Harrison v. Henderson

The opinion of the court was delivered by Cunningham, J. :

The clainris made that the referee made no sufficient findings upon the issues between the parties. This objection was made to the referee without either specifically pointing out the deficiencies or requesting more specific or additional findings. The same objection was brought to the notice of the district court. It was overruled in both instances. We think there was no error in this.

The main and only meritorious question raised in the case is whether the rendering of the account of *205 September 1, 1899, and its reception without subsequent objection by Henderson, constituted, as a matter of law, an account stated, and whether, as such, Henderson could in this action dispute the correctness thereof. An account stated is an agreement, express or implied, between parties who have had previous transactions with each other, fixing and determining the amounts due in respect to, such transactions, and, when made, such account stated becomes a new agreement and takes the place of the obligations resting upon either party by reason of the prior account. The doctrine is said to have been founded originally on the practice of merchants, but has been gradually expanded, principally to embrace actions between traders in mercantile matters, but is not excluded from operation in any matters wherein any kind of accounts are involved. Of course, where the adjustment and agreement as to the amount due upon such account are expressed, no trouble arises. In this case, however, while Harrison testified that Henderson received the account, and' after examination made no objection thereto, Henderson denied that he made any such examination, so that, if its rendition and reception amount to making it an account stated, it must be by implication and not by express agreement.

It may well be doubted whether the answer sufficiently sets out and counts upon an account stated. It nowhere identifies or refers to an account of any amount as being the one so relied on as an account stated. But granting that the allegations are sufficient to raise the issue, there is also beyond question the original account fully pleaded, fully set out, and relied on, for the defendant therein pleads that “the services so rendered were reasonably worth the items *206 and sums as therein stated and charged and that said amount is correct." The issue thus tendered was not upon the question of an account stated, but upon the reasonableness and correctness of the account for services rendered, and upon this issue a great amount of evidence was offered by both parties without complaint from either. Indeed, the defendant claimed on one item of service which had been charged in his account at $105, and which was included in his statement of September 1, 1'899, at that figure, that there was due him thereon $1000, and he was allowed $150 by the referee. So, if there had been an account ■ stated, the same was abandoned and disregarded by both parties upon the trial of the issues before the referee. We are quite clear, however, that the circumstances of this case are not sufficient to warrant the implication that there was an account stated.

The account was not rendered by Harrison upon his own motion. He was not seeking to have the same ascertained and adjusted. Large sums of money had come to his hands by virtue of his employment as an attorney- and had been retained by him, if not without advice to his principal, at least without adequate accounting. Plenderson made repeated demands upon him for the rendition of an account, and finally came to Topeka with the expressed determination to remain until an account was given to him. So that it is apparent that the rendition of this account by Harrison was not for the purpose of having his claim against Henderson ascertained, adjusted, and agreed upon, but was for the purpose of informing Henderson at his own request of the condition of this trust fund. It is well settled that the binding force of an account stated will not be given to the mere furnishing of an account, which was not given with a view to ascertaining the claim, establishing the balance due, or *207 finally adjusting the matters of account between the parties. (1-Oyc. 367.) In this case, instead of the circumstances’ implying the meeting of the minds of the parties so as to create a liability as upon an account stated, it is quite obvious that no such purpose existed and no such result was attained.

Many cases are cited in the brief of plaintiff in error to the effect that the rendition of an account by the creditor to a debtor and its retention for an unreasonable length of time without objection will raise the implication of assent thereto by the debtor and create an account stated. We find no fault whatever with this general doctrine, but find no case where such rule has been applied where the facts are at all analogous with those of the case at bar. On the contrary, many cases might be cited disapproving it. But, in any event, the rendition of an account, with its retention by the debtor without objection, is but a circumstance, to be submitted with all other circumstances surrounding the transaction to the trier of fact to determine the ultimate question. In this case, upon consideration cf all these circumstances, the referee decided adversely to the contention that there was an account stated between the parties, and this ruling was approved by the district court.

A claim of error is made in that the referee refused to permit an amendment by way of a supplement to the answer, so as to bring into the case an account accruing after this action was commenced. This request was made to the district court after the referee reported, and it was denied by the court. This was clearly a matter of discretion, and in the action of the court upon it we find no abuse.

. We discern no error in the entire case, and hence affirm the judgment of the district court.

All the Justices concurring.