Tolson v. Thompson
Tolson v. Thompson
Opinion of the Court
A very careful study of the record-warrants t'he statement of the case made 'by appellant’s counsel in their brief and its reproduction. It is as follows:
Edward Thompson sued a certain Mrs. A. Bruno for the sum of $30 in the First City Court of this City (Edward Thompson vs Mrs. A. Bruno, No. 5266, First City 'Court, made part of this record), and obtained a judgment for the full amount of his demand. He then issued a fi fa, but in this was met by an affidavit sworn to by Mrs. Lillie Tolson, wife of J. H. Jack, who claimed the property seized as her own. Thompson, nevertheless, persisted in his seizure and furnished the Constable with a forthcoming bond. An injunction was then gotten out in op^ position to this, and, after trial, was maintained, as well as on appeal reserving to Mrs. Tolson, in addition, the right to sue for damages. This present suit is an attempt to exercise that right. Thompson, on the other hand, waited for some time,
So, if so informed, and the judgment creditor disregarded the imperative terms of the injunction issued by subsequent execution, under the prior judgment enjoined, which disregard1 could only have been brought to the notice of the court enjoining by a rule for comtempt, the judgment creditor’s proceedings can hardly militate against him and' be considered as an additional ground to the judgment for damages herein against him. In other words, his violation of tire terms of an injunction founded on fraud did not amount to a contempt of the court deceived in issuing the injunction and reserving plaintiff’s right, in injunction, to sue for damages. The machinery of courts cannot be used to deceive them, and once deceived urge their adherence to the majesty of decrees founded on deceit. Hence the disregard of the binding force of the injunction by the defendant herein is not considered of moment, and is immaterial.
On tire trial of this case the compromise agreement was offered in evidence and objected to, but admitted as going to the effect, although counsel for plaintiff sought to limit the effect to that part of the compromise not affecting his fees; and which the final judgment did virtually, do.
Much stress was filien laid on the fact as to whethet the agreement had been entered into prior to, or after the filing of tire suit for damages; because, if after fas it was done) its service on the Defendant was a bar to the compromise.
This Court is not aware that because in a suit for damages, attorneys fees are claimed as a part thereof, the attorney claiming them has acquired any vested rights. The Code, R. C. C. 3071, holds that the compromise is an agreement entered into for putting an end to a lawsuit; the one before this Court recites that it is made on plaintiffs receipt of $37.30 to cover “all damages of
So, whether this compromise was brought to tire knowledge of counsel for plaintiffs after institution of tire suit (which was filed July 12,. 1902, and served on the same day; whilst the compromise was later, August 28, 1902) is immaterial.
That it came to his knowledge stands out as a prominent fact. The witness Frigola, who wrote the compromise, then the letter or notice of same to counsel for plaintiffs and who served same on counsel, testifies to this fact and is uncontradicted. Counsel himself does not deny receiving this notice which is corroborated by counsel’s attempt, at the offer of the compromise-agreement in evidence, to exclude it so far as attorneys fees are concerned. Although aware of the existence of this compromise, the record fails to show any motion or adequate proceeding tending to set aside as having been the result of collusion or undue influence. True the Supreme Court condemns the practice of compromise agreements made, as in this case, without consulting the at'torneys of record and, often, to their detriment, but that Court has invariably failed to set aside such 'Compromises terminating a law suit where the elements of collusion or undue influence were wanting; where a judgment had not been obtained on which rested the attorneys lien and privilege; or where funds collected under a judgment were in the hands of the attorney -over which he could exercise his right to payment of services.
The following authorities are referred to: 112 La., Smith vs. Vicksburg, S. & P. Ry. Co., 36 So. R. No. 17. p. 826, and authorities there cited. 35 A. 337, 24 A. 571.
If, as in this case, counsel for plaintiffs is entitled to remuneration for past and actual services, his recourse was against those who 'had employed him, not against plaintiff’s debtor whose debt bad been settled by compromise.
In the opinion of this Court the judgment appealed from is, erroneous; it should be reversed. It is therefore ordered and decreed that said judgment be avoided and reversed. And it is now further ordered that plaintiff’s suit and demand for dam' ages be and it is rejected at their costs in both courts.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.