Finley v. Acme Kitchen Furniture Co.

119 Tenn. 698
CourtTennessee Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 15, 1907
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 119 Tenn. 698 (Finley v. Acme Kitchen Furniture Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Tennessee Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Finley v. Acme Kitchen Furniture Co., 119 Tenn. 698 (Tenn. 1907).

Opinion

M'r. Chief Justice

Beard delivered the opinion of the Court.

These causes are before us on an appeal involving an issue collateral in its nature. They were brought by a father in his own interest for the loss of services of an infant son, the result of a serious injury received by the latter from the alleged negligence of the furniture company, and by the son, through a next friend, to recover damages in his own right for the same in[701]*701jury. Tbe actions-were brought for the several plaintiffs by J. O. Benson, a young lawyer of the Chattanooga bar. Subsequently, by an arrangement between J. B. Finley and Benson, made in view of an original agreement, R. T. Cameron, a member of the same bar, was associated with Benson as an attorney of record in these causes. Before this was done there arose friction between the client, J. B. Finley, and Benson, and between the latter and Cameron. This friction resulted in bad blood between these parties. After declarations had been prepared and filed by Benson in the several causes, this friction evidently became more and more aggravated, and in the end W. B. Miller, a member of the same bar* was called into the cases by J. B. Finley. A determination was then reached, it is apparent from the record, to get rid of Benson by a dismissal of these causes and by the institution of new suits for the same causes of action against the furniture company. In pursuance of this plan, orders of dismissal were prepared by Mr. Miller and filed with the clerk of the circuit court of Hamilton county, of which notice was given by him to Benson, who, when the matter was presented to the circuit judge in open court, opposed the entry of these orders. At that time it was disclosed to the circuit judge that there had been possibly a gross violation of professional propriety both in the institution of the original suits, and also in the methods adopted to get rid of them, as well as the services of Benson, the attorney who brought them. Upon this [702]*702discovery a rule was made upon the attorneys apparently implicated, which being answered, in due time the trial judge appointed a committee, composed of leading members of the local bar, and directed them to make a thorough investigation of all matters pertaining thereto, and, if satisfied that there had been wrong done on the part of any one or all of these attorneys, to report hack to him, with the evidence taken and with charges preferred. At the end of an investigation, which the record shows was both extensive and thorough, this committee reported, and at the same time preferred charges against all these attorneys whose names have been given. The circuit judge, however, dismissed the proceeding so far as Miller was concerned, but upon the evidence and report reprimanded in open court both Cameron and Benson, and charged each with half of the cost of the proceeding. Benson submitted to the judgment of the court; but Cameron has appealed, and insists in this court that there was nothing in the evidence either to warrant his disbarment as a lawyer or his reprimand by the trial judge. So far as the reprimand is concerned, that is passed, and, even if it were unwarranted, it could not be undone or reviewed by this court. But the .right of appeal from the judgment, in so far as it taxed him with a part of the costs of the proceeding, does exist; and, if the plaintiff in error is right in his. insistence, then the action of the trial judge as to this may be set aside, and thus indirectly [703]*703he could be relieved. Does this Tecord warrant the insistence made in Cameron’s behalf?

The testimony shows that the son of John B. Finley, a child under fourteen years of age, while in the service of this furniture company, was so seriously injured that an amputation of one of his legs was necessary. Either through the newspapers of the city of Chattanooga, or else through a friend who knew of this accident and also had some acquaintance with Finley, Benson’s attention Avas called to this accident and to the fact that a laAvsuit Avould probably grow out of it. Through one or more friends Benson solicited employment in the suit, if one should be determined upon, and immediately thereafter visited the home of Finley and personally sought such employment. After one or two visits the bringing of these two suits in question was agreed upon, and according to Finley it was at the same time stipulated that Cameron was to be associated with Benson in the bringing and the conduct of the cases. The two summonses, however, were sued out by Benson as the sole attorney, and as such, after proper service, declarations were filed by him, omitting therefrom the name of Cameron. At the time of the accident, as well as at the institution of the suits, Cameron was absent from Chattanooga. On his return he ascertained from Finley that his services were required, and that it had been stipulated in the beginning that Benson and he should be jointly associated in the litigation. Soon afterwards a meeting occurred between the father (J. [704]*704B. Finley), Benson,-and Cameron, where a somewhat angry colloquy occurred, but which resulted in the making of a written agreement by the terms of which ■Cameron and Benson were jointly to conduct these -causes. The charges against Mr. Cameron are found in the following paragraphs of the judgment of the ■court, predicated upon the report of the committee of investigation and the testimony submitted to the court by this committee. They are in the following words:

, “First. That attorney R. T. Cameron, after his em-ployment in the two cases against the Acme Kitchen Furniture Company had been fully conceded in writing by Attorney John O. Benson, proceeded in violation of all professional ethics to endeavor to prejudice their -common client, J. B. Finley, against the said J. O. Benson, by telling the said Finley .that the declaration •drawn by said Benson was defective, and that this was -done with the evident intention on the part of said Cameron to so prejudice the said Finley against the said J. ■O. Benson as to result in the discharge of Benson from the cases.
• “Second. That Attorney R. T. Cameron, actuated by motives of personal resentment against John 0. Benson, whom he charged of having stolen business from him, connived at an arrangement whereby the suits -commenced by John O; Benson were to be dismissed -and new suits instituted for the same causes of action, -in which their common client was to be represented by himself and Attorney W. B. Miller, but in which suits [705]*705the said John O. Benson was not to be employed as an attorney.”

We agree with the circuit judge in his judgment of condemnation of the conduct embraced in these charges, if it be true that the evidence submitted establishes their truth. The evident impression upon Finley’s mind was that these declarations already filed were radically wrong, and that an effort to amend them would result most likely in a continuance of the cases and a postponement in ultimate recoveries which were sought in them. These declarations are sent up as a part of the record, and have been examined by the court, and the impression thus conveyed is not at all warranted. Each declaration contains two counts. In each of the counts recovery is sought, not only on the ground of negligence on the part of the defendant in the operation of the elevator on which the injury occurred, but especially by reason of the fact that the injured party was an infant under fourteen years of age.

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Related

Manning v. American Clothing Co.
147 Tenn. 274 (Tennessee Supreme Court, 1922)
Harrison v. Rascoe
139 Tenn. 511 (Tennessee Supreme Court, 1917)

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Bluebook (online)
119 Tenn. 698, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/finley-v-acme-kitchen-furniture-co-tenn-1907.