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12 Kan. 182

Coburn v. Weed

Supreme Court of Kansas

Decided July 15, 1873

Supreme Court of Kansas · decided 1873-07-15

Error from Saline District Court. The only question in this case is as to right of a plaintiff to recover an attorney fee from the defendant in an action to foreclose a mortgage, when there is no contract or agreement by tbe defendant (mortgagor) to pay such fee. The district court, at the November Term 1872, gave judgment for the plaintiffs, including an attorney fee therein, and the defendants bring the case here on error.

Cited by 4 later decisions — most recently March 1916

2 federal appellate · 2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1873-07-15

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¶1The opinion of the court was delivered by

Brewer, J.:

¶2The action below was for the foreclosure of a mortgage, and the error complained of is the taxing of an attorney’s fee in the judgment. It is objected that the question should first have been raised by motion in the district court. It has been settled otherwise. (Lender v. Caldwell, 4 Kas., 339.) The judgment was entered by default. The mortgage was not made a part of the petition, nor does it appear in the record, and there is no allegation of any contract or stipulation to pay attorney’s fees. Hence it was error to render any judgment for such fees. (Stover v. Johnnycake, 9 Kas., 367.) The allegation in the petition, that “fifty dollars is a reasonable attorney’s fee for the foreclosure,” and “that there is now due and remaining unpaid on said note and mortgage $516.65, besides $50 attorney’s fees accruing in this action,” is no allegation of an agreement to pay fees.

¶3The judgment of the district court will be modified by striking out the attorney fee of fifty dollars. The costs of this court will be taxed against Orlando Weed, the party who obtained judgment for the attorney fee.

All the Justices concurring.
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