Marker v. Fleeger

WHITING, J. The defendant Brown is now, and at all times hereinafter mentioned has been, the judge of the county or probate court of Turner county. Plaintiff in 1916 was duly appointed by defendant Brown the guardian of the person and property of Mrs. Henrietta Van Gerpen, and yet remains such guardian. Having in the year 1918 enlisted in the military service of the United States, plaintiff desired to surrender his trust and be discharged as such guardian. To that end he was about to present his final report, showing, among other things, certain anticipated disbursements for attorney fees for services that had theretofore been rendered his ward and her estate by one Cherry. Believing, because of certain matters that 'had come to his attention, that said Brown was disqualified to pass upon his report, plaintiff asked Brown to certify the hearing of his report to the circuit court as by statute authorized. This Brown declined to do, claiming he was not disqualified to pass on such report. Plaintiff then sought an order from the circuit court compelling Brown to certify the record in the guardianship matter to such court. After hearing upon the merits, the circuit court refused the order sought. Plaintiff then brought this original proceeding in this court, making said Brown and the judge of the circuit court parties, and seeking an order of this court directing the circuit court to issue an order such as was sought in the ■ circuit court proceeding. — 631 — Two questions are presented for our consideration: (i) Are the facts shown such as to justify this court in taking original jurisdiction instead of leaving plaintiff to his remedy by appeal? (2) Is the said Brown disqualified to act as judge in such guardianship matter? [1] In the ordinary course of events the matter in dispute would reach a much earlier decision through this proceeding than through appeal. As above noted, plaintiff had enlisted in military service and could give no further personal attention to his ward. She is very old, feeble, and mentally incompetent, and needs the continuous care of some one. This matter has been long delayed through efforts to get Brown, without court proceedings, to certify same to the circuit court. Further delay has resulted .from time given the proceedings in circuit court. We are of the opinion that the apparent necessity is such that no remedy is adequate which is not also speedy. Hence we think it clear that we would not be justified in declining to entertain this original proceeding. [2] Is Brown disqualified to act in matters pertaining to the guardianship of 'Mrs. Van Gerpen? That he is so disqualified seems to us too clear for question, and we cannot but express our surprise that he considered himself, in any manner, interested in the fees earned by Mr. ¡Cherry (a matter hereinafter disclosed), and an even greater surprise that he, believing himself interested in such fees, did not immediately, on the happening of that event upon which he based his claim of interest in such fees, certify to the circuit court all matters before him' in which Mrs. Van Gerpen was interested. These facts are undisputed: Mrs. Van Gerpen is the widow of one Frank Van Gerpen, who died leaving an estate in Turner county. Administration of this estate was commenced in the court over which Brown presides. Other heirs of Frank Van Gerpen had procured from the widow a contract, whereby she had released the rights she otherwise would have had in the estate’ of her former husband. Apparently she became of the opinion that she had been defrauded, and she went to Brown for advice, and, as he states in a letter to ¡Cherry, written 2 — 16—18: “The lady came to me with a case in equity to be instituted in the circuit court. I recommended you. * * *” — 632 — Mrs. Van Gerpen retained 'Cherry. He instituted an action in circuit court to set aside the contract under which his client had transferred her rights in her husband’s estate, which estate was still in process of administration. It was while this circuit court action was pending that plaintiff, Marker, was appointed guardian for Mrs. Van Gerpen. This circuit court action was appealed to this court. Marker v. Van Gerpen, 39 S. D. 648, 166 N. W. 151. We rendered our decision therein on 1-28—18. Such was the situation — the estate of Frank Van Gerpen unsettled and its final settlement depending entirely upon the result of the circuit court action; and Marker still the guardian for Mrs. Van Gerpen. — when there came to Cherry from Brown a suggestion which Cherry well says “came like a flash of lightning out of a clear sky.” On 2 — 8-18, but a very few days after the decision of this court in Marker v. Van Gerpen, supra-the cause for which Brown had recommended Cherry as attorney — Brown wrote Cherry the following letter, dated from Chicago: “Although I am to pass on the amount of attorney’s fees in the Van Gerpen, case, I do not understand that I am cut off as a forwarder of the case. What is your understanding?” On 2 — 9—18, Cherry answered expressing surprise at Brown’s apparent belief that he was entitled to share in the fees that he (Cherry) had earned in the Van Gerpen matter, and, after stating that he never before supposed that Brown had any thought at all that he had an interest in the case as a forwarder, among other things suggested the following, which we most heartily commend: “I certainly never supposed in the Van Gerpen case that anything was running in your mind, except something quite like the above. If I had supposed, that you had any other thought about it, I certainly never would have brought any matter in that case before you for hearing, because I would consider that you were disqualified, and ’that if I took a matter 'before you in a case where you understood you had an interest, I would be doing a mighty wrong thing — as a member of the bar. “If you feel that you have some interest in the Van Gerpen case, and you felt you had some interest in it when we submitted the matters which were passed upon by you, I certainly would — 633 — feel, Judge, as though I ought to go into court.and ask for the vacation of the order, or orders. “On the other hand-, if this matter is somewhat of an afterthought in your mind, and if nothing of that kind was operating in your mind at the time we submitted the applications, it is barely possible that no duty arises on our part to' seek the vacation cf the order — or orders — I don’t remember whether there were one or two of them. “The other thing about it that strikes me even more forcibly than the foregoing is what seems to me like a suggestion in your letter that the question of fees for myself and Mr. Marker is yet to be passed upon for our services in the case, and that you are contemplating passing upon the same, and at the same time you have an interest in them. If you feel you have any interest in the fees, then I certainly would not want to submit to you as a judge, the question of what would be fair and reasonable services, because you would be disqualified to pass upon your own case; which this would amount to. If, on the other hand, you feel that you have no interest, you would not be disqualified, unless your impression that you have no interest has been lately formed. If you have been entertaining the idea at any time that you are interested in these fees, then I do not want to submit that question judicially to you, because it seems to me very clear that it would be quite wrong to do so. “All the foregoing has been suggested in perfect good spirit, but I have felt that I owed it to myself and to you to very promptly, and in a very direct and very frank way, state my views about it. * * *” On 2 — 16—18, Brown answered, expressing no surprise at Cherry’s position, but stating that he had written his former letter because he had received an intimation of Cherry’s position on the matter of division of fees. It was in this letter that he wrote about having sent Mrs. Van Gerpen to Cherry. In answer to the part of Cherry’s letter which we have just quoted he said: “There is no afterthought about the matter. Since you.had no idea, as you write, that I was interested, you have done no wrong, you have not participated in anything that would reflect on your honor at the bar, and that 'being true there is no sacrifice — 634 — demanded of me that your honor be sustained. As for myself I have no load of remorse to carry — I granted your client no relief she was not entitled to and was not moved by any original connection I had in the matter.” In answer to this letter Cherry wrote Brown on 2 — 18—18, a part of the letter being the following, which we also most heartily commend: “I regret even more what I understand to be your position concerning this Van Gerpen case. “In the several probate matters which were heard ¿before you, it was necessary that you pass upon all the evidence that had been produced before Judge Tripp and upon the whole question as to whether or not the contracts which the Van Gerpens had induced this old lady to sign was valid or void on the ground of fraud or undue influence. You held, just as Judge Tripp held, that the contract was void, and that therefore the old lady was entitled to her homestead, her absolute exemptions, her maintenance and support and so on and so forth. “I never would have submitted any of these questions to you as a judge, had I for a moment supposed that you had in your mind any thought that you were to participate in the fees to be paid to her attorney, either for procuring these orders, or for procuring the decree in the circuit court. It came like a flash of lightning out of a clear sky when I received the letter from you from Chicago, for the first time indicating that you were think-: ing of anything of this kind. “It seems to. me that when you think the matter over and view it from my standpoint, you will see the matter in just the light that I see it. “Please let me hear from you, Judge, stating directly whether you claim'an interest in the fees in this matter or not. Your letter of the 16th inst. is not clear to me upon