Harrison v. Henderson
Harrison v. Henderson
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The clainris made that the referee made no sufficient findings upon the issues between the parties. This objection was made to the referee without either specifically pointing out the deficiencies or requesting more specific or additional findings. The same objection was brought to the notice of the district court. It was overruled in both instances. We think there was no error in this.
The main and only meritorious question raised in the case is whether the rendering of the account of
It may well be doubted whether the answer sufficiently sets out and counts upon an account stated. It nowhere identifies or refers to an account of any amount as being the one so relied on as an account stated. But granting that the allegations are sufficient to raise the issue, there is also beyond question the original account fully pleaded, fully set out, and relied on, for the defendant therein pleads that “the services so rendered were reasonably worth the items
The account was not rendered by Harrison upon his own motion. He was not seeking to have the same ascertained and adjusted. Large sums of money had come to his hands by virtue of his employment as an attorney- and had been retained by him, if not without advice to his principal, at least without adequate accounting. Plenderson made repeated demands upon him for the rendition of an account, and finally came to Topeka with the expressed determination to remain until an account was given to him. So that it is apparent that the rendition of this account by Harrison was not for the purpose of having his claim against Henderson ascertained, adjusted, and agreed upon, but was for the purpose of informing Henderson at his own request of the condition of this trust fund. It is well settled that the binding force of an account stated will not be given to the mere furnishing of an account, which was not given with a view to ascertaining the claim, establishing the balance due, or
Many cases are cited in the brief of plaintiff in error to the effect that the rendition of an account by the creditor to a debtor and its retention for an unreasonable length of time without objection will raise the implication of assent thereto by the debtor and create an account stated. We find no fault whatever with this general doctrine, but find no case where such rule has been applied where the facts are at all analogous with those of the case at bar. On the contrary, many cases might be cited disapproving it. But, in any event, the rendition of an account, with its retention by the debtor without objection, is but a circumstance, to be submitted with all other circumstances surrounding the transaction to the trier of fact to determine the ultimate question. In this case, upon consideration cf all these circumstances, the referee decided adversely to the contention that there was an account stated between the parties, and this ruling was approved by the district court.
A claim of error is made in that the referee refused to permit an amendment by way of a supplement to the answer, so as to bring into the case an account accruing after this action was commenced. This request was made to the district court after the referee reported, and it was denied by the court. This was clearly a matter of discretion, and in the action of the court upon it we find no abuse.
. We discern no error in the entire case, and hence affirm the judgment of the district court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- T. W. Harrison v. Harvey Henderson, as etc.
- Cited By
- 21 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- SYLLABUS BY THE COURT. 1. Account Stated — Defined and Distinguished. An account stated is an agreement, express or implied, between parties who have had previous transactions with each other, fixing and determining the amount due from one to the other on account, and when such agreement is made, such account stated becomes a new obligation and takes the place of the one on the prior account. 2. - Waiver. ' Where an action is brought and defended as on the original account, the account stated is waived, even if it had been theretofore agreed upon. 3. -- Account Rendered is Rot an Account Stated. The mere furnishing by one party to another of a statement of an account, without a view to settling the claim and adjusting the amount due thereon, will not raise the implication of an account stated, although such account be retained without objection by the one to whom it was rendered. á. - Question of Fact. The rendition of an account, together with its retention without objection, is but one circumstance, to be submitted with all others to the trier of fact to determine whether there has been an account stated.