228
FEDERAL REPORTER.
future acts of formal execution. Although inartificially drawn, obscure, and capable of different interpretations in several particulars, its provisions embrace, although in very inadequate terms, every matter which the, parties had definitely agreed to. For this reason, as also because the circumstances surrounding its execution are consistent with no other conclusion, it seems clear that it was intended to be a final and completed agreement so far as it related to the matters upon which the minds of the parties had met. The closing clause of the agreement indicates this with great significance. It may be conceded that the language of the contract is so ambiguous in its provisions relating to Jicemes that it is incapable of any rational interpretation. It may be conceded, further, that the agreement does not of itself license the defendallts ·to use the complainant's patented inventionEl, but at best only confers upon them the right to compel specific performance of the covenant to grant the license. It may be conceded that the contract is sqvague and uncertain in this respect that specific performance could not be enforced. It may be conceded that the agreement, and the readiness of the defendants to perform it upon their part, would not operate as a discharge and satisfaction of the complainant's claim for damages for previous infringement of his patents. If the plea had been set down for argument, these points would have been open to discussion, and it is'more than likely that the complainant would have prevailed. But the only question now is whether the facts set up in the plea are true. As they are found to be established by the proofs, the defendants must prevail.
RONALD t7. MUTUAL RESERVE FUND LIFE ASS'N.
(Oz'rouit (Jourt, 8.
n. Ne'UJYork.
February 14, 1887.)
ATTORNEY AND CLmNT--CHANGING ATTORNEy-LIEN.
A litigant has the right, in generlll, to change his attorney at pleasure, nor is this right barred by a prior contract to pay the attorney a fee :lontingent on the amount recovered. Such a contract is to be construed as fixing the mode of compensation only, subject to such reasonable changes as subsequent circumstances may make proper..· But, where a change of attorney is made, it should be upon security for his fees. In this case the plaintiff was required to file a stipulation with an order declaring the attorney's lien pro rata upon any money or judgment recovered, to the extent that might be thereafter determined, should the plaintiff be successful in the suit, and notice of such lien should be given the other party.
Cfharles B. Meyer, -for petitioner·. J. K. Hayward, opposed. BROWN, J. A motion is made on: behaIf·of the plaintiff for the substitution of new attorneys, which is resisted on the ground of a special agreement made with the present attorney on his taking the cause, to-
V. WALLACE.
229
wit, that he should be paid 10 per cent. of the collections as his compensation. The action was for a recovery of'$5,OOO.' upon an insurance of the life of the plaintiff's husband, now deceased. The right, in general, of alitigant to change his attorney at pleasure, has been repeatedly affinned. lnre Paschal, 10 Wall. 483, 493-496; Dodge v. Schell, 20 Blatchf. 517,12 Fed. Rep. 515; Inre Wilson, 12 Fed. Rep. 235, 238, and cases "there cited. In the present case not much progress has been made in the disposition of the cause. A demurrer to the complaint has not been argued, and the plaintiff's proceedings have been stayed until security for costs on her part is filed. The plaintiff herself resides in Scotland, and is understood to be in poor circumstances. He;t' attorney in fact, who undertook the prosecution of her interests here, desired to be relieved of his charge; and a new attorney in fact has been substituted, by whom this application for a change of attorneys in the litigation has been promoted. Contracts like that in the present instance, for the compensation of attorneys to be paid from the amount recovered, and contingent upona recovery, are not to be construed. as debarring a plaintiff from any change of attorney, nor as giving the originalattorneyan absolute control of the litigation to the end. Such a construction would be impolitic in its results, and cannot be sustained. The· agreement should be regarded as providing for the mode of compensation only, and subject to such reasonable changes and provisions as subsequent circumstances may make proper. The attorney has a lien upon the papers in his possession for his contingent fees, in case of final recovery, to the extent of the proportion of services already rendered. The motