Morrissey v. Faucett , 28 Wash. 52 ( 1902 )

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Hadley, J.

— Appellant and respondent are brother and sister. Appellant is some years older than respondent. Their father died when respondent was about sixteen years of age. Eor some years previous to his death the father was ill and unable to superintend his farm, and appellant took entire charge of the farm from the time he was about sixteen years of age. Some time before the death of the father he transferred the farm to the appellant by deed, and also gave him personal property connected with the farm. After the death of the father the family consisted of appellant, respondent, and their mother. Respondent lived with appellant and her mother as a member' of the family from the time her father died until she was twenty-one years of age. Meanwhile she attended school and assisted in ordinary duties about the house and farm. Eespondent testifies that she quit attending school when she was nineteen years of age, but other witnesses say they think she attended school until she was twenty-one years of age. In any event, however, she continued to1 reside with the family until she was twenty-one years old, and discharged duties as aforesaid, receiving meanwhile her board, lodging, and clothes. Soon after she became twenty-one years of age, — the time is not definitely fixed, — respondent testified that she spoke to her brother (appellant) about her work in the future. She said:

“I told him I was twenty-one now, and I would have to go out and look out for myself; that I would have to look around to earn my living; and he wanted me to go on there and do the work just the same as I had, and he would make it all right with me if I would stay; and I did so, and I took his word that he would do it. He said to me to go on and do the work just the same as I had been doing, and he would make it all right with me; he would pay me for my work. There was no certain time,- — no date set when he was to pay me.”

In the course of her testimony, respondent also testified to other conversations between herself and appellant when the subject of compensation for her work was mentioned. There was other testimony to the effect that appellant said in the presence of respondent that she would be paid for all she was doing. One witness also testified to a conversation between himself and appellant when respondent was not present, as follow’s:

“We were right there, — raised there, boys together; and I was telling him how his sister worked to help him along and what a good girl she was, and he said, ‘Yes, there never was a better in the world; and I calculate to do what is right by Emma and pay her for her work.’ ”

Respondent continued to reside with appellant from the time she became twenty-one years of age, in October, 1892, until the month of July, 1899, when she left, about which time she was also married. During said period of more than six and two-thirds years she did the principal work required in the farmhouse of appellant. Her mother helped some about the house, hut she ivas an elderly lady, being more than seventy years of age at, the time of the trial, and ivas unable to do as much housework as she otherwise might have done. During most of the time appellant kept from twelve to> twenty, and sometimes even more, milch cows, which it ivas necessary to milk every day. It was necessary to milk the cows at an early hour every morning, so that the milk could be shipped to Seattle by a train which left early in the morning. It was the rule for those who milked the cows to get up about four o’clock in the morning and commence the ipiiking. Respondent helped to milk the cows during most of the time. There Avas a time Avhen the management of the cows was Avith a renter, and there is evidence that respondent assisted about the milking ev^en then. She Avas, hoAvever,' not asked to do so by appellant, and she seems to have voluntarily rendered such assistance. This .period did not, however, cover a very long time; and even during that period respondent Avas daily doing the usual work about the house, and Avas also doing Avork outside upon a portion of the farm not rented. The eAÚdence shows that during the six and two-thirds years the respondent Avas never away from the farm for perhaps more than íavo or three days at a time, — at most but a few days, — except once, Avhen she Avas gone five weeks on a visit. It is sufficient to say that the services were rendered with but little interruption for such a long period. Respondent worked about the farm, doing all kinds of work required upon the farm, except to plow. Appellant himself admits that she was very industrious and did valuable and faithful service. In the house she did the cooking, washing, ironing, and all other housework except what assistance her mother gave her. Outside she helped to plant the crops, hoed, dug, and sacked potatoes; raked and bunched hay; helped to put up the hay and mow it away, and drove the horses that drew the fork which pulled up the hay. She testified that she milked eight and ten, and sometimes fifteen, cows, twice a day. She fed and raised calves, fed pigs, harrowed, ran a clod machine, set hop poles, laid hops, bunched and picked them, shoveled hops into the press when they were baled, helped sew the bales, and attended the press when they were baled. She generally got up before four o’clock in the morning and worked until eight or nine at night She pruned the orchard, did the pumping when the orchard was sprayed, and helped malee the spraying material. Much of the time there were two hired men, for whom she cooked, besides the members, of the family. Neighbors testified that they had seen respondent doing many of the things above enumerated, and in fact had seen her doing about all kinds of work required upon the farm, except to plow. During the time mentioned appellant furnished respondent her board and lodging and some of her clothes. Another brother, in Alaska, furnished her money to buy some clothing. • Occasionally appellant handed her some money, with which she bought some clothing for herself, some for her mother, and also needed things for the house. She occasionally received a little money from the proceeds of the sale of some poultry, the raising of which had been under her special care, which money was spent much in the same manner as that before mentioned. She testitied that the only payment ever made on account of her services was a payment of $30 made just as she was leaving home, after she had quit rendering services; and further, that she never asked for payment before. She alleges that her services were reasonably worth $25 per month, in addition to her board and lodging, and that the whole thereof is unpaid, except said sum of $30. She brought this suit to recover said balance, and demands judgment in the sum of $1,982.50. The defense is that the respondent is the sister of appellant and lived Avith appellant as a member of his family, Avith no agreement to pay for her services, and Avith no expectation that she should be compensated therefor. The statute of limitations is also interposed as a defense. The cause Avas tried by a jury and a Arerdict returned for respondent in the sum of $1,982.50. Appellant moved for a new trial, Avhich was overruled; and thereafter judgment was entered upon the verdict of the jury for the full amount thereof, together with interest and costs. From said judgment his appeal is taken.

