Perry v. Miller
Perry v. Miller
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Plaintiff alleges that in January, 1913, she and her invalid sister went to live with defendant, as members of her fam
Defendant denied plaintiff’s version of the agreement, and set up a counterclaim for board, lodging, and washing, as well as other items of expenditure made for plaintiff and her sister. Defendant also set up as a bar to the action an accord and satisfaction or settlement in writing of the differences between herself and plaintiff, dated December 12, 1914, and signed by herself and by'Mr. B. J. White, as attorney for plaintiff.
The testimony was conflicting as to the extent of Mr. White’s authority in making the settlement. Plaintiff testified that she employed him to collect the balance due her by defendant, and that she did not authorize him to allow in the settlement any of the items claimed by defendant.
Mr. White testified that he was employed by plaintiff to make a settlement with defendant, and thought he was authorized to make the settlement that he did make. He said, in substance, that plaintiff stated to him the facts as to the differences between herself and defendant, as she narrated them at the trial; that he asked her if she was willing
His answer was: “Not expressly, in so many words.”
The Court instructed the jury: “You will inquire whether or not there was a settlement between these parties. To do that you have first to inquire: Did Mr. White have authority to make that settlement ? Did this lady authorize him to do it? Then, if you reach the conclusion that Mr. White did have full authority and did enter into this settlement that is here in writing, I charge you that in form it is all right; if you find that Mr. White was fully authorized by this good lady to settle for her, then she is bound by it; but he has to be specifically authorized; he has to have the authority to do so before he can bind her.”
I f Mr. White’s authority was as extended as -he thought and testified, plaintiff was bound by the settlement made by him, even if she did not specifically authorize the allowance of the items of counterclaim set up by defendant, especially as she knew of them, mentioned them to Mr. White, and then authorized him to effect a settlement, saying that she was not willing to bring suit under any conditions. Therefore the Court correctly instructed the jury that, if Mr.. White had authority to make the settlement, plaintiff was bound by it.
But, under the circumstances, and particularly in view of the testimony of Mr. White, brought out on cross-examination, that plaintiff did not expressly, in so many words, authorize him to allow Mrs. Miller credit for the particular items that she claimed, which he did allow in the settlement,
There is a wide difference between general and specific authority. It makes the difference between the powers of a general and a special agent.
“A general agent is one who is authorized to do all acts connected with a particular trade, business or employment. A special agent is one who is authorized to do one or more specific acts in pursuance of particular instructions, or within restrictions necessarily implied from the act to be done.” 1 A. & E. Enc. L. (2d ed.) 985.
In a note on same page it is said: "The authority of an agent, being limited to a particular business, does not make it special. It may be as general in regard to that business as though its range were unlimited.”
For the error, pointed out, the judgment is reversed, and the case is remanded for a new trial.
Reversed.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting. I cannotconcur in the opinion of the majority of this Court. The term used by his Honor, the presiding Judge, was “specifically authorized.” The word “specifically” refers to a kind or class. The issue was clearly made between two kinds of employment. Mr. White claimed that his employment was general, i. e., to effect a general settlement, without reference to the items of the account. Miss Perry claimed that the employment was to collect a certain sum of money. A general power to effect a settlement was as specific as a special power to collect a certain sum. The charge was good law,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PERRY v. MILLER
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Appeal and Error — Misleading Instructions — Error.—Where plaintiff was attacking certain items of settlement made by her attorney as being without authority where the attorney thought she had given him general authority to settle with the defendant, an instruction that to bind plaintiff he had to be “specifically” authorized was misleading and prejudicial; there being a great difference between general and specific authority.