this point.” In answer to this letter Brown wrote: “Yours of the 18th inst. received. The first paragraph thereof indicates that you clearly understand my position. “My letter from Chicago and the one dated here the 16th can leave no doubt as to my position.” Other correspondence and interviews took place, and on 7— — 635 — g — 18 Brown wrote, giving his views as to his legal right to have acted for Mrs. Van Gerpen in the circuit court, and, among other things, writing: “I know of no law that would prevent me sitting in the trial of the Van Gerpen case in any court, save the county court of this county, and this applies to the Meier case. “* * * There is no law, therefore, that would prevent me from accepting fees in those cases up to the time some questions connected therewith came into my court.” Finally, on 7 — 22—18, Brown wrote Cherry as follows: “A judge, ¡by statute, enacted ¡by pioneers in grasshopper time, and responding to the ethics of the bar and the judiciary, though he may give freely of his service and patronage, must hasten to the chambers of his court and muffle his ears with the wig when a mention is made of financial affairs of men. And when it is suggested that such a subject is to be ‘certified’ to a higher court, the usual sensitiveness becomes hysteria. “I, therefore, waive all claim to fees in the Van Gerpen case.” Further correspondence took place extending up into September, but without any agreement on the part of Brown that he would certify the guardianship matter to the circuit court. Finally, acting upon the contention that the above facts showed Brown to be disqualified to act in the guardianship matter, the circuit court proceeding, to which we have already referred, was instituted. The views of the judge of the circuit court are clearly set forth in a letter addressed to Cherry and Brown, from which we copy the following: “Under the record, it appears that Judge Brown at no time was an attorney for the guardian or against the executor in the proceedings in the circuit court. Under the provisions of the Political 'Code, he could not act as such attorney. Neither has the county judge, under the record, at any time acted as an attorney in the proceedings in the circuit court for or against any of the persons specified in section 19 of the Probate Code, as amended in 1911. “It appears that Judge Brown is not personally interested in the guardianship matter now before him. And it appears that he — 636 — never' has been personally interested in any of the proceedings in the circuit court. It does appear, from the record, that Judge Brown, for a time claimed that he sent Mrs. Van Gerpen to Mr. Cherry-, and that- by reason thereof, that he should have a portion of the attorney’s fees. However, under the statutes above referred to, he could have no claim for attorney^ fees inasmuch as he could not act as an attorney in any of these matters. It also appears from the answer of Judge Brown that he now disclaims any right to any attorney’s fees.” The fundamental fact that seems to have escaped the mind of the circuit judge is that it is not necessary for Brown to have had an actual legal right to share in Cherry’s fees in order that he be disqalified to act in the Van Gerpen matters. It was the state of his mind — -his belief that he was entitled to share in ’such fees- — -that disqualified him. It is perfectly clea'r — in'fact appears undisputed from Brown’s own letters — that, from the time -he recommended Cherry to Mrs. Van Gerpen, he considered that he had an interest in and would eventually share in the fees earned by Cherry. It matters not that he was wrong in his understanding as to his rights. The question of his qualification to sit in the matters thereafter must be determined from his conceded belief. When he sent Mrs. Van Gerpen to Cherry expecting to share in ¡Cherry’s fees if Cherry was retained, he assumed that the relation of attorney and client existed between himself and Mrs. Van Gerpen. True such relation did not in 'fact exist, but yet he was assuming to have the same rights as though he, as well as Cherry, had accepted an actual retainer. From that moment on he was as disqualified to act as judge or court in matters in which Mrs. Van Gerpen was interested as was Mr. Cherry. From that time he was disqualified to make any order in either the Frank Van Gerpen estate or in the matter of guardianship of Mrs. Van Gerpen. No eleventh hour waiver or disclaimer can remove such 'disqualification. It is absolutely repugnant to any sense of justice that one, so clearly disqualified, should adjudicate the rights of his fellows when there is another court to which the -cause may be transferred. We deem it'unnecessary’to reach the desired end through the medium of the circuit court. An order will therefore issue from — 637 — this-court directed to the defendant 'Brown, and requiring him to forthwith certify the matter of the' guardianship of Henrietta Van Gerpen to the circuit court of Turner county. The plaintiff shall have costs as against defendant Brown.