In re the Assignment of Van Horn

10 Daly 131

• Court: New York Court of Common Pleas
• Decided: May 17, 1883
• Status: Published

Opinion

J. F. Daly, J.

The greater part of the services rendered by the assignee’s counsel, for which his charges have been allowed to the amount of $1,500, are not properly chargeable against the fund. He is to be allowed for drawing the assign ment a reasonable fee, but none for preparing schedules ; he is not to be allowed, upon a general retainer for advising the assignee in the management of his.trust (Levy's Accounting, 1 Abb. N. C. 177). Most of the legal expenses incurred by the assignee were rendered necessary by difficulties arising out of his permitting the assignor virtually to continue business with the assigned stock. He cannot pay his counsel out of the fund for assisting him to watch the assignor, or to manage the business. Mor can expenses of counsel be allowed to the assignee for defending the action brought against him by the landlord of the premises occupied for such business by the assignee. lie involved himself in that litigation by his own acts. As the assignee is a lawyer, he might have, with propriety, defended himself in that litigation. Employment of counsel was not necessary in respect to the applications by preferred creditors for payment.

The report will be referred back to ascertain what is a reasonable charge for preparing the assignment. The other exceptions to the report are disallowed.

Report referred back.