Jones v. Schnaufer
Jones v. Schnaufer
Opinion of the Court
This suit was brought by Elizabeth Schnaufer and husband against Ira P. Jones, independent executor of the estate of Julia Bartels, deceased, and others. The suit was filed January 7, 1914, at which time temporary administration on the estate of said Julia Bartels and application for probate of her will was still pending. Said will was admitted to probate in March, 1915, and Ira P. Jones qualified as independent executor. The plaintiff made all devisees under the will and all heirs of said Julia Bartels parties defendant, and after answers filed by them dismissed all parties except the said Ira P. Jones, executor. The suit was for the recovery for services rendered as cook .and help and nurse for Mrs. Bartels and others in her house, and the allegations were that her services were worth $20 per month; that from November 1, 1911, to the death of Mrs. Bartels on January 1, 1912, said services were greatly increased on account of the condition and illness of Mrs. Bartels, and required more of plaintiff’s time, and that the disease was offensive and unpleasant, and the services she performed were worth $5 per day. The defendant admitted his qualification as executor, denied all the other allegations, and denied that there ever existed any contract by the decedent with the plaintiff, or any other person for her, and that *368 said services were never performed, and tlie decedent never became liable tberefor, and waived all objections as to tbe prematurity of the filing of said suit. Upon the pleadings there was a trial by jury, which commenced on January 30 and concluded on February 3, 1917. The matters' were submitted to the jury on the following special issues:
“First. Did Mrs. Elizabeth Sehnaufer render services as a nurse to Mrs. Julia Bartels at the house of Fred Bartels, on Weber avenue, at any time from September 15, 1911, to the death of the said Mrs. Julia Bartels, which services, if any were rendered, were of such a character as to lead to a reasonable belief that it was the understanding of the said Mrs. Schnau-fer and the said Mrs. Julia Bartels that pecuniary compensation should be made for such services?”
To this question the jury answered, “Yes.”
“Second. If you find that such services were rendered by the said Mrs. Elizabeth Sehnaufer as a nurse, for what period of time, were such services rendered, and what was the value of such services?”
To this question the jury answered: “From September 16, 1911, to January 7, 1912, inclusive, at $2.50 per day, or a total of $285.00.”
On this verdict judgment was rendered in favor of plaintiff against defendant in the sum of $285. There was a remittitur filed of $144, which, deducted from the amount of the judgment, leaves a balance of $141, for which judgment was entered. Motion for new trial was overruled, and the case is now before this court for consideration.
The first assignment of error complains that the jury erred against the weight and great preponderance of the evidence adduced on the trial, and their verdict was not supported thereby. This, together with the second assignment of error, which calls in question the sufficiency of the number of days or the amount of time for which-services as a nurse were rendered, and the fourth assignment, which urges that there was no evidence to warrant the jury in returning a verdict for $2.50 per day; and the fifth assignment, which calls in question the fact that there was no evidence of the amount of time spent by the plaintiff as a nurse, relates to the sufficiency of the evidence in the case.
“You are charged that if you believe from the evidence that there was no agreement, either expressed or implied, upon the part of Mrs. Julia Bartels to compensate the plaintiff. Sirs. Sehnaufer, either by making a provision for her in the will of the said Mrs. 'Bartels or otherwise, for the services rendered by the plaintiff, Mrs. Sehnaufer, if any such services were in fact rendered, then in such case you will let your verdict be for the defendant, although you may believe that the plaintiff, Mrs. Sehnaufer, rendered such a service under the expectation that she would be compensated therefor by the provision made for her in the will of Mrs. Julia Bartels.”
There was no allegation in plaintiff’s petition of any promise by Mrs. Bartels, either expressed or implied, to compensate Mrs. Sehnaufer by a provision in her will, and no allegation that such promise was relied upon by her. In other words, it was not an issue in this case, and we do not understand how the refusal of same could have been error. Said assignment is overruled.
A careful consideration of the record leads us to the conclusion that there was not such error in the action of the trial court as would warrant a reversal of the cause. It is therefore affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.