Geiger v. Gillespie

Appellee, a physician, sued appellant to recover for professional services rendered by him to appellant's daughter. One of the counts of the complaint was upon an open account, another upon an account stated, and the remaining count for professional services rendered by plaintiff for defendant, at the instance and request of defendant. The cause was tried upon these counts, and the plea of general issue, together with the plea of the statute of limitation of three years.

The only question argued upon this appeal relates to the insistence that the affirmative charge was due defendant upon the whole case, and this upon the theory that more than three years had expired from the time the services were rendered, and there had been shown no agreement on the part of the defendant to pay plaintiff. No special instruction was requested as to the count resting upon an open account.

There was evidence for the plaintiff tending to show that the account here sued upon was rendered by the plaintiff to the defendant, which the latter retained without objection of any character — the services having been rendered in January, 1916, and the statement having been rendered to the defendant in May, 1918. The evidence was in conflict, however, as to any objection on the part of the defendant, and the issue of fact thus presented was properly left for the determination of the jury. It therefore appears that the affirmative charge was not due defendant as for an account stated. Walker v. Trotter Bros., 192 Ala. 19, 68 So. 345.

Moreover, one of the counts of the complaint rested for recovery upon a special contract between the parties as to the services rendered, which was supported by the testimony of Dr. Morton, witness for the plaintiff. The issues presented by this count were also properly submitted to the jury. We have examined each of the authorities cited by counsel for appellant, and find nothing in them which militates against the conclusion here reached.

The third assignment of error is merely restated in brief of counsel for appellant without argument of any character whatever. Under the uniform ruling of this court this assignment is waived.

We find no reversible error, and the judgment appealed from will be affirmed.

Affirmed.

ANDERSON, C. J., and SAYRE and MILLER, JJ., concur.