Graham v. . Hoke , 219 N.C. 755 ( 1941 )

ScheNck, J.

The pertinent portions of the complaint are as follows:

“3. That on January 26, 1925, the deceased, J. G. Phillips, entered into a written agreement with the plaintiff, in which he promised the plaintiff $2,000.00, to he paid to her out of his estate at his death, said agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in as full and ample a manner as if set out word for word in these pleadings, and which contract will be offered in evidence at the trial of this cause.

“4. That prior to tbe execution of the agreement referred to above, and as consideration for same and for about two years beginning in 1919, immediately after the death of J. G. Phillips’ second wife, the plaintiff worked for J. G. Phillips in his store in Sanford, and also helped keep house and care for his three children. That J. G. Phillips induced plaintiff, in the Fall of 1921, to go to the Mary Potter Boarding School and take a three-month special course in cooking and sewing; and in the Spring of 1922 the plaintiff, at the request of J. G. Phillips, went to Morristown, Tenn., and kept house for J. G. Phillips and his invalid third wife. From 1922 until death of J. G. Phillips’ third wife, in 1924, plaintiff. cared for J. G. Phillips’ invalid wife and his home in Morris-town, and after her death, and upon request of J. G. Phillips, came with J. G. Phillips to Winston-Salem and kept J. G. Phillips’ house and cared for J. G. Phillips’ children. During all this time plaintiff was not receiving any weekly pay, but was treated as a member of J. G. Phillips’ family, J. G. Phillips informing her that she would be taken care of at his death and giving her the contract referred to in paragraph 3 of this complaint as evidence of his promise and intentions.”

The alleged “written agreement” is in words and figures as follows (italics indicate handwriting in ink, the balance of instrument being a printed form) :

“Winston-Salem, N. 0.

Jan. 26, 1925 No.

WACHOVIA BANK and TRUST COMPANY

PAY TO THE

ORDER OF Lillian Graham at my death

$2000.00 TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS

out of my estate payable $500 at each payment till all has been paid.

J. G. Phillips’’

The defendant demurred to the complaint upon the grounds that it does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.

The “written agreement” alleged in the complaint cannot be construed ex vi termini as a valid contract to pay a member of the family of the deceased for domestic services rendered, since it is in the form of a cheque payable upon the death of the drawer. It became functus officio at the death of the drawer, as the death of the drawer before presentation of the cheque for payment revoked any authority of the bank to make payment to the drawee; and the cheque by its terms never had any validity as long as the drawer lived.

It is specifically alleged that tbe plaintiff was a member of tbe family of tbe deceased in these words: “During all tbis time plaintiff was not receiving any weekly pay, but was treated as a member of <7. G. Phillips’ family.” As a member of tbe family of tbe deceased she was presumed to have rendered tbe alleged services gratuitously, and in tbe absence of an allegation of a valid special contract that she was to be paid therefor there is no cause of action alleged. Tbe plaintiff is not aided by tbe allegation that tbe deceased informed her “that she would be taken care of at bis death and giving her tbe contract referred to ... as evidence of bis promise and intentions.” Tbe words of tbis allegation do not create a special contract of tbe alleged “written agreement” which bad neither vitality nor validity as such; and no implied contract to pay for tbe services rendered upon a quantum meruit is alleged.

Tbe plaintiff having declared upon a “written agreement,” as a special contract, she is not allowed to likewise declare upon an implied contract of quantum meruit, and in truth she has not so declared. True she may have pleaded an implied contract as well as a special contract in tbe alternative, but when tbe case came on for trial she could have been compelled to elect upon which declaration she would proceed.

Tbe alleged “written agreement,” not being executed in a manner to constitute testamentary disposition, cannot be construed as such, and furthermore tbis is not an appropriate form of action to establish a will.

In view of tbe allegation that tbe plaintiff was a member of tbe family of tbe deceased when she rendered tbe alleged domestic services, and of tbe absence of an allegation of a valid special contract to be paid therefor, and of tbe absence of an allegation of an implied contract of quantum meruit, we are constrained to bold that bis Honor erred in overruling tbe demurrer.

Tbe judgment of tbe Superior Court is

Reversed.