Weeks v. Gattell

Scott, J.: The evidence justified the finding at Special Term that the assignment by Count W. Weeks to his brother Oakley Weeks of the claim against the Coe estate was in consideration of and as security for the sum of $500, and that there was no other consideration for such assignment. The agreement between plaintiff and the attorney Whitehead was not void for champerty. Although it took the form of an assignment of the claim, it amounted in substance to an agreement that the attorney should retain a portion of the proceeds of the claim'as his compensation and by way of repayment of any expenses to which he might be put. He did not promise to advance any part of the expenses, although he had already been obliged to expend some money and would probably have to expend more if the prosecution of the claim was to be persisted in, since Count W. Weeks was apparently unable, and Oakley Weeks certainly unwilling, to advance any money towards the prosecution of what then seemed to be a most doubtful claim. Nor was the attorney’s agreement made as an inducement to have the claim put in his hands, or in consideration of its having been so put. He had been retained by Count W. Weeks and had taken steps to prosecute the claim long before any agreement was made as to his compensation. . The only question in the case which seems to be at all troublesome arises from the proportion of the claim which it was agreed should be retained by the attorney. Prima, faoie it seems to be inordinately large. We may not, however, condemn it solely for that reason if it appears that the agreement was deliberately entered ’into by the client and was free from fraud and not so excessive as to [404] evince a purpose on the part of the attorney to obtain improper or undue advantage. (Matter of Fitzsimons, 174 N. Y. 15.) There is no evidence in the case that the agreement with Whitehead was not made voluntarily and with full understanding by both Count W. Weeks and Oakley Weeks, nor is there anything to indicate that the attorney in any way coerced or improperly influenced them. Oakley Weeks’ chief anxiety seems to have been to get back the $500 he had loaned. Count W. Weeks had judgments against him and a receiver in supplementary proceedings had been appointed, and anything he might get out of the judgment- would probably go to his creditors. He was apparently little interested in the outcome of the litigation. Even in the present action he contents himself with denying the allegations of the complaint, sets up no facts upon which to base a claim upon any of the moneys retained by the attorney and did not serve his answer upon the defendant attorney or his executor. His receiver and the principal judgment creditors unite in asking an affirmance of the judgment. As the case is presented, therefore, the plaintiff has recovered the amount for which he took the assignment as security. He is, therefore, in no position to question the amount retained by the attorney as compensation. Count W. Weeks has not so pleaded as to entitle himself to question the amount, and the other parties, who might be benefited if the attorney’s executor was required to repay a part of the compensation, are content with the judgment as it stands. Hnder all these circumstances we find no occasion to disturb the judgment, which must be affirmed, with costs to the executor, respondent. McLaughlin, Clakke and Houghton, JJ., concurred.