Steele v. Hammond

Hirschberg, P. J.: The judgment recovered by the plaintiff, entered on a verdict, found by direction of the coiirt, is for professional services as an attorney and counsellor 'at law rendered to the defendant. The court not only directed a verdict in favor of the plaintiff but, under defendant’s objection, directed that the verdict should be made for the amount of the plaintiff’s bill. The plaintiff testiiied that his services were worth more than the bill rendered, and he was corroborated by the evidence of another witness. I think, however, that the court should have submitted to the jury the question of the amount of the. recovery. By section 1183 of the Code of Civil Procedure it is provided that in an action to recover a sum- of money only the jury must assess the amount of damages. The respondent insists that where there is no evidence offered on the question of amount in opposition to the claim of an attorney suing for the value of his services, the price is fixed the same as it would be in an action for the market value of commodities. I do not so' understand the law. The elements of the value of professional services are many and in their nature varying, the result being largely dependent on environment and surroundings which have no relation whatever to the market value of tangible commodities. In Randall v. Packard (142 N. Y. 47) it was' held- that the -result of a lawyer’s services is a proper and an important element to be taken into consideration in determining their .valué; and a charge to the jury was approved, to the effect that in determining such value the computation should include the professional reputation. of the plaintiff for ability and integrity, the difficulty and importance of the cáse, the amount of work and labor performed, the amount involved, the pecuniary ability of the client and the benefit derived by the latter from the result. In Morehouse v. Brooklyn Heights R. R. Co. (123 App. Div. 680) it was held that if the fee were contingent, a larger compensation might lawfully be demanded. - In McDonald v. De Vito (118 App. Div. 566) it was held that where the rendition of the services was undisputed' and the plaintiff’s testimony on the question of value was to.be regarded as. true, yet even in that view the value of the services was a question, of fact for the jury. And in Brooklyn Heights R. R. Co. v. Brooklyn [669] City R. R. Co. (124 App. Div. 896) this court, in adopting the opinion of Mr. Justice Burr in the court below, held that evidence of the value of professional services is purely opinion evidence and not testimony as to facts, ánd, therefore, was not conclusive even when uncontradicted. It follows that the question of the amount of the recovery should have been submitted to the jury, and the judgment must, therefore, be reversed. Woodward, Jerks and Burr, JJ., concurred. Judgment reversed and new trial granted, costs to abide the event.