Bond v. Sandford
Missouri Court of Appeals
Appeal from St. Louis City Circuit Court. — Hon. Rolrt. M. Foster, Judge. It is tbe duty of tbe court to ascertain and interpret tbe meaning of written instruments as a matter of law, and tbis duty cannot be shifted to a jury. Ford v. Dyer, 148 Mo. 541. Parties under tbe law are left free to make their own contracts, and it is tbe duty of the court to interpret them. Walker v. Automobile Co., 124 M'o. App. 636; Loesch y.
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Appeal from St. Louis City Circuit Court. — Hon. Rolrt. M. Foster, Judge. It is tbe duty of tbe court to ascertain and interpret tbe meaning of written instruments as a matter of law, and tbis duty cannot be shifted to a jury. Ford v. Dyer, 148 Mo. 541. Parties under tbe law are left free to make their own contracts, and it is tbe duty of the court to interpret them. Walker v. Automobile Co., 124 M'o. App. 636; Loesch y. Casualty & Surety Co., 176 Mo. 669. Under this contract the appellant not being “satisfied” to pay more than fiye hundred dollars, the respondents could not recover more.…
1Opinion of the CourtBland, P. J.
Plaintiffs are partners, located in the city of St. Louis and engaged in the practice of law. Defendant is also a lawyer and resides in the city of Jackson, Missouri. In 1905, a judgment was rendered against defendant, in the Bollinger Circuit Court, for about eight thousand 'dollars. He appealed from this judgment to the Supreme Court and employed plaintiffs to represent him in said cause. Judge William C. Marshall, one of the plaintiffs, briefed and orally argued the case in the Supreme Court for defendant. The action is to recover the reasonable value of plaintiffs’ services, plus $18.25…
2Cases cited4 opinions
- Blaine v. Publishers George Knapp & Co.Supreme Court of Missouri · 1897
- State v. CunninghamSupreme Court of Missouri · 1900
- Engleking v. Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis RailroadSupreme Court of Missouri · 1905
- Walker v. Grout Bros. Automobile Co.Missouri Court of Appeals · 1907
3Cited by6 opinions
- Kregain v. BlakeSupreme Court of Missouri · 1922
- Mecartney v. Guardian Trust Co.Supreme Court of Missouri · 1918
- Cooley v. BuieTexas Commission of Appeals · 1927
- Hay v. American Fire Clay Co.Missouri Court of Appeals · 1913
- Leschen v. BrazelleMissouri Court of Appeals · 1912
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