Thayer v. Thayer's Estate

121 A. 439, 97 Vt. 23, 1923 Vt. LEXIS 209

• Court: Supreme Court of Vermont
• Decided: June 5, 1923
• Status: Published

Opinions

It appears from the findings that on March 1, 1922, the petitioner filed his claim against the estate of Irving E. Thayer, for board, washing, care, attention, nursing, and cash disbursements, for the deceased, by the claimant for three years and eight months, at $35.00 per month, amounting to $1,540.00; that on the 10th day of the same month, said claim was disallowed by the commissioners; that the petitioner then instructed his counsel, Barber, Barber Miller of Brattleboro to enter his appeal from such disallowance, to the county court; that the petitioner gets his mail at West Brattleboro, not living on any free delivery route; that on Saturday, April 29, he received a letter from Barber, Barber Miller, signed by Miller, dated April 26, requesting the petitioner to call at their office at his earliest convenience to sign the appeal bond, and advising him that the appeal papers should be filed without fail by the end of that week, or the beginning of the next week, to be within the twenty day period; that the petitioner had transacted all his business connected with this claim with Frank E. Barber, one of the members of the firm; that he called early in the week following April 29, and asked for Frank E. Barber; that he was told that Mr. Barber was trying a jury case at Newfane; that the petitioner did not know that Mr. Miller was in charge of the preparation and filing of the appeal; that the petitioner did not understand what he was to do and therefore did not call again; that shortly after May 15, he received a letter from Barber, Barber Miller, calling his attention to the fact that his bond had never been filed; that the time allowed for appeal had expired, and that it would be necessary to bring a petition to the county court to obtain leave to file such appeal; that this letter was also signed by Mr. Miller; that shortly afterwards the petitioner called at the office of Barber, Barber Miller and had an interview with Miller, being then shown his appeal papers duly drawn and ready for signature; that the papers were so drawn and ready for signature on April 26, and prior to the writing of the letter of that date, requesting the petitioner to call and sign the same; that owing to the illness of Mr. Miller's mother, it was necessary for him to leave town early on the morning of April 29, and he did not return until the afternoon of May 1; that Mr. Miller understood and believed that the appeal had been properly taken care of during his absence, and it was not called to his attention until May 15, when he discovered that the papers had not been filed and the appeal entered. Other facts found appear in the opinion of the court.