Barngrover v. Pettigrew
Supreme Court of Iowa
Appeal from Union District Court.— Hon. H. M. Towner, Judge. Suit at law to recover for services rendered in divorce proceedings between the defendant' and his vúfe. The plaintiff Barngrover is an attorney and the plaintiff Hughes is a detective.
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Appeal from Union District Court.— Hon. H. M. Towner, Judge. Suit at law to recover for services rendered in divorce proceedings between the defendant' and his vúfe. The plaintiff Barngrover is an attorney and the plaintiff Hughes is a detective. They learned that Mrs. Pettigrew was about to commence an action for a divorce from the defendant, and so informed him, and before notice of suit was served entered into a written agreement with him, which is as follows: The first party has employed second party to prepare evidence in, and try in the district court of Union county, Iowa, for first…
1Opinion of the CourtSherwin, C. J.
The clearly expressed object of the agreement was to bring about a dissolution of the marriage contract and to put an end to the various duties and obligations resulting from it. It is therefore against sound public policy and void. The marriage'relation is sacred, and one which the law will encourage and maintain when formed. Its dissolution will not be left to the caprice of the parties themselves, nor will it be permitted to rest on the interference of strangers. Hence any agreement conditioned on the obtainment of divorce, or intended or calculated to facilitate its obtainment, is void.…
2Cases cited8 opinions
- Miller v. AmmonSupreme Court of the United States · 1892
- Pangborn v. WestlakeSupreme Court of Iowa · 1873
- Boardman v. ThompsonSupreme Court of Iowa · 1868
- Stokes v. AndersonIndiana Supreme Court · 1889
- McCurdy v. DillonMichigan Supreme Court · 1904
3 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by29 opinions
- Johnson County Savings Bank v. City of CrestonSupreme Court of Iowa · 1930
- In Re the Estate of GilmanNew York Court of Appeals · 1929
- In Re the Marriage of WittenSupreme Court of Iowa · 2003
- Roller v. MurraySupreme Court of Virginia · 1911
- Bump v. BarnettSupreme Court of Iowa · 1944
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