It is assigned as error that the court sustained the demurrer of respondent to appellant’s plea of the statute of limitations, and admitted testimony as to services rendered prior to three years before the commencement of the action. This assignment raises the question of the application of the statute of limitations to a contract of employment for an indefinite time, when no time for payment has been specified. We are aware that there is conflict of authority upon this subject, and the authorities cited by appellant are to the effect that, if the hiring can be regarded from year to year, the sendees for each year* should be treated as a separate item and the statute applied accordingly, or, if there is anything to malee it appear that the hiring may have been from month to month, each month should be so regarded. However, in Ah How v. Furth, 13 Wash. 550 (43 Pac. 639), this court announced a different rule. In that case the services were rendered under a contract of employment for an indefinite period. The services continued for a number of years, and some payments were made meanwhile. It is true, the trial court in that case found that at no time prior to. the beginning of the suit did a period of three years, elapse between the dates of payments or credits; but in its interpretation of the contract and the statute of limitations as applied thereto, this court said, at page. 552:

“We think that the contract, of service was a continuous one, and that the statute of limitations did not begin to run until the completion of the service.”

The authorities there cited sustain the rule announced, and are as follows: Carter v. Carter, 36 Mich. 207; Grave v. Pemberton, 3 Ind. App. 11 (29 N. E. 177) ; Knight v. Knight, 6 Ind. App. 268 (33 N. E. 456); Taggart v. Tevanny, 1 Ind. App. 339 (27 N. E. 511).

In addition to the above^ respondent cites Jackson v. Mull, 6 Wyo. 55 (42 Pac. 603), which is also- in point. The rule having been announced in Ah How v. Furth, supra, and being sustained by authority, we do not deem it wise to depart therefrom. The contract alleged in this case was for an indefinite time, and no. time of payment was specified. The services were therefore continuous, within the above rule, and the statute did not begin to run until the services ended. The. court therefore did not err in overruling the demurrer and in admitting the testimony.

It is next assigned that the court erred in permitting respondent to amend her complaint at the close of the testimony. Immediately after the close of the testimony the following occurred:

“Mr. Allen: If your honor please, plaintiff asks leave of court to- amend her complaint hy adding to paragraph 1 the following: Tor which said work and labor the defendant promised and agreed to pay the plaintiff, which said promise was made prior to plaintiff performing said work and labor.’ That said amendment simply conforms to the proof introduced in this case.”

Appellant objected to the amendment being made, but the eouil permitted it, and appellant thereupon excepted. In Hulbertv. Brackett, 8 Wash. 438 (36 Pac. 264), an application was made to- amend the complaint during the introduction of the testimony. The court held that it was within the discretion of the trial, court to permit the amendment; that no different answer was required,.and the defendant was in no way taken by surprise. In this case appellant’s answer already filed negatived specifically the truth of the matters set up in the amendment, and evidence upon both sides had been directed to that issue. There could have been no surprise. The most that appellant could have asked would have been for time to introduce further testimony, which was not done. To the same effect are McDonough v. Great Northern Ry. Co., 15 Wash. 244 (46 Pac. 334), and Allend v. Spokane Falls & Northern Ry. Co., 21 Wash. 324 (58 Pac. 244). The court did not commit error in permitting the amendment under the circumstances.

It is assigned as error that the court refused to permit respondent to answer on cross-examination whether the work she did by way of milking cows while a renter had charge of them was voluntary on her part, and not-required hy appellant. We think it was not material. She had already testified that the renter was supposed to do the milking. The following had appeared in her examination :

“Question: He was supposed to do the milking, was he not? Answer: The renter? Q. Yes, the renter. A. Yes, sir. Q. You would go there voluntarily and help him milk? A. When I didn’t have anything else to dó-, I would go and help, milk.”

We think it had already sufficiently appeared that at such times as she was milking cows which were under the renter’s charge she was not working for appellant, or upon his request. The point, must have been sufficiently clear to the jury without further examination on that line, and we think the court did not err in excluding the further testimony sought.

It is assigned as error that the court instructed the jury to the effect that it is not necessary, in order that respondent may recover, that she shall show an expressed promise to pay for the services, but that it is sufficient for her to show from facts and circumstances that there was an understanding and agreement. One instruction, which, in substance, embodies the above statement of law, concludes as follows: “She may show an implied promise on the part of the defendant to pay for such services.” It is urged that the instruction, in effect, told the jury that no agreement or understanding was necessary, and that she could recover upon an implied contract in law following from the mere fact that the services were rendered. The court did not say, however, that no contract or understanding is necessary, hut that no “expressed promise to pay” is necessary, if from facts and circumstances it is shown that there was an agreement. The first quoted words above do Hot say that she can recover upon a mere implied contract, hut that she may “show an implied promise.” The reasonable interpretation of the words, when considered in connection with the entire instruction, together with others given, is that she may show facts and circumstances from which the implication or inference may follow that there was an agreement. We think the instructions, taken as a whole, must have made the point clear to the jury that there could he no recovery without an agreement or understanding that respondent was to he paid for her services, and that she could not recover from the mere fact that the services were rendered and accepted. In fact, the court so stated to the jury in words as direct and plain as could have heen used. They were told, in effect, that it was for the jury to say whether an understanding or agreement existed by reason of the facts and circumstances and the acts and conversations of appellant. Appellant contends that respondent must show an express contract before she can recover; that is to say, a direct and positive agreement, in terms, to pa.y for the services rendered. The authorities are not altogether harmonious upon this subject. It is a rule universally recognized that, when the services are rendered by one who is a member of the family of the employer, the law will not imply a contract to pay for the services from the mere fact that they have been rendered upon the one hand and benefits thereof received upon the other, as in the ease of strangers. This is also held to- he the rule when there is no actual blood relationship existing between the parties, provided they sustain to each other the ordinary relations of members of the same family. It has been held, however, that when the family relationship exists it is not necessary to prove the terms of a direct and‘positive contract, but that proof may be made of words, acts, and conduct of the parties, and circumstances from which the inference may follow that there was an understanding that the services were not to be rendered gratuitously ; that when such is the case there is a contract upon which the value of the services can be recovered, and it is for the jury to say, from all the conduct of the parties and from the circumstances in evidence, whether there was in fact such an understanding or agreement. This rule is sustained by the following: Young v. Herman, 97 N. C. 280 (1 S. E. 792) ; Collins v. Williams, 21 Ind. App. 227 (52 N. E. 92); Dash v. Inabnet, 53 S. C. 382 (31 S. E. 297); Hart v. Hess, 41 Mo. 441; Murrell v. Studstill, 104 Ga. 604 (30 S. E. 750), Smiley v. Scott, 77 Ill. App. 555; Tumilty v. Tumilty, 13 Mo. App. 444; McGarvy v. Roods, 73 Iowa, 363 (35 N. W. 488).

The rule recognized in the above cases clearly appears in the following from the"opinion in Murrell v. Studstill, supra, at page 751 (104 Ga. 608).

“The services rendered by the plaintiff in error in this case were not only such as a grandchild would naturally render from love and affection in waiting upon an infirm, old grandparent, but she also performed the services of a common servant, in cooking, washing, and doing labor in the field. By such services she saved the grandparent expenses that he would otherwise have had to incur in the employment of labor, and thus enhanced the value of his estate. While there was no express contract proved, yet there was enough in this case to submit it to the jury, and to leave it to tlris tribunal to determine, in the language of this court in the case of Hudson v. Hudson, above cited, whether or not the surrounding circumstances revealed by the evidence ‘plainly indicate that it was. the intention of both parties that compensation should be made, and negative the idea that the services were performed merely because of that natural sense of duty, love and affection arising out of this relation’ of grandparent and grandchild.’’

Also in Dash v. Inabinet, supra, at page 298 (53 S. C. 386) of the opinion, as follows:

“In tliis case, it is very apparent that there was no direct and positive testimony of any agreement between plaintiff and intestate as to compensating, her for her services ; for when the plaintiff was asked whether there was any such understanding with her father, the question was objected to, and very properly ruled incompetent, under section 400 of the Code. The plaintiff was, therefore, forced to rely on such other circumstances as sho was able to prove, from which the jury might infer that there was an agreement for compensation. It will be observed that we use the word ‘might’, and not the word ‘should’, for it is not for us to say what inference the jury should draw from the testimony, but only to determine whether there was any testimony from which the jury might infer that there was a contract. Without discussing the testimony above stated, or indicating any views which might be taken of it, or suggesting any inferences that might be drawn from it, as that might prove prejudicial to one or the other of the parties, it is sufficient for us to say, that there was testimony from which the jury might infer that there was a contract; but. whether the testimony was sufficient to warrant such an inference, we have neither the power nor the disposition to say; and we must not be regarded as expressing, or even intimating, any opinion whatever as to the sufficiency of the evidence, as that is a matter exclusively for the jury.”

We believe the rule above stated is wholesome and just, and we shall adopt it here. The court’s instructions were in harmony therewith, and we think there was no error therein which could have misled the jury. There was evidence in this case of a direct promise to pay, which was, however, denied by appellant. It- therefore became the • duty of the court to submit the question to the jury whether it was the understanding between the parties that the services were not being gratuitously rendered, and in determining that matter it was proper for them to consider the relations, conversations, and conduct of the respective parties, together with attending circumstances, including statements made by appellant. Several witnesses, — ■ among them neighboring farmers, — testified that the services rendered were reasonably worth from $25 to- $30 per month, in addition to board and lodging. The amount of the verdict is within the issue raised by the pleadings. It is insisted that the evidence does not show that the first conversation about payment for services occurred until months after respondent became twenty-one years of age, and that she cannot recover for the entire time. Respondent, however, did say that it occurred soon after the date of her majority; but she was unable to fix any certain date, and on cross-examination did not, in terms, deny that it might have been some months later. It was, however, for the jury to say, under all the testimony, whether an understanding existed that she was to receive compensation from the time she was twenty-one years of age. The fact that the services were of such an extraordinary character to be rendered by a woman was not improper to- consider, together with all the other testimony, in determining-whether the presumption that the services were gratuitous during the first few months had been overcome.

We think the court did not err, and the judgment is affirmed.

Reavis, C. J., and Fullerton, White, Dunbar, Anders and Mount, JJ., concur.