Huling v. City of Columbus

13 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 409, 1912 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 146
CourtCourt of Common Pleas of Ohio, Franklin County, Civil Division
DecidedSeptember 23, 1912
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 13 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 409 (Huling v. City of Columbus) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Common Pleas of Ohio, Franklin County, Civil Division primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Huling v. City of Columbus, 13 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 409, 1912 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 146 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1912).

Opinion

Kínkead, J.

The defendant, Walcutt, obtained a judgment against the city of Columbus. Plaintiff was his attorney, and brings this action for the recovery of compensation for his services.

The petition sets forth the facts concerning the action prosecuted by Walcutt against the city of Columbus, wherein recovery was had for $26,255.13. Two causes of action were pleaded in the petition, the first in quantum meruit, wherein it was claimed that the services were reasonably worth $10,000.

The second cause sets forth a claim of Frank A. Davis, who was original counsel for Walcutt, the various facts concerning [410]*410the services rendered by Davis being alleged, it being claimed that his services were reasonably worth $5,000, and that the claim of Davis was assigned to plaintiff.

The prayer of the petition is that the court on final hearing shall fix and determine the amount of the reasonable compensation of plaintiff at $10,000, or such other sum as the court may deem just and proper, and decree and order that such sum so found by the court be and operate as a lien upon the fund and proceeds of the judgment and order the same to be paid out of such fund; also that the reasonable compensation of.said Davis be fixed at $5,000, or such other sum as the court deems proper, and decree and order that amount to be a lien upon the judgment.

Defendant, Walcutt, admits employment of counsel and the services rendered and claims that the services were not worth the amount claimed.

Gilbert H. Stewart, by answer and cross-petition, sets forth a similiar claim for $1,000, and Joseph H. Dyer, as administrator of Eli P. Evans, sets forth a like claim for $1,000.

The defendant files an affidavit of interpleader setting forth the amount of judgment against it for $30,579.67, stating that it is ready and willing to pay the same to the clerk of this court in order that the claimants may settle their claims between themselves.

The ease was referred to a master commissioner for hearing, over the objections of defendant, Walcutt, who also protested and objected to the hearing by the master and taking no part therein whatever.

The master commisioner heard the evidence and rendered his finding of facts and conclusions of law, to which exceptions are ' filed in this court. He found $15,000 to be the reasonable value of the services rendered by Cyrus Huling and Frank A. Davis, and $1,000 each to be the reasonable value of the services rendered by Gilbert IT. Stewart and Eli P. Evans. The amount of money still in the hands of the city of Columbus and due upon the judgment is $16,000.

It has not been authoritatively determined by the court of last resort in this state that an attorney has a lien on a judgment for his services. Incidentally the right to a lien was recognized [411]*411in the opinion in the eases of Diehl v. Friester, 37 O. S., 473, 477, and Reece v. Kyle, 49 O. S., 480.

In a number of states the right to such lien is recognized by statute: Hanna v. Island Coal Co., 5 Ind. App., 163 (51 Am. St., 246) ; Filmore v. Wells, 16 Colo., 228 (3 Am. St., 567); Renick v. Ludington, 16 W. Va., 278; Cromley v. LeDue, 21 Minn., 412; Goodrich v. McConald, 112 N. Y., 157; Reynolds v. Id., 10 Neb., 574; Hurst v. Sheets, 21 Iowa, 501; Bang v. Culner, 54 N. H., 327; Baker v. Cook, 11 Mass., 236; Friesell v. Haite, 18 Mo., 18; Duber’s Appeal, 38 Pa. St., 231.

These statutes are merely declaratory of the common law (Gist v. Hanly, 33 Ark., 233). As stated in the opinion of the learned master in this ease:

“It is now the recognized doctrine in this country, thoroughly incorporated in our jurisprudence, that an attorney is entitled to an equitable lien on a judgment recovered by him for his client, of to the recovery of which he contributed, to the extent of reasonable compensation for his services in the case.”

This is called a special, or charging lien upon a judgment procured by him for his client. This right to recover for his services is called a lien, in the broad sense, although it rests merely upon the equity of the attorney to be paid for his services out of the judgment which he has obtained. The right called a lien is merely a right to ask for the intervention qf the court for his protection, when there is a probability of the client depriving him of his interest in the fruits of the judgment.

The lien of an attorney upon a judgment is an equitable lien, and is upheld upon the theory that his services and skill produced it. All the decisions which recognize the rule “always speak of it as an equitable lien, right or privilege. It is not property in the thing which gives a right of action at law. It is a charge upon the thing which is protected in equity.”

“The attorney’s lien * * * is founded in the natural equity which forbids that a party should enjoy the fruits of the cause, without satisfying the legal demands of his attorney.” Fillmore v. Wells, 10 Colo., 228 (3 Am. St., 567).

The rule was early recognized by the common law as being founded upon the plainest principles of equity and justice. [412]*412Wilkins v. Carmichael, 1 Doug., 104; Baker v. St. Quentin, 12 Wess. (A. W.), 441; In re Vank, etc., 3 L. R. Ch. App., 125; Turwin v. Gibson, 3 Alk., 720; Welsh v. Hale, 1 Doug., 238; Ex Parte, 2 Ves., Sr., 407.

In most of tbe United States the rule is recognized and enforced the same as in England. The decisions extend the lien upon a .judgment to the extent of reasonable compensation for services in obtaining the judgment though there is no agreement concerning the amount. The extent of the lien, in such cases, is ascertained upon the basis of a quantum meruit, which may be ascertained by the court, or by a referee, upon a summary application.

Alabama: Warfield v. Camipbell, 38 Ala., 527 (82 Am. Dec., 794); Ex parte Lehman, 59 Ala., 631; Moseley v. Norman, 74 Ala., 422.

Arkansas: Sexton v. Pike, 8 Eng., 193; Waters v. Grace, 23 Ark., 118.

California: Mansfield v. Doland, 2 Cal., 517; Russell v. Conway, 11 Cal., 103.

Connecticutt: Benjamiin v. Benjamin, 17 Conn., 110; Andrews v. Morse, 12 Conn., 444 (31 Am. Dec., 752); Vooke v. Thresher, 61 Conn., 105; Honda, Carter v. Bennett, 6 Fla., 215.

Georgia: McDonald v. Napier, 14 Ga., 89.

Maine: Newbert v. Cunningham, 50 Me., 231; Hobson v. Watson, 34 Me., 20 (56 Am. Dec., 632).

New Hampshire: Wright v. Cobleigh, 21 N. H., 339.

New Jersey: Barnes v. Taylor, 30 N. J. Eq., 467.

New York: Rooney v. S. A. R. Co., 18 N. Y., 368; Coughlin v. R. R. Co., 71 N. Y., 443 (27 Am. Rep., 75).

Tennessee: Garner v. Garner, 1 Lea, 29; Covington v.

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13 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 409, 1912 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 146, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/huling-v-city-of-columbus-ohctcomplfrankl-1912.