Wright v. Reed

92 N.W. 61, 118 Iowa 333

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: October 29, 1902
• Status: Published

Opinion

Weaver, J.

Plaintiff and Ansel Wright were children of Jonathan Wright, who died July 17, 1898. During the last two years of the life of said Jonathan and his wife, plaintiff performed valuable services in nursing and caring for them. The claim here in controversy is based on the theory that these services were performed at the request of Ansel Wright, and under circumstances which rendered him liable to make a reasonable compensation therefor. Ansel Wright has since died, and the claim was presented by plaintiff for allowance against his estate. Allowance being resisted, a jury was impaneled, and at the close of the testimony the court directed, a verdict for defendant. Judgment was entered accordingly.

i. Claim against an estate; evidence: submission to jury. I. We will first inquire whether the evidence, as admitted by the court, made a case which should have been submitted to the jury. There is testimony tending to show that, plaintiff is of adult years, a professional nurse, and for at least a year or two prior to the time in question had been away from her father’s home supporting herself in the practice of her profession; that the father and mother lived in the same house with their son Ansel; that, upon the parénts becoming ill, Ansel sent for his sister, and requested her to come and care for them; and that in response to his request she did come and perform the service for which payment is demanded. There was also testimony to the effect that under the will of Jonathan Wright his son Ansel received more than an equal share in the estate; that on different occasions Ansel had said that his father had given him this extra amount in consideration of his caring for his parents; that he also said that his wife was not able to care for the old folks in their sickness and do her other work, and, as he could not himself be in the house with them all the time, he sent fdr plaintiff to come and care for them; that he had to have some one to care for the old folks, as his wife could not do it, and they would rather have plaintiff than a stranger. That plaintiff did perform the service there is no dispute. The only question is whether a sufficient showing was made to justify a jury in finding the estate of Ansel Wright liable to make payment therefor.

The defense is based upon three propositions: (1) That by this claim plaintiff seeks to establish an agreement by Ansel Wright to pay the debt of another, and there is shown no written memorandum or contract signed to that effect; (2) that the services were rendered by plaintiff for Jonathan Wright, and her claim, if any, is against his estate; and (3) that the services were rendered by plaintiff voluntarily, and as a member of her parent’s family, and without expecting compensation. The points thus made may be considered together. If it .be true that the record discloses an attempt to make the estate of Ansel Wright answer for the debt of his father, then, of course, the statute of frauds is an impassable barrier to the allowance of plaintiff’s claim, and the action of the court in directing a verdict is right. But such was not, as we understand, the theory of the claim presented. While it is true that the work performed was the caring for and nursing of Jonathan Wright and wife, it is claimed to have been so rendered for Ansel Wright, and at his request. If So, then the debt, if any, was the debt oh the latter, and plaintiff was entitled to have the jury pass upon her claim. We tliink this theory of her demand is not without support in the testimony. She had left home, and was supporting herself. ' The parents were living under the same roof with Ansel. His own statements tend to show the existence of some agreement or understanding with his father by which, in consideration of what he called the “lion’s' share” of the property, he was to care for his parents in their declining years. When sickness came upon them, and he and his wife were unable to give them the care they needed, he sent for his sister to wait upon and nurse' them. In the absence of any other showing, we see no reason why the law will not imply a promise dn Ansel’s part to pay the reasonable value for the services thus rendered at his request. It is, of course, undeniable that, if plaintiff cared for her parents simply as the voluntary service of one member of a family to another, or simply as a matter of love, or from sense of duty, and without any understanding or agreement contemplating payment for her labor, then neither estate is liable for her claim. There' was testimony tending to support this theory of the. •defense, but its weight and value were for the jury to determine. It was error, therefore, to direct a verdict.

z' ?xciusioifof: II. Plaintiff being a witness upon the stand in her own behalf, and having stated that she was present at a conversation between Ansel Wright and Judge Struble, was asked by her counsel: “In that conversation between your brother and Judge Struble, did your brother state anything with reference as to what he was to do, if anything, for 26-J-acres of ground that he had got under your father’s will in addition to what the other children had- got? If so, state the whole talk between him and Judge Struble touching the matter. ” To this an objection was sustained'as being irrelevant, incompetent, and tending to show a personal transaction and communication between the plaintiff and the deceased brother, She was then asked: “In that conversation, state what, if anything, was said by your brother in regard to your services, — at whose instance they were rendered, and who was to pay for them, and why, and all he said about the matter.” To this the same objection was sustained, and the answer excluded. The witness should have been permitted to answer. Any statement by the deceased in his lifetime as to the circumstances under which the. sister rendered the services, and at whose instance, and whether they were to be paid for, is certainly both relevant and competent in her behalf. Middleton v. Middleton, 31 Iowa, 151; Mahaska County v. Ingalls, 16 Iowa, 81. It is also well established that the rule which precludes a party from testifying to personal transactions and communications with a person since deceased does not apply to communications made to another in the party’s presence. Smith v. James, 72 Iowa, 515; Johnson v. Johnson, 52 Iowa, 586; Mayes v. Turley, 60 Iowa, 407; Lines v. Lines, 54 Iowa, 600. It is unnecessary to consider other alleged errors argued by counsel. In most instances the rulings were correct, and in others they are manifestly governed by the conclusions we have already announced, and will readily be avoided upon a new trial.

For the reasons above given, the judgment of the district court is reversed.