Jones County v. Arnold

111 N.W. 973, 134 Iowa 580

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: May 20, 1907
• Status: Published

Opinion

McClain, J.

There was a settlement between the plaintiff county and the defendant as sheriff for his compensation under the provisions of Code, section 510, as amended by 29 General Assembly, Laws 1902, chapter 27 (see Code Supp. 1902, section 510a, and section 511), under which such amount as was necessary was paid to the defendant to bring his compensation, including fees received by him, up to the statutory amount. But in this settlement the defendant did not report fees received by him for the discharge of the duties of constable in'justices’ and mayors’ courts, and, if the fees so received had been reported by him as received in his capacity as sheriff, and taken into account in the settlement, he would have been entitled to a less amount on such settlement than the amount received, and this action is brought to recover the excess thus paid. There are two questions for determination: First, whether the amount of fees received by the sheriff in performing the duties of constable are to be taken into account in determining his compensation as sheriff; and, second, whether the settlement under which the money was paid to him in the adjustment of his claim for compensation is conclusive.

1. Sheriffs: fees. I. In Code Supp. 1902, section 511, it is provided that each sheriff is entitled to charge and receive certain fees, and it is further provided therein that, “ when sheriffs per-from official duties in justices’ courts, their fees shall be the same as allowed constables.” In Code, section 4591, it is provided that “ the constable is the proper éxecutive officer in a justice’s court, but the sheriff may perform any of the duties required of him.” We think it is clear that in thus performing the duties of constable the sheriff acts as sheriff, and not as constable, and therefore that the fees received by him for such services are fees for performing the duties of sheriff which are to be taken into account in fixing his salary.

2. Same excessive payment recovery by county. II. In settling with defendant at the expiration of his term of office, the board of supervisors did not take into account the fees received by defendant for services in connection with proceedings in justices’ and mayors’ courts. But it is contended that they assumed defendant *was entitled to those fees in addition to any compensation for his services, and that, therefore the settlement with him is conclusive as against the county. In a case decided since the trial in the lower court we have held that officers of a public or municipal corporation cannot bind the corporation by paying as fees or compensation for services provided for by law a larger amount than authorized by statute, and that any excessive payment may be recovered back by an action at law. State v. Young, 134 Iowa, 505. In this case it is definitely stated that the case of Painter v. Polk County, 81 Iowa, 242, in which such a settlement was held conclusive, had been in effect overruled in Heath v. Albrook, 123 Iowa, 559.

Following the decision in State v. Young, supra, we have no difficulty in reaching the conclusion that the settlement in which the board of supervisors failed to take account of fees received by defendant in justices’ and mayors’ courts was not conclusive; and, as we find that those fees ought to have been taken into account, the judgment of the trial court must be reversed.