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Baker v. Donnelly

127 N.Y.S. 1110 Court N.Y. App. Div. Decision date 1911-01-31 English

Contents

Majority

p. 1110
BAKER, Appellant, v. DONNELLY, Respondent.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department.
January 31, 1911.)

Headnote

Action by Herman H. Baker against Eugene J. Donpelly, as executor, etc.

The records from the office of the clerk of the county of Kings, and the oral testimony of the witnesses Roy and Sparks, fully establish the relation of attorney and Client between plaintiff and defendant’s testator. From that relation the law presumes an obligation to pay the reasonable value of the services. There was evidence as to the value of the greater portion of these. As none of this evidence was contradicted, the trial judge erred in directing judgment for defendant upon the merits. The witness Lucia was competent to testify. He was not a person interested in the event, nor did plaintiff derive title to the subject-matter of the action from him by assignment or otherwise. Judgment of the Municipal Court reversed, and new trial ordered; costs to abide the event.