Raymond v. Loyl

By the Court, Hand, J. A parent is under a natural obligation and duty to furnish necessaries for his infant children. — 485 — (Reeve's Dom. Rel. 283. 1 Bl. 447. Van Valkinburgh v. Watson, 13 John. 480. Edwards, v. Davis 16 Id. 285. 2 Kent, 189.) How that obligation is to be enforced, is not so clear, Spencer, C. J. in Edwards v. Davis, says,; it is a perfect common law duty.And he cites Reeve's Dom. Rel. 284, and 1 Bl. 448. The court are made to say, in Van Valkenburgh v. Watson, that if the parent neglects that duty, any other person who supplies such necessaries, is deemed to have conferred a benefit on the delinquent parent, for which the law raises an implied promise to pay, on the part of the parent; and Simpson v. Robertson, (1 Esp. 17,) and Ford v. Fothergill, (Id. 211,) are cited. An extract is also given from Bainbridge v. Pickering, (2 W. Bl. R. 1325.) And Chancellor Walworth said, in re Ryder, (11 Paige, 188,) that a stranger may furnish necessaries for the child, and recover of the parent compensation therefor, where there is a clear and palpable omission of duty, on the part of the parent, in supplying a minor child with necessaries. He cites Van Valkinburgh v. Watson. Chancellor Kent advances the same doctrine, and cites the same case, one in Connccti cut, the two nisi prius cases from Espinasse, (supra,) and Stone v. Carr, (3 Esp. R. 1.) Though stated so broadly, and by such eminent jurists, an examination of the cases, throws doubt upon this position. ¡Reeve was not a very careful writer. He cites 1 Bl. 446, to show that it is a common law duty of parents to support minor children. ¡Blackstone says, this duty is “ a principle of natural law.” (1 Bl. 447.) That “ it is a principle of law, that there is an obligation on every man to provide for those descended from his loins ; and the manner in which this obligation shall be performed is thus pointed tintand immediately refers to the provisions of the statutes on the subject. (Id. 448.) And adds on the next page, “ no person is bound to provide a maintenance for his issue, unless where the children are impotent and unable to work, either through infancy, disease, or accident, and then, is only obliged to_find them with_necessaries, the penalty on refusal being ho more than 20s. a month.” And Mr. Chitty, in his note, (1 Bl. 448 a,) says there is no legal obligation on a — 486 — parent to maintain Ms child, independent of the statutes, and therefore, a third person, who may relieve the latter, even from absolute want, can not sue the parent for reasonable remuneration, unless he expressly, or impliedly, contracted to pay, and cites Le Blanc, J. 4 East, 84; T. Ray. 260 ; Palmer, 559; 2 Stark.551. He adds that “ the common law considered moral duties tms nature, like others of imperfect obligation, as better left in their performance to the impulses of nature.” And it is a little remarkable, that, in all the cases cited as sustaining a liability to a third person, without a contract, the point did not arise. In Simpson v. Robertson, Lord Kenyon ruled that a tradesman, who colluded with a young man, and furnished him clothes to an extravagant degree, could not recover against the father. It does not appear but there was express authority to a reasonable extent. Ford v. Fothergill was against the infant. In Stone v. Carr, the defendant stood in loco parentis to the son of his wife, who sent him to school in the absence of the defendant. The wife was held to be his agent for that purpose. Bainbridge v. Pickering, was against an infant. In Van Valkenburgh v. Watson there had been a recovery for a coat, and the judgment was reversed, because the proof was insufficient in any view. Edwards v. Davis, was an action against husband and wife for the support of her parents, and there were, at least, two fatal objections to a recovery. Ryder’s case was an attempt, in a court of chancery, to make a mother, who had married again, and had a life estate in property to her separate use in the hands of trustees, support a son, capable of supporting himself. It was not a case calling for aid at all, nor had chancery any jurisdiction of the matter. And so with some other cases. Williams v. Hutchinson was an action against a stepfather for services. (5 Barb. 122. 3 Comst. 312.) Shute v. Dorr was an action for services of a child. (5 Wend. 204.) Rawlins v. Van Dyke, (3 Esp. R. 250,) was put on the ground that the wife was agent. Forsyth v. Ganson, (5, Wend. 558,) if it can be sustained at all, which is very doubt-: ful, must be upon an express contract to support, and the fact that the defendant possessed a fund set aside'for that purpose. — 487 — It is sufficient, for the present purpose, that it was not a case of an infant. In England, the liability of the parent, stands solely upon ¡ contract. Mr. Chitty, in his work on contracts, says, where a; father gives no authority, and enters into no contract, he is no more liable for goods supplied to his son, than a mere stranger^ would be. (Chit, on Cont. 140, note, Perkins’ ed.) And he is sustained by a strong current of authorities, of which Mortimer v. Wright is