Weeks v. Wayne Circuit Judges

Per CuriajIi. The relators were attorneys for George W. Ayres, who obtained a judgment of $2,500 against the Detroit Free Press Company in an action' for libel which they prosecuted for Ayres in the Wayne circuit court. Ayres was poor, and when he commenced his suit and retained his attorneys he made an agreement with them [257] by which they were to be paid a reasonable compensation for their services and disbursements made in prosecuting the suit from the proceeds of the judgment which should be obtained; and it is stated in the affidavits of the relators that this arrangement was known to the defendant, and which is not denied in any affidavit on the part of defendant accompanying the return of respondents. It is further shown that the defendant in the libel suit, without the knowledge of the attorneys for either party, and without the consent of relators, or they having received their pay for their services and disbursements in said suit, settled said suit with the plaintiff, and obtained his receipt in full for said judgment, and upon settlement took the order of the court setting aside said judgment, and dismissing the plaintiff's case. Relators now move for a mandamus requiring respondents to vacate said order discharging said suit, and that the order setting aside said judgment be modified in such manner as to secure the rights and interests of relators therein under their said agreement with the plaintiff in said suit. Held, that relators are entitled to have the relief they ask against the action taken by the circuit judge in the premises, and that the order entered should be modified as prayed in the petition; that the arrangement made by relators with Ayres to be reimbursed for moneys advanced by them, and for pay for their services in prosecuting the suit, from the proceeds of the judgment which should be obtained in the case, operated as an assignment of the judgment to relators to the extent of those claims, and until they had received their pay the plaintiff could give no valid discharge of the. judgment. Kinney v. Tabor, 62 Mich. 517 (29 N. W. Rep. 86, 512); Potter v. Hunt, 68 Id. 242 (36 N. W. Rep. 58); Wells v. Elsam, 40 Id. [258] 218; Andrews v. Morse, 31 Amer. Dec. 752, and notes; Weeks, Attys. § 369; Hutchinson v. Howard, 15 Vt. 544. That it is true courts as a rule look with favor upon ■ a compromise and settlement made by the parties to a suit with the consent of all persons concerned, to prevent the vexation and expense of further litigation; but the rule only applies where the rights and interests of all the parties concerned, both legal and equitable, have all been respected, and in good faith observed. Parties cannot assume that attorneys have no rights, without inquiry. -The present does not disclose such a case, and the writ prayed for must be granted.