DocketNumber： Nos. 18,537 — (79)
Citation Numbers： 125 Minn. 357
Judges： Dibell
Filed Date： 5/8/1914
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 9/9/2022
Appeal by the plaintiff from an order sustaining a demurrer to his complaint.
The complaint alleges that the plaintiff, an Illinois attorney, was the attorney for the heirs at law of one [Ralph Young, who came to his death in Minnesota through the negligence of another; that he was authorized hy them to take such steps as were necessary to recover the damages occasioned by his death; that he entered into a contract with the defendants whereby they and he were to act together, the plaintiff to receive one-half of the attorney’s fees and the defendants one-half; that pursuant to the agreement one of the defendants was appointed administrator; that the action resulted in a recovery of $4,020.79; that one third of such sum was paid to the defendants as attorneys’ fees; and that the defendants have paid plaintiff the sum of $225, leaving a balance still due him under the agreement.
The statute, G. S. 1913, § 8175 (B. L. 1905, § 4503) provides that the recovery for death by wrongful act “shall be for the exclusive benefit of the surviving spouse and next of kin, to he distributed to them in the same proportion as personal property of persons dying intestate.” The complaint alleges a contract between the plaintiff and the heirs at law of the decedent Young. The surviving spouse and next of kin, as designated in G. S. 1913, § 8175 ([R. .L. 1905, § 4503) come within the designation of heirs at law as used in G. S. 1913, §§ 7238, 7243 (B. L. 1905, §§ 3648, 3653). A contract between the plaintiff and the persons including the surviving spouse and next of kin is sufficiently alleged.
But aside from all this the complaint alleges a contract between the plaintiff and the defendants, which has been executed, and as a result of which the defendants have in their hands money which, ac
Order reversed.