Johnson v. Andreassen

278 N.W. 877, 227 Wis. 415, 1938 Wisc. LEXIS 110
Wisconsin Supreme Court·Decided April 12, 1938·Published·Cited by 5 cases

Opinion

Wickhem, J.

At the time of the gift sought here to be set aside, plaintiff was eighty-five years of age, and was living in the city of Bloomer with her son, Albert Johnson, under a support agreement made in consideration of the conveyance by plaintiff of certain property to the son. Two or three days prior to May 27, 1936, plaintiff called upon her daughter, the defendant, bringing with her certain of her private papers. These included certificates of stock in the Bloomer Farmers Store Company, representing one thousand one hundred fifty-nine shares of the corporate stock of this corporation; one certificate of Bloomer Telephone Company stock for twelve shares; a note and mortgage to plaintiff in the principal sum of $1,000 executed by one Fink; a note of Albert Johnson payable to plaintiff in the sum of $1,000; and papers indicating a loan to Oscar Johnson of $200, and one to Albert Johnson of $600. Plaintiff had a talk with defendant, and whatever the import of it actually was, it is undisputed that defendant’s husband came home during this talk and suggested that the parties have legal advice to accomplish their purposes. Plaintiff handed the stock certificates to defendant’s husband, who took them to the office of Mr. Velten, an attorney, and explained to Velten that plaintiff proposed to give the Bloomer store stock to defendant, but wanted to reserve the income during her life. Velten instructed defendant’s husband as to the method of carrying out this purpose, and defendant’s husband brought the message home to plaintiff and defendant. Thereafter, defendant, in the presence of plaintiff, called Velten and told him to fix up the papers. Plaintiff then returned to her home, and Velten prepared the assignments. On May 27th, both Velten and plaintiff. came to defendant’s home, and Velten talked to plaintiff in the pres[418] ence of defendant to ascertain if plaintiff understood what she was doing. The assignments were read and explained to her, and plaintiff told Velten that defendant was to have the store stock, subject to a reservation of the income for life to her, that her son Oscar was to have the Fink note and mortgage, and that defendant was to- have the Bloomer telephone stock without any reservation. Plaintiff then signed the seven certificates of stock and the assignment of the note and mortgage, authorized Velten to record the assignment, get the new certificate of stock, and give the note and mortgage when recorded to defendant so that the latter could send it to Oscar. The transaction was fully completed. At the time of the transaction it was suggested by Velten that a memorandum be made by plaintiff of her purpose in executing the gift, and on September 23, 1936, nearly four months after the transaction, plaintiff and her daughter went to Velten’s office and executed a statement in affidavit form reciting the assignments; that these were made at her request and of her own free will and for the purpose of more nearly-equalizing the share of defendant and Oscar Johnson with that of her son Albert Johnson in the estate of their deceased father. In April, 1937, plaintiff’s son Albert stopped Mr. Velten on the street and asked him if he had made a will for his mother. Velten said “No.” Later on, Albert came to Velten’s office and asked for a disclosure as to what had been done. Velten said it was confidential, but he would be whiling to explain in the presence of the mother if she authorized disclosure. Several days later Albert and his mother met with Mr. Velten, and he explained what had taken place. Thereafter, the controversy began and culminated in this action.

Defendant’s first contention is that certain testimony of Mr. Velten was erroneously excluded. Velten testified to three transactions or occasions, and with respect to each of [419] these plaintiff contended and the trial court held that what plaintiff said to him on these occasions was privileged as a communication between attorney and client. We think the ruling erroneous. The evidence does not sustain the conclusion that Velten: acted merely as attorney for plaintiff but rather that he acted for both in the transaction. He was called by and at the suggestion of defendant’s husband to advise plaintiff and defendant generally as to the means by which the transfer could lawfully be accomplished. He conferred with both parties and testified that he considered himself to be acting for both. Plaintiff herself does not testify that he was her attorney exclusively. Further than this, the excluded communications were made in the presence and hearing of defendant. Under these circumstances plaintiff’s communications to Velten were not privileged. Wigmore, Code of Evidence, p. 432; Dunn v. Amos, 14 Wis. *106; Allen v. Ross, 199 Wis. 162, 225 N. W. 831. See also note, 64 A. L. R. 201.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Johnson v. Andreassen, 278 N.W. 877, 227 Wis. 415, 1938 Wisc. LEXIS 110 (Wis. 1938).

278 N.W. 877 (Johnson v. Andreassen) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Kuehn v. Kuehn
104 N.W.2d 138 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1960)
Goldman v. Goldman
253 P.2d 474 (California Court of Appeal, 1953)
Dobbin v. Costello
35 N.W.2d 915 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1949)
Guenther v. Guenther
12 N.W.2d 727 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1943)
Boyle v. Kempkin
9 N.W.2d 589 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1943)