Dollar Savings & Trust Co. v. Bell
Dollar Savings & Trust Co. v. Bell
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The appellee filed a bill to recover from the attorney and his client money received by them in settlement of an action for damage against the George Hogg Company. The claim was founded on the negligence of that company in causing the death of Leon J. Bell, more than twenty-one years of age, father of Florence Bell, ward of the appellee. The attorney, believing that the deceased, while living, stood in “family relation” to his mother, Julia A. Bell, had her institute an action against the Hogg company as grandmother and next friend of the minor, and in her own right as mother of the deceased. There is nothing in the evidence to prove nor does the bill aver that the grandmother or the attorney fraudulently dr with any design to deprive the daughter of any money caused the action to be so entered. The Act of 1855 names the persons entitled to recover damages for injuries causing death. It is admitted that the mother, Mrs. Bell, could not recover in her own right. There is nothing, however, to show the George Hogg Company did not regard the grandmother’s claim as being just as valid as the daughter’s. When the company afterward settled, by an agreement duly signed, followed by yerdicts awarding the minor $1,000 and the grandmother1 $1,750, there is nothing to show that this was not exactly the measure of liability the defendant company regarded: itself as being accountable for. When the verdicts were taken, the defendant knew just to whom it was to. pay and counsel for the plaintiff was fixed with the knowledge as to whom the money was to be paid. Unless there
The assignments of error are sustained. The decree of the court below is modified by striking these objection- . able features from it and as thus modified the decree will stand. The costs of this appeal to be paid by the appellee.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.