a leading ease. (6 M. & W. 482.) There Lord Abinger, C. B. said, “in point of law, a father who gives no authority, and enters into no contract, is no more liable for goods supplied to his son, than a brother, or an uncle, or a mere stranger would be.” And that “ the mere moral obligation on the father to maintain his child, affords no inference of a legal promise to pay his debts.” “ To bind the father in point of law for the debt incurred by his son, you must prove that he has contracted to be bound, just in the same manner as you would prove such a contract against any other person.” And Parke, B. said, a father was under no legal obligation to pay his son’s ' debts, except, indeed, by proceedings under the statute; the , mere moral obligation imposing no legal liability. This cause was decided in 1840, and so was Seaborne v. Maddy, where the same doctrine was laid down at nisi prius by Park, B. (9 C. & P. 497.) And see remarks of Abbott, C. J. in Blackburn v. Mackey, (1 C. & P. 1;) Burrough, J. in Fluck v. Tollemache, (Id. 5;) Gurney, B. in Rolfe v. Abbott, (6 C. & P. 286;) Bing. on Infancy, 87; note to Am. ed.; Gordon v. Potter, (17 Vt. R. 348 ;) Varney v. Young, (11 Id. 260.) Chitty says, his liability in case of desertion is questio vexata. (Chit, on Cont. 142.) And see Urmston v. Newcomen, (4 A. & E. 899.) In Massachusetts, the father is liable to third persons, perhaps, if the child be expelled, but not if he voluntarily leaves to avoid discipline and restraint. (Angell v. McLellan, 16 Mass. 28.) In this state, and probably in all our sister states, as well as in England, the parent may be compelled by statute to support a minor child; and our statute extends to widows. (1 R.S. 614, 615.) The husband is liable, as a general rule, for the debts of — 488 — his wife contracted, dum sola. But the liability of a husband ,Is different from that of a parent. Yet even that rests upon contract, he taking her cum onere. (See Richardson v. Hall, 1 B. & B. 50.) And otherwise the creditor would be remediless. But, at least an express promise is necessary to enforce a mere moral obligation. Indeed the modern opinion seems to be that an express promise, even, is not sufficient. (Chit, on Cont. 46, Perk. ed. and the cases cited in the note. Beaumont v. Reeve 8 Ad. & E. N. S. 483. Eastwood v. Kenyon, 11 Ad. & E. 438. Nash v. Russell, 5 Barb. 556. Geer v. Archer, 2 Barb. S. C. R. 420. Ehle v. Judson, 24 Wend 97.) If that be so, my remark to the contrary in Van Derveer v. Wright, (6 Barb. 551,) unless we take Justice Oowen’s definition of a moral con-* sideration, (Tebbetts v. Dowd, 23 Wend. 382,) was incorrect; and I am inclined to think a moral consideration insufficient. (See Smith’s L. Ca. 170. Sed vide 1 Vin. 270, 284; 13 Wend. 511; Chit. b. 70, n. note to Wennall v. Adney, 3 B. & P. 250, 16 John. 84, n.) The case of Cummings v. Brown, (9 M. & W. 496,) was on an express promise. And several cases hold the father liable on a subsequent express promise to pay for necessaries furnished a minor child. (Blackburn v. Mackey, 1 C. & P. 1. Fluck v. Tollemache, Id. 5.)" But these cases if not overruled, perhaps, were supposed to be sustainable on subsequent ratification. However, if a third person can sue in this state, there is no evidence to sustain this judgment. If ■ the testimony of the son is disregarded, there is no evidence of expulsion or desertion of the child; nor that he would not have been well clothed if he had remained with his mother. But the plaintiff himself made use of the son upon this point, and, if the testimony he thus elicited is to be credited, the minor left the home and protection of the defendant in disobedience of her express commands, and went to live with the plaintiff without any pretense that the latter supposed she had consented ; and under a contract between the plaintiff and the minor, that the latter should remain with the former, until he was 21 years of age. Perhaps he may be considered %s assuming to stand in loco parentis, and if so, whether either party to such a contract, — 489 — without a breach by the other, has any legal claim, need not now be decided. (Williams v. Hutchinson, 3 Comst. 312.) It has been said, that a mother is not entitled to the earnings of her children, (Comm. v. Murray, 4 Binn. 487, citing Wood’s Inst. 64.1 Bl. 453.1 Woodes. L. 451.) And notice must be given by the parent. (Laws of 1850, p. 579.) It would seem, that Blackstone was speaking of her power during coverture. Her power, if any, perhaps should be referred to that of guardian. Though a minor over 14 may choose his own guardian. It was said on the argument that “-schooling” is not a necessary. And Mr. Chitty says, it seems a parent is not legally bound to educate his child. (Chit, on Cont. 140.) A parent is almost the sole judge of what is necessary. But if a parent is liable to a third person, I hope it will never be decided that sending to a common school, at a suitable season, and to a reasonable extent, is not necessary, in this country. However, this cause does not call for a decision on. that point. Judgment of the county court and of the justice reversed.