Shepard v. Akers
Shepard v. Akers
Opinion of the Court
— In tbis case, on the 5th of August, 1875, a decree was rendered settling the rights of the parties,
The complainant has excepted to the report upon the ground that the decree does not direct the calculation of interest, that it was not a part of the partnership contract that interest should be allowed, and that there is nothing in the circumstances of the case to warrant the charge of interest.
The early decisions in reference to the allowance of interest when not ordered or reserved by the decree are very well characterized by the language of the Lord Chancellor, in Ryves v. Coleman, 2 Atk. 440. “ I am of opinion,” he said, “that generally no interest can be allowed whei’e it is not ordered or reserved by the decree; but, notwithstanding there is no particular reservation of interest by a decree, yet there is a discretionary power in the court to allow interest, upon special circumstances.” In Champ v. Mood, 1 Ves. 470, the same great judge is made to say that, in the common reference to the master, a reservation of further directions in general hath not been taken to reserve interest, and interest ought to be expressly directed by the decree to be reserved; while in the earlier case of Goodyere v. Lake, Amb. 584, he was “clear of opinion” that the court had
In this country the courts seem never to have had any difficulty on the subject, the question of interest being an incident to relief. Benzein v. Robinett, 2 Dev. Eq. 67; Smith v. Godbold, 4 Strobh. Eq. 186; Lee v. Pindle, 12 Gill. & J. 288; Smith v. Smith, 4 Johns. Ch. 448. In the latter case Chancellor Kent expressed the opinion that the question of interest was placed before the master by the general terms -of an order of reference, which directed him to take and state an account touching the trust of a guardian, and the moneys received and disbursed, and “the balance which on such account should be found due from either party to the other.” And there can be no doubt that modern usage is in conformity with this opinion. Yery few of the references in this court expressly direct interest, but leave its allowance to be implied by the master from the character of the debt, or the nature and course of the transactions between the parties. Burts v. Beard, Knoxville, September term, 1873 (Com. & Leg. Rep., August 20, 1874). The Tight of the court to control its allowance, without any reservation, is universally conceded. And this for the obvious reason that the charge of interest may depend upon the circumstances developed by the report itself. Margerum v. Sandiford, cited 2 Ves. jr. 162; Parnell v. Price, 14 Ves. 502; Tew v. Lord Winterton, 1 Ves. 452. Further directions after a report are of course. Creuze v. Hunter, 2 Ves. jr. 164. And so are further directions, whenever necessary
The rights of partners, after dissolution, are not governed by the contract of partnership, and, therefore, the allowance of interest in a contest subsequent to that event must turn upon general principles. One of these principles is that, the period of dissolution of a firm is the proper period to adjust the balances, and the party who is then the debtor becomes so with the obligation to pay, and is, therefore, justly chargeable with interest on any balance of debt due. by him. Stoughton v. Lynch, 2 Johns. Ch. 219. So, where there has been a stated account or settlement between parties, the balance due upon such account will’ carry interest,, because, in such a case, it is held that there is an implied contract on the part of the debtor to pay, and all contracts to pay give a right to interest from the time when the principal ought to be paid. Boddam v. Riley, 2 Bro. C. C. 2; 4 Bro. P. C. 561. A fortiori, where, as in this case, the', party chargeable promised to pay the balance found on settlement in a short time, and failed to disclose the fact that he had previously collected other sums not brought into the settlement. The master has taken the date of this settlement as the period from which to calculate interest, and of this the delinquent partner cannot complain. The circumstances are sufficient to sustain the charge of interest to the* extent of moneys actually received.
I think it is otherwise as to those items of charge contained in the report never in fact realized, but for which the complainant is held liable by the terms of his contract. As to these items the contract does govern, and inasmuch as that contract does not fix the time when the defendant is, to be charged with all worthless and doubtful debts, the responsibility of collecting which he assumes, and inasmuchi
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.