards v. Logan
Opinion of the Court
There are two phases of the testimony in this case, in conflict, and utterly irreconcilable wdth each other. The prime consideration of the note sued on, is professional services rendered by an attorney. The note, when read in evidence, being the cause of action declared on, imported a consideration, and needed, no additional evidence to authorize a recovery. The professional services rendered were in favor of Hughes, as principal, and Logan and Edwards, as sureties in a supersedeas bond. Eor defendant (appellant here) it is claimed, that Hughes and the attorney differed about the value of the latter’s services, and that they thereupon agreed to leave the matter of the sum to be paid, to the judgment and decision of another named attorney; that the said referee did fix and determine the amount of the fee, and Hughes had secured the same. He paid it afterwards, before this suit was brought; and that'subsequently, the said attorney, who had rendered the services, in company with Logan, the co-surety, called on Edwards, and induced him to execute the note in suit, as his part of the fee. This, it is claimed by Edwards, was done by him in ignorance that the amount of the fee had been fixed, on a reference betwepn Hughes, the principal, and the attorney, and had been paid by Hughes. The testimony of Edwards denies that he had been informed of this when he gave his note. Eor plaintiff it is claimed, that Hughes was insolvent; that being principal debtor, and Logan and Edwards only sureties, it was right and proper for the former to pay the fee, and thus exonerate his sureties, who had become bound only for his ease and accommodation; that in calling on him, the motive and purpose were to get from him as much of the fee as he would pay, because such payment would, to the extent of it, relieve his sureties; and that with the same purpose in view, the question of the amount had been referred to the outside attorney. The attorney who rendered the services for which compensation is claimed, had stated the amount of his charge; and the note in suit is one half of that sum, less the sum awarded against Hughes, and paid by him. It is claimed for plaintiff that, before Edwards gave his note, he was informed of the reference that had been made, the decision by the referee, and that payment was secured by Hughes. This secured sum was afterwards paid by Hughes.
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Status
- Published