Johns v. Coleman

176 Cal. App. 2d 778, 1 Cal. Rptr. 784, 1959 Cal. App. LEXIS 1548
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 30, 1959
DocketCiv. 24170
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 176 Cal. App. 2d 778 (Johns v. Coleman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johns v. Coleman, 176 Cal. App. 2d 778, 1 Cal. Rptr. 784, 1959 Cal. App. LEXIS 1548 (Cal. Ct. App. 1959).

Opinions

WOOD, P. J.

This is an action upon a creditor’s claim which was rejected by the administratrix of a decedent’s estate. In a nonjury trial judgment was for plaintiff for $2,800. Defendant appeals from the judgment. The record on appeal consists of the clerk’s transcript only.

Appellant contends that the alleged cause of action is barred by the statute of frauds in that the complaint alleges, and the rejected claim is based upon, an express oral contract to make a provision in a will to pay for services rendered. Appellant also contends that the complaint shows that the greater part of the services was rendered before the oral contract was made in 1954, and that the action for that part of the services, and for all other services rendered prior to two years before this action was commenced in 1958, are barred by the two-year statute of limitations. Another contention of appellant is that the claim was not a sufficient basis for an action upon the theory of reasonable value of services rendered in that the claim was not based upon the reasonable value of services (but was based upon an express oral contract). Also, appellant contends that the findings as to reasonable value of services do not support the judgment.

Respondent (plaintiff) asserts that although the “basis of the action is an express oral contract to pay for personal services by will, ’ ’ and although such a contract is invalid under the statute of frauds, the action is one to recover the reasonable value of services upon a promise implied by law.

The complaint alleged, as follows: From approximately October 1, 1950, to October 16, 1957, plaintiff performed services at the request of Lillie S. Draper, now deceased, in that plaintiff did all of said decedent’s laundry and a portion of her housework and gardening. About October, 1954, Mrs. Draper agreed with plaintiff that in consideration of plaintiff’s continuing these and other services, hereinafter set forth, and assisting her with her daily activities, she (Mrs. Draper) would, upon her death, make suitable reimbursement in her will for plaintiff’s services; and plaintiff, relying upon said agreement, continued to perform the services hereinbefore and [780]*780hereinafter mentioned. From the date of said agreement until Mrs. Draper’s death, plaintiff continued to do Mrs. Draper’s laundry and a larger part of her housekeeping and gardening; and plaintiff continuously assisted her “with her transportation” to and from various places of business such as the market, bank, and offices of her doctor and attorney. On September 12, 1957, Mrs. Draper suffered a stroke and was removed to plaintiff’s residence where she remained until her death on October 16, 1957, during which period of time plaintiff cared for, nursed, and fed her. Said services were performed under said agreement with Mrs. Draper, who knew that plaintiff was performing the services under the agreement and with the expectation that she would be compensated therefor. On numerous occasions after the making of the agreement, Mrs. Draper reaffirmed her agreement to compensate plaintiff for the services she had performed, and the services she was then performing and would continue to perform; and at all times plaintiff relied upon the agreement and performed the services in accordance therewith. Mrs. Draper did not execute a last will, and hence made no provision of any nature to compensate plaintiff for the services she had performed in reliance upon said agreement. During the lifetime of Mrs. Draper and as more specifically set forth herein, plaintiff, at the special instance and request of Mrs. Draper, performed services for her, and that the reasonable value of all of said services is $5,000; no part thereof has been paid, and said amount is due to plaintiff and is unpaid. Defendant is the administratrix of the estate of said decedent. The first publication of notice to creditors was made on December 13, 1957. On April 9, 1958, plaintiff presented her claim to said defendant, as such administratrix, a copy of which claim is annexed to and made a part of the complaint. On May 23, 1958, the defendant rejected the claim.

The part of the creditor’s claim, which was in a column under the heading, “Description of Item,” recited as follows:

“For services rendered decedent from about October 1, 1950, to date of death by creditor at the special “instance and request of decedent and upon the promise of decedent to provide for creditor in decedent’s Will; to wit, laundering, cleaning, repair and garden work at decedent’s residence, transportation to and from doctor, dentist, bank, market, department stores, attorneys, hair dresser, and dress maker, and, from September 18, 1957 to date of death, full-time nursing, feeding and housing of decedent in creditor’s home.”

The part of the creditor’s claim, which was in another [781]*781column under the heading, “Amount Claimed,” recited as follows: “$5,000.00.”

The answer of defendant denied the allegations of the complaint, except those relating to the appointment of defendant as administratrix, the publication of notice to creditors, and the presentation and rejection of the claim. The answer also alleged that the complaint did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action; and that the claim was barred by the statute of limitations and the statute of frauds.

Some of the findings were as follows: From approximately October 1, 1950, to and including October 16, 1957, plaintiff continuously performed services at the special instance and request of decedent. Said services included laundering, housework, cleaning, house repair and maintenance, gardening, marketing, preparation of food, and, near the end of said period, full time nursing, feeding and caring for decedent. All of said services were rendered to decedent by plaintiff at the special instance and request of decedent, and upon the oral promise of decedent that in consideration of said services she would upon her death make suitable reimbursement in her last will to plaintiff. Said services were performed continuously by plaintiff under said agreement, and that at all times the decedent knew that plaintiff was performing the services under said agreement and with the expectation that plaintiff would be compensated, and the decedent accepted the rendering of the services with the intention to compensate plaintiff therefor in her last will. Plaintiff received no compensation from decedent or any other source for said services during the lifetime of the decedent. Mrs. Draper died intestate on October 16, 1957; she did not execute a last will and hence made no provision to compensate plaintiff for said services. The reasonable value per hour of the services performed by plaintiff was at least $1.25. Plaintiff expended a considerable number of hours in the performance of the services. The reasonable value of all the services rendered by plaintiff to Mrs. Draper is $2,800. The claim was not barred by the statute of limitations or the statute of frauds.

The court concluded that plaintiff is entitled to recover $2,800 as the reasonable value of services rendered to Mrs. Draper during her lifetime.

As above indicated, appellant contends that the alleged cause of action is barred by the statute of frauds. Section 1624 of the Civil Code and section 1973 of the Code of Civil Procedure, referred to as the statute of frauds, provide that certain contracts are invalid, unless the same, or some note or [782]*782memorandum thereof, is in writing and subscribed by the party to be charged or his agent.

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Johns v. Coleman
176 Cal. App. 2d 778 (California Court of Appeal, 1959)

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Bluebook (online)
176 Cal. App. 2d 778, 1 Cal. Rptr. 784, 1959 Cal. App. LEXIS 1548, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johns-v-coleman-calctapp-1959.