Hudson v. Hudson , 90 Ga. 581 ( 1892 )

Lumpkin, Justice.

This case was before this court at the March term, 1891, and is reported in 87 Ga. 678. The substantial facts involved in the litigation as the case then appeared, are set forth in the opinion delivered. The declaration as originally filed contained an allegation that the deceased, Charles Hudson, had promised to give his son, 1). J. Hudson, the plaintiff', his entire property as compensation for the son’s services in removing to the father’s house and taking care of and waiting upon him till his death. By an amendment made before the trial resulting in the verdict and judgment under review when the case was here before, the above allegation had been stricken from the declaration, but nevertheless evidence was introduced without objection at that trial, tending to prove that a promise had been made by the father to give the son “his property, the home place,” which had been accepted and acted upon by the son. No point having been made upon the pleadings, or as to the admissibility of this evidence, this court dealt with the case as it appeared upon its substantial merits. At the last trial in the court beloyr, the declaration was in the same condition as at the former trial, and evidence was again introduced without objection, to the effect indicated.

Ordinarily, where services in the nature of nursing, waiting upon and ministering to the wants and necessities of an infirm, diseased and aged father, are rendered by a son, the law presumes he did so from filial duty and affection, and not because of expected compensation for the same in money or property. Therefore, in order to authorize a recovery for such services, it must affirmatively appear either that there was an express contract to pay for the services, or that under the circumstances both the father and the son contemplated and intended that payment should be made. This we understood aiid laid down as the law applicable when the case was before us at the term mentioned. As between parties who sustain towards each other no relation like that existing in this case, or other relations of a similar nature, the rendition of services by one and the acceptance thereof by the other raises an implied promise to pay for the services, although no express contract to do so may have been made, and a recovery upon the quantum meruit is lawful and proper. In a case like this, however, proof of an express contract, or of circumstances equivalent thereto, is indispensably necessary to authorize a recovery at all. Where such a contract has been proved, and the party for whom the services were rendered by reason of insanity becomes incapable of performing literally his part of the contract, a recovery on the quantum meruit is permissible as the fairest, best and most practicable way of arriving at and allowing the plaintiff' what he is entitled to receive. But it must not be overlooked that in cases like the one now under consideration, no recovery upon the quantum meruit can be allowed unless the plaintiff’s right is supported by an express contract that he should receive compensation for the services rendered, or what would be in law tantamount to the same thing, and in no event should the recovery exceed the value of the property he would have received under the express contract, if proved as alleged.

1. Applying what has been stated above to the record now before us, we are constrained to hold that at the last trial the court committed a serious error against the defendant. In stating the issues to the jury, the court said, in substance, that the plaintiff claimed upon, a contract made with his father in the year 1877, and then correctly informed the jury what the plaintiff contended this contract was, but failed to say it was incumbent on the plaintiff' to prove the existence of such alleged contract as the necessary basis of a right to recover at all. ■This instruction should have been given to the jury, and the court not only failed to give it, but distinctly refused to charge a written request of defendant’s counsel to this effect, and instructed the jury that the plaintiff' was entitled to recover upon a quantum meruit, explaining what this meant by saying he was “ entitled to recover as much as he reasonably deserved to have for the services, be it much, or little, or nothing.” We have given the entire charge of the court a very thorough and careful examination, and we find nothing in it which would prevent the jury from finding in the plaintiff’s favor whether he had or had not made an express contract with his father, by the terms of which he was to receive compensation for his services. Because of the court’s failure and refusal to charge that some such contract was a necessary foundation to the plaintiff’s right of action, and in view of the charge given, it is very probable that the jury understood they might find for the plaintiff' the value of the services he rendered his father, with or without a contract of any kind. There being evidence tending to show that plaintiff had made no such contract with his father as he claimed, that he had gone to his father’s home under an entirely different contract, and that he had received for his services all he had contracted for, and the true law of the case being as we have stated, it follows inevitably that it should be tried again, when all these matters may be properly explained and guarded by correct instructions to the jury. It is quite probable that the trial judge understood that this court had adjudicated that the plaintiff' had a right to recover, and tried the case under this misapprehension. Such, however, was not the intention of-this court, nor will its opinion in 87th Qa., rightly understood, lead to this conclusion. We simply stated what we conceived to be the law applicable to the case as then presented. It was not our purpose to express any opinion upon any question of fact involved, but to allow the jury at the next hearing to ascertain from the evidence to be then introduced what the truth of the case was, and make their verdict under such instructions as might be given them by the court in the light of the law as laid down in the opinion mentioned.

2. Whenever it is ascertained what is the full amount the plaintiff is entitled to receive for his services, if he is entitled to recover at all, there should be deducted from this amount all that he has received from the property of the father over and above what was necessary for the support and maintenance, of the latter during his lifetime. Inasmuch as the plaintiff had in his possession the entire estate of the father for many years before his death, primarily it would be the duty of the plaintiff to set forth in his declaration, and to show by all competent evidence at his command, what he did derive and consume from the father’s property. Although he may not have done this, it would be no cause for a new trial if the evidence actually before the jury was sufficient to enable them to determine with reasonable accuracy what the plaintiff did receive and enjoy of his father’s estate. If plaintiff’s counsel offered him as a witness to testify as to what he had received, or as to any other matter, and the testimony was objected to, and thereupon plaintiff’s counsel said, “I give the gentleman the opportunity to tell the truth; your honor sees my object,” there was no impropriety in making this remark.

