Croker v. Powell

156 So. 146, 115 Fla. 733, 1934 Fla. LEXIS 1676
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedJuly 9, 1934
StatusPublished
Cited by67 cases

This text of 156 So. 146 (Croker v. Powell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Croker v. Powell, 156 So. 146, 115 Fla. 733, 1934 Fla. LEXIS 1676 (Fla. 1934).

Opinion

Whitfield, J.

The declaration herein filed March 2, 1931, alleges in effect that on September 3, 1929, “The * * * defendant, Bula E. Croker, by and through her duly *735 authorized * * * agent, G. L. Robinson, entered into negotiations with the plaintiff for the employment of * * * the plaintiff, as one of the associate counsel of the said defendant * * * in two certain suits then pending, that is to say: the case of Bula E. Croker v. Palm Beach Estates and J. B. McDonald, then pending on appeal by the defendants to the Supreme Court of Florida, and also a case brought by the heirs of Richard Croker against the defendant, Bula E. Croker and others, then pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida * * * and then and there the * * * defendant, by and through her said agent, agreed to and with the * * * plaintiff to employ the said plaintiff as such associate counsel, and did then and there employ the said plaintiff as such associate counsel, and thereupon requested the said plaintiff to write the said agent of said defendant a letter setting forth the terms of said employment; * * * that in accordance with the said understanding, agreement and suggestion of the said defendant, plaintiff did, on September 4th, 1929, in the City of Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, write and cause to be sent by mail to the said G. L. Robinson, * * * the agent of * * * the defendent, * * * a letter * * * as follows:

“September 4, 1929.

“Mr. G. L. Robinson,

“Post Office Box 1883,

“West Palm Beach, Florida.

“My dear Mr. Robinson:

“In accordance with our conversation of yesterday, I am writing to you for transmission to Mrs. Bula Croker my understanding of the terms of my employment in her cases.

“I understand that I am to receive immediately a cash payment of Two Thóusand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,-500.00), and a one-year note for Two Thousand Five Hun *736 dred Dollars ($2,500.00), which two items represent a retainer of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to be paid me in these matters.

“In addition to. the foregoing, it is my understanding that upon a successful conclusion of the case of Bula E. Croker v. Palm Beach Estates and J. B. McDonald, now pending on appeal by defendants to the Supreme Court of Florida, and the Homestead case, being a case brought by the heirs of Richard Croker and now pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, before Judge Ritter, I am to receive an additional sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00).

“It is further my understanding that in the event Mrs. Croker should desire to accept any offer of compromise made her prior to the conclusion of these cases, or either of them, that I am to accept such a proportion of the One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) as the settlement accepted by her bears to the whole property, or its value, whether the property in pursuance of the settlement be divided or a settlement made on the basis of value; that is to say—I am to make a proportionate deduction in the contingent item.

“It is further my understanding that in addition to the compensation I am to receive, my actual expenses are to be paid in addition to court costs and expenses'.

“It is further my understanding that the service I am to render comprehends service in conjunction with the present counsel in perfecting a cross appeal by filing cross assignments of error and to render present counsel all practicable assistance in briefing and arguing the case before the Supreme Court; and also, in the event an adverse decision is handed down by Judge Ritter, to assist the present counsel in preparing the Homestead case for appeal to the Circuit *737 Court of Appeals; or, in the event of a favorable decision, to assist in the defense of the case before the Circuit Court of Appeals, and assistance in the supervision of the preparation of the record and briefs on such appeal.

“Upon receipt of this letter, will you please wire me, stating whether the terms are agreed to by Mrs. Croker or not, and if yes, will you kindly send me the check for the cash payment and the note ?

• “In this connection, I hand you herewith my bill for expenses to West Palm Beach and return on the trip just completed.

“Will you please also include this item in the check sent me, or in the event the terms as stated are not accepted, will you please send me a check for the amount of the expense account and the One Hundred ($100.00) per diem agreed upon, which I was to receive for yesterday’s conference.

• “In view of the fact that I find a few matters here which must be concluded before my going to West Palm Beach, if my stay there is going to be protracted, I have decided that it would be best for me to spend the remainder of the week here and get a fresh start on Monday morning, and in accordance with this idea, if the terms as suggested are accepted, I will leave here Sunday night and arrive in West Palm Beach on Monday morning.

“I have already perused a considerable portion of the' brief for Mrs. Croker in the court below, and I have with me copies of the essential pleadings so that by the time I arrive in West Palm Beach on Monday, I can be pretty familiar with every phase of the case and will probably bring with me for submission to Mr.^Paty a sketch of the proposed cross assignments of error.

“As above requested, will kindly wire me on receipt of this letter as to whether the arrangement is to be effective *738 or not, as, of course if it is not to be effective, I would desire to turn my attention to other matters in the office.

“Yours very truly,

George M. Powell.

“GMP :RS”

That thereafter such agent wrote plaintiff as follows:

“September 6th, 1929.

“Mr. George M. Powell, Attorney,

“Atlantic National Bank Building,

“Jacksonville, Florida.

“Dear Mr. Powell:

“I have your letter of September 4th and pursuant thereto I am enclosing you cashier’s check for $2,541.63, which represents one-half of your retainer, together with your expense account for your visit to West Palm Beach.

“I am also enclosing a note for $2,500.00 dated September 6th, 1929, and due one year after date, bearing 8% interest, signed by Bula E. Croker, which represents the balance of your retainer as agreed upon.

“I guess I will see you Monday morning, after you arrive here Sunday night.

“G. L. Robinson.

“R-S”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
156 So. 146, 115 Fla. 733, 1934 Fla. LEXIS 1676, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/croker-v-powell-fla-1934.