Weston v. Dane

53 Me. 372

• Court: Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
• Decided: July 1, 1865
• Status: Published

Opinion

Appleton, C. J.

The plaintiff was appointed an agent of the State of Maine to prosecute certain claims upon the government of the United States. His compensation was established at twenty per cent, of the amount received by the State on said claim, and said compensation to be taken from the amount so received.

It is agreed that all the money paid by the United States came into the hands of the defendant, as State Treasurer, and was receipted for to the government of the United States by him in his official capacity.

The money being in the defendant’s hands, as Treasurer, he caiinot legally pay it out without the warrant of the Governor and Council, as required by the constitution. This the plaintiff has failed to obtain.

The plaintiff is an agent of the State for a special purpose. The amount of his compensation is fixed. The different State officers serve the State for fixed salaries. But neither the plaintiff nor any other public servant can sue the State, however important his services.

Neither can the State Treasurer be held to pay an individual the amount duo from the State. He could not legally pay the money without the warrant required by the constitution, and he should not be held individually responsible for acting in accordance with his official obligations. The plaintiff’s claim is upon the Legislature, which we are bound to presume will pay a just and proper regard to any equitable claims of the plaintiff, for his meritorious services in behalf of the State.

The defendant has no money in his hands as an individual. Tor the money in controversy he has given his official bond to the State and he cannot be responsible therefor to the plaintiff. Weston v. Dane, 51 Maine, 461; French v. Fuller, 23 Pick., 108. A town treasurer is not liable, in an action for money had and received, to a creditor of the town, for neglecting to pay over money in his hands arppropriaedt by the town to the payment of the claim of such creditor, and ordered to be so paid by the selectmen; but the remedy of the creditor is by an action against the town. It is the misfortune of the plaintiff, that no action can be brought against the State. Plaintiff nonsuit.

Cutting and Dickerson, JJ., concurred. Kent, Davis and Walton, JJ., concurred in the result.