Sperry v. McCarthy

Connecticut Superior Court

Sperry v. McCarthy

15 Conn. Super. Ct. 222, 15 Conn. Supp. 222, 1947 Conn. Super. LEXIS 91

CourtConnecticut Superior Court

DecidedJune 23, 1947

DocketFile 68339

StatusPublished

This text of 15 Conn. Super. Ct. 222 (Sperry v. McCarthy) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Connecticut Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Sperry v. McCarthy, 15 Conn. Super. Ct. 222, 15 Conn. Supp. 222, 1947 Conn. Super. LEXIS 91 (Colo. Ct. App. 1947).

Pincite

Opinion

QUINLAN, J.

Some suggestion was made by one of counsel

that decision be somewhat deferred. That has been done. The plaintiff’s high standing and long and wide activities cause me to pay less attention to the effects of lack of corroboration and expert testimony on damage than ordinarily. But even with indulgent approach the situation in hand is distinguishable from our Connecticut cases cited, Bartlett v. Raidart, 107 Conn. 691, Spurr’s Appeal, 116 Conn. 108, and Yantz v. Dyer, 120 Conn. 600.

*223 This is not a case Where strangers were involved, nor one where a promise to pay was made, nor one where there was a complete failure to remember by will after a promise so to do. Consequently, there is the setting neither for an express nor an implied contract.

The plaintiff was a long-time social and professional friend of the deceased, and professional men, on such terms particularly, are usually happy to aid a brother in the profession. A sub' stantial provision was made in the deceased’s will of a percent' age of the residue in favor of the plaintiff. The deceased had no way of anticipating the inroads which litigation and adminis' tration might make on such a residue. But it does not follow that disappointment over the result, although already resulting in a very substantial payment to the plaintiff, gives rise to a right of recovery. I am mindful of course of the presumption surrounding a bequest without provision for payment of ser' vices, but all the circumstances negate either an expectancy of payment or intention on part of deceased to pay for them. It is significant also that at the" time of the conservatorship the plaintiff presented no bill for services.

Judgment for the defendant with costs.

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

QUINLAN, J.

Some suggestion was made by one of counsel

that decision be somewhat deferred. That has been done. The plaintiff’s high standing and long and wide activities cause me to pay less attention to the effects of lack of corroboration and expert testimony on damage than ordinarily. But even with indulgent approach the situation in hand is distinguishable from our Connecticut cases cited, Bartlett v. Raidart, 107 Conn. 691, Spurr’s Appeal, 116 Conn. 108, and Yantz v. Dyer, 120 Conn. 600.

*223 This is not a case Where strangers were involved, nor one where a promise to pay was made, nor one where there was a complete failure to remember by will after a promise so to do. Consequently, there is the setting neither for an express nor an implied contract.

The plaintiff was a long-time social and professional friend of the deceased, and professional men, on such terms particularly, are usually happy to aid a brother in the profession. A sub' stantial provision was made in the deceased’s will of a percent' age of the residue in favor of the plaintiff. The deceased had no way of anticipating the inroads which litigation and adminis' tration might make on such a residue. But it does not follow that disappointment over the result, although already resulting in a very substantial payment to the plaintiff, gives rise to a right of recovery. I am mindful of course of the presumption surrounding a bequest without provision for payment of ser' vices, but all the circumstances negate either an expectancy of payment or intention on part of deceased to pay for them. It is significant also that at the" time of the conservatorship the plaintiff presented no bill for services.

Judgment for the defendant with costs.

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)

15 Conn. Super. Ct. 222, 15 Conn. Supp. 222, 1947 Conn. Super. LEXIS 91, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sperry-v-mccarthy-connsuperct-1947.

Opinion

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack