Harmon, Exr. v. Smitch

Action is based upon a claim filed by appellee against the estate of which appellant is the legal representative. Claim consists of two items; the first, a promissory note, the second an account for labor alleged to have been performed by claimant for decedent during the period from June 1, 1901, to July 7, 1923. Trial resulted in a verdict and judgment for claimant. On the trial, the validity of the note was not questioned, the controversy being as to the account.

It appears from the uncontradicted evidence that claimant worked for, and made his home with, decedent continuously for more than twenty years, during which time he received from decedent his board, lodging, laundry and money to buy his clothes. There is evidence tending to prove that when claimant went to live and make his home with decedent, it was agreed by decedent to pay claimant for his services the sum of $25 per month, but no agreement was made as to the length of time claimant was to be employed. There was other evidence to the effect that there was no agreement as to the wages claimant was to receive. Prior to his employment by decedent, claimant had worked for and made his home with decedent's father, and it was when decedent's father could keep him no longer that claimant came and took employment and made his home with decedent. The employment of appellee was not an employment from month to month as is usual in the employment of farm hands, but was for an indefinite period of time. The value of the services rendered was variously estimated by the witnesses who testified. There was testimony that the services of claimant were worth no more than his board, lodging and laundry. The value fixed by other witnesses varied from $8 to $35 per month, in addition to his board, lodging and laundry. It also appears from the evidence that, a few days before his death, decedent told his wife in the presence of another that he wanted his wife to see to it that claimant "got his wages in full with interest."

The important question presented by this appeal relates to the application of the statute of limitations. Appellant tendered instructions to the effect that if the jury should find from the evidence that the labor was performed by claimant pursuant to a contract whereby decedent agreed to pay and claimant agreed to accept for the services the sum of $25 per month and board, lodging and laundry of claimant during the time of the employment, then, and in that event, claimant could recover only for the six years immediately preceding the death of decedent. The court refused to give these instructions, but instead, by its instruction No. 14, directed the jury that if they should find that appellee had entered into a contract to perform the work described in the complaint for $25 per month for an indefinite time, then they should fix the amount of recovery on that basis, no reference being made in the instruction to the statute of limitations. In support of the court's action in refusing to give the tendered instructions and in the giving of instruction No. 14, it is earnestly contended by appellee that even if decedent did agree to pay $25 per month for the services, the contract was for the employment of claimant for an indefinite period, with no time fixed for payment, and that therefore the statute of limitations would not begin to run until the services had been terminated. The contention of appellee must prevail.

It is conceded that the contract for services of appellee was for an indefinite period of time and that no specified time for payment of the wages was fixed; nor is it controverted 1, 2. that the employment was continuous through the years till decedent's death. The contract did not provide that the wages were to be paid by the month, and there was no evidence of any usage or custom fixing the time of payment under such circumstances. It has been many times decided, and it is a well-settled general rule in this state, that under a contract of employment which does not fix the term of service or the time for payment of wages, the contract is continuous, and the statute of limitations does not commence to run until the employee's services are terminated. Littler v. Smiley (1857),9 Ind. 116; Story v. Story (1890), 1 Ind. App. 284, 27 N.E. 573;Taggart, Admr., v. Tevanny (1891), 1 Ind. App. 339, 27 N.E. 511; Grave, Admr., v. Pemberton (1891), 3 Ind. App. 71, 29 N.E. 177; Purviance, Admr., v. Purviance (1895),14 Ind. App. 269, 42 N.E. 264; Crampton v. Logan (1902), 28 Ind. App. 405, 63 N.E. 51. To the same effect, see Schaffner v. Schaffner (1916), 98 Kan. 167, 157 P. 402; Ah How v. Furth (1896),13 Wash. 550, 43 P. 639; Phifer v. Phifer (1924),112 Neb. 327, 199 N.W. 511; 3 Williston, Contracts § 2029. Since, in the instant case, there is evidence which would support a finding by the jury that appellee was to receive $25 per month, it is urged by appellant that the law, under such circumstances, would imply an agreement to pay monthly, and that it would necessarily follow that a separate cause of action would lie for each month's wages, and that all of these causes of action, which it is claimed accrued monthly prior to six years from decedent's death are barred by the statute of limitations. The same question was considered in Schaffner v. Schaffner,supra, and Phifer v. Phifer, supra. In the Schaffner case, the employment was of a son by his father; the son was to take charge of and operate his father's farm, and was to receive $30 per month. The hiring was for an indefinite time, and there was no specific provision in the contract that the wages were to be paid monthly. In holding that the promise of the employer was a continuing promise to pay, kept alive by continuous performance by the employee, and that the statute of limitations did not begin to run until the services of the employee terminated, the Kansas Supreme Court used the following language: "In this instance there was no express agreement that payment should be made at the end of each month. The plaintiff was not employed simply in the capacity of a farm hand to work from month to month. He came home to do the farming which his father was not able to do. He was to be paid the same sum he was receiving per month, not period by period, but as long as he worked. Consequently the promise was a continuing promise to pay kept alive by continuous performance on the part of the appellee and effective at the termination of the employment for the entire time. There was no evidence of any usage or custom fixing the time of payment under circumstances of the character stated and the rule announced in the case of Grisham v. Lee, 61 Kan. 533, 60 P. 312, is applicable: ``If there is a single hiring, and the term of service of the employee, and, also, the time when his compensation shall become due are not fixed by agreement or understanding, and the hiring and service continue without interruption or payment until the death of the employer, the employment, in the absence of the evidence of a general custom or usage, may be deemed continuous, and the statute of limitations will not begin to run against a claim for compensation until the services are ended.'" We approve the reasoning and conclusion of the court in that case; and in harmony therewith we hold that if, in the instant case, the decedent did contract with appellee to pay him $25 per month, the term of service being for an indefinite period with no agreement to pay the wages monthly, and there being no evidence of any usage or custom fixing the time of payment under such circumstances, the statute of limitations did not commence to run until the services were ended.

It necessarily follows that the court did not err in refusing to give the instructions tendered by appellant, nor in the giving of instruction No. 14 of which complaint is made.

The verdict is sustained by sufficient evidence.

Affirmed.