Moulin v. Columbet

Crocker, J. delivered the opinion of the Court—Cope, C. J. and Norton, J. concurring. This is an action to recover for work, labor, and services performed by the plaintiff for the defendant. The defendant sets up as a counter claim an account for board, washing, etc., and further averred that the plaintiff was staying with him for his health, and all services rendered by him were in consideration of his board, lodging, and washing, and that his services were worth no more than that. The case was tried by a jury, who returned a verdict for the plaintiff for the sum of nine hundred and sixty-eight dollars and seventy-nine cents, and judgment was rendered accordingly, from which the defendant appeals.

On the trial, considerable testimony was introduced by the defendant showing that the plaintiff, during the time he claims pay for his services, was living in his family as a guest, rendering some service in return for the defendant’s hospitality. Ho proof was offered of an express contract or agreement by the defendant to pay him for these services, but the plaintiff relied upon the presumption of law which arises from the proof of services rendered, that the person enjoying the benefit of the same is bound to pay what they are reasonably worth, the law implying a contract to that effect. Such undoubtedly is the general rule upon this question. It is founded, however, upon a mere presumption of law, and is liable to be rebutted by proof of a special agreement to pay therefor a particular amount or in a particular manner, or by proof that [510]the services were intended to be gratuitous, or even by particular circumstances, from which the law would raise the counter presumption, that the services were not intended to be a charge against the party who was benefited thereby.

Where services are rendered upon an understanding that the remuneration is to be at the entire discretion of the employer, no action is maintainable. (Taylor v. Brewer, 1 Maule & Selwyn, 290.) If services are rendered in expectation of a legacy, without any contract, no action can be maintained for them. (Little v. Dawson, 4 Dallas, 111; Le Sage v. Cousmaker, 1 Esp. 187; Lee v. Lee, 6 Gill & Johns. 316; Patterson v. Patterson, 13 J. R. 379.)

Where services were originally rendered gratuitously, they cannot afterwards be converted into a charge. A Court will not permit a friendly act, or such as was intended to be an act of kindness or benevolence to be afterwards converted into a pecuniary demand. (James v. O'Driscoll, 2 Bay, 101.) Where one works for another, the law in general implies a promise to pay what the work is worth, but that implication does not arise in favor of a son who continues with his father’s family after he attains his majority, without agreement for wages; nor in favor of a man who marries a daughter, and lives with her in his father-in-law’s family (Lovet v. Price, Wright, 89; Defranca v. Austin, 9 Barr. 309); or in favor of a daughter who thus remains with her parents or those who stand in place of her parents. As a general rule she would be considered as a visitor, not entitled to pay for her services, or liable to pay for her board. (Andrus v. Foster, 17 Vermont, 556; Guild v. Guild, 15 Pick. 129; Fitch v. Peckham, 16 Vermont, 150.) So a woman who has lived with a man as his wife, supposing herself to be such, cannot, on discovering that the marriage between them was void, recover for her services, upon an implied promise. (Cropsey v. Sweeney, 27 Barb. S. C. 310; Swives v. Parsons, 5 W. & S. 357.) When work is done by one for the benefit of another, with his knowledge or approbation, the law will imply a promise to pay for it, unless it appear that there was an understanding that no compensation should be given; but where there is such an understanding the law will not imply a promise, and such understanding