3. It is not proper practice to allow counsel, on the trial of a civil case, to read to the jury decisions of this court in the same or in other cases, and it is especially objection able to permit counsel to read the comments of this court upon the facts of the case as they appeared upon a former hearing thereof in this court. We are compelled, to a greater or less extent, to state and deal with the facts of cases we are called upon to decide, but our remarks in so doing are not intended to aid juries in subsequent trials, nor can they be properly used for that purpose. Whenever it is necessary for this court to allude to or comment upon the facts of a case, we do so as they appear in the record then before us, but in another investigation the evidence may be, and often is, entirely different, and the case may present quite another complexion. Supreme Court decisions cannot be read to the jury in civil cases to enlighten them upon the law. This they must take from the trial judge as their sole oracle, and it cannot be seriously contended that Vhat is said in the opinions of this court can or should aid the jury in solving questions of fact, it being their duty in every instance to return a true verdict according to the evidence.

4. Defendant’s counsel requested the court to chai’ge the jury that if plaintiff' alleged in his declaration a promise made in 1879 by his father, to give plaintiff his entire property for plaintiff’s compensation, plaintiff' could not recover upon proof of a contract made in 1877. It has already been stated that'the allegation in plaintiff’s declaration as to the promise or contract between him and his father had been stricken from the declaration before the trial began, but it would seem from the request just mentioned that the defendant himself treated the declaration as still containing this allegation, and his complaint seems to be that an allegation that the contract was made in 1879 cannot be supported by proof that in 1877 the father agreed to give plaintiff the home place for his services. There is no real merit in this complaint. It is not pretended that the alleged contract was in writing, or that its date was-a material element in its description. The contract relied on by the plaintiff as the basis of his right to recover was made in 1877, if made at all, and merely stating in the declaration that it was made in a subsequent year is not material, nor would the plaintiff be obliged to prove the contract precisely as alleged.

5. If the plaintiff’ made a contract with his father through his brother, D. N. Hudson, in 1877, by the terms of which the plaintiff was to move to his father’s place and reside there and take care of and wait upon the old man, and in consideration of his services was to have the use of a one-horse farm; and if afterwards the plaintiff made a different contract with his father through the brother mentioned, by the terms of which he was to receive for his services all he could make upon the land of his father, the money coming to his father from a pension, and other things; and if the father was of sound mind and consented to and authorized the making of these contracts, the plaintiff would, of course, be bound thereby. The court was requested to charge the jury to this effect, and while he did not give the request in precisely the language presented, he did in substance so instruct the jury. We ruled at the former hearing in this court that no change in a contract between the plaintiff and his father would result from an agreement made by the children after the father became insane, and this is undoubtedly true; but .if the father, either in person or through one of his sons as agent, made a contract with the plaintiff, and had at the time sufficient mental capacity to contract, the contract would be good in law, and binding upon the parties to it.

6. During the trial the court said to a witness on the Stand, one John Carr, “How do you remember dates sowell? You have a talent, a gift, that way”; and when another witness, Sam. Webb, was introduced, the court said, “ The witness has not got the memory that John Carr has. Do you know John Carr? He has a better recollection than you. Which is the elder man, you or he ?” and again, when John Carr was recalled, the court said to him, “You have established a reputation for a good recollection, but you cannot tell the price of wheat that year; you ought to keep that reputation up.” All these remai’ks and questions by the court were out of order. It is impossible to know what effect or tendency they may have had upon the minds of the jury. The court may often with great propriety ask questions of a witness on the stand for the purpose of bringing out the facts of the case, but should never indulge in remai’ks to witnesses, or in comments upon their testimony, which may either magnify or diminish its effect upon the jury as to credibility or value.

7. It appears that the original declaration in this case had been lost, and at the last trial plaintiff’s counsel established a copy of the lost original. Upon this copy were written two verdicts which had formerly been rendered in the plaintiff’s favor. Defendant’s counsel objected to the establishment of the copy declaration with these verdicts entered upon it, and asked that the same be pasted over or erased so that they could not be read. No objection, however, was made to the correctness of the copy, nor was it denied that these verdicts were upon the original. When the jury took the papers to their room to consider their verdict, no request was made to the court to have the former verdicts concealed or erased. There can be no question that in establishing a lost declaration, or other office paper, the copy established must be a true and accurate copy, and there can be no error in allowing such a copy to be established. After this had been done, if defendant’s counsel wished the former verdicts to be concealed from the jury, a request to this effect should have been made at the proper time. As this was not done, we see no error in the conduct of the court, so far as this question is concerned. Judgment reversed.