Crump v. Coleman

391 N.E.2d 867, 181 Ind. App. 414, 1979 Ind. App. LEXIS 1261
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 18, 1979
DocketNo. 3-279A43
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 391 N.E.2d 867 (Crump v. Coleman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crump v. Coleman, 391 N.E.2d 867, 181 Ind. App. 414, 1979 Ind. App. LEXIS 1261 (Ind. Ct. App. 1979).

Opinion

HOFFMAN, Judge.

Defendants-appellants Dolitia E. Crump and Benjamin A. Crump appeal a judgment of Lake Superior Court, Civil Division, which awarded plaintiff-appellee Geraldine Coleman $7,360 for nursing and managerial services rendered.

The appeal raises four issues for review:

(1) whether the judgment is contrary to law because the evidence is sufficient to prove that Geraldine rendered the services voluntarily and without expectation of payment;
(2) whether there is any basis under the evidence for recovery by Geraldine against Benjamin;
[869]*869(3) whether evidence of a family relationship between Geraldine and Dolitia gives rise to a presumption that the services were rendered gratuitiously; and
(4) whether IC 1971, 32-2-1-1 (1978 Burns Supp.) bars recovery in the absence of a written memorandum.

The judgment is affirmed in part and reversed in part.

In her complaint, the plaintiff alleged that, at the defendants’ request and pursuant to an oral agreement with the defendants, she performed nursing services for and managed the business affairs of the defendants from on or about February 15, 1975, up to and including November 22, 1976. She prayed for damages of $10,000, her estimation of the reasonable value of the services rendered.

Following a trial to the court, findings of act, conclusions of law and judgment were entered, in relevant part, as follows:

“FINDINGS OF FACT
“That on or about the 15th day of February, 1975, the plaintiff, a non-relative, at the request of the defendant, Dolitia E. Crump, who had suffered various illnesses agreed to render certain nursing services and to generally manage the affairs of the defendants with the understanding that the plaintiff would be compensated on a future date for services rendered.
2.
“That pursuant to the request of the defendants, plaintiff undertook and did render nursing services and manage defendant’s affairs from approximately February 15, 1975 up to and including the 22nd day of November, 1976.
******
5.
“That the reasonable value of services rendered for managing defendant’s affairs and nursing were established by plaintiff’s witness to be from Fifteen ($15.00) Dollars to Thirty-Five ($35.00) Dollars per day.
6.
“That nursing and managerial services from on or about the 15th day of February, 1975 up to and including the 22nd day of November, 1976, consisted of Six Hundred Forty-Six (646) days.
“CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1.
“That the law is with the plaintiff, Geraldine Coleman.
2.
“That the plaintiff rendering nursing and managerial services from the 15th day of February, 1975 up to an inclduding [sic] the 22nd day of November, 1976, at the special instance and request of the defendants, which reasonable value of services is Seven Thousand Three Hundred Sixty ($7,360.00) Dollars.
“JUDGMENT
“IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the defendants are indebted to the plaintiff for the reasonable value of services rendered in the amount of Seven Thousand Three Hundred Sixty ($7,360.00) Dollars, with costs and interest to accrue at the rate of six percent (6%) from the date of judgment. Judgment accordingly.”

Issue I.

Dolitia argues that the judgment for Geraldine is contrary to law because the evidence is sufficient to prove that Geraldine rendered the services voluntarily and without expectation of payment.

In Schabler et al. v. Indpls. Morris Plan Corp. (1968), 142 Ind.App. 319, at 321-322, 234 N.E.2d 655, at 657, this Court said:

“It is the general rule that if the undisputed evidence entitled a litigant to a verdict which has been denied him, such verdict is contrary to law. On appeal, to determine this question, we may consider [870]*870only the evidence most favorable to the appellee, together with all reasonable inferences which may be drawn therefrom. Hinds, Executor of the estate of Sickels, deceased, etc., v. McNair, et al., (1955), 235 Ind. 34, 41, 129 N.E.2d 553.
“It is only where the evidence is without conflict and can lead to but one conclusion, and the trial court or jury has reached an opposite conclusion, that the decision of the trial court or the verdict of the jury will be set aside on the ground "that it is contrary to law. Pokraka et al., v. Lummus Co. (1952), 230 Ind. 523, 532, 104 N.E.2d 669.”

Geraldine testified that Dolitia telephoned her on February 15,1975, and asked her to come to Dolitia’s house which she did. She testified as follows about their subsequent conversation:

“Q. Was there any conversation at the time between you and her as to taking care of the business?
“A. That was the purpose of the call, yes.
“Q. What did you all actually discuss at that time in relation to taking care of her business?
“A. She told me she had many relatives but didn’t any of them come and see about her or do anything for her and she understood from her husband that we were relatives. She asked me would I take care of her business and take care of her, and that she would see that I would get paid for whatever I would do. I agreed.”

Harry A. Psimos, an attorney who provided legal services for both Geraldine and Dolitia and whose deposition was admitted into evidence by agreement of the parties, testified that Dolitia told him Geraldine was to be compensated for the services she was performing for Dolitia. Geraldine testified that she overheard Dolitia make this statement to Psimos.

This Court cannot say as a matter of law that the evidence leads to but one conclusion opposite to that reached by the trial court. The evidence supports both the trial court’s express finding that an oral agreement existed between Geraldine and Doli-tia, and the trial court’s implied finding that Geraldine did not render the services voluntarily and gratuitously with no expectation of compensation.

Issue II.

Benjamin argues that no evidence was adduced at trial of any express contract, contract implied in fact, or contract implied in law between himself and Geraldine to justify the judgment against him. It is well established that no one can be held to pay for services unless there is an express or implied promise to pay. There must be a request and either an express agreement to pay or circumstances from which a promise can be implied. Warring v. Hill (1883), 89 Ind. 497.

A perusal of the record reveals Benjamin’s contention to be correct.

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Related

Rzeszutek v. Beck
649 N.E.2d 673 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1995)
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517 N.E.2d 1248 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1988)

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Bluebook (online)
391 N.E.2d 867, 181 Ind. App. 414, 1979 Ind. App. LEXIS 1261, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crump-v-coleman-indctapp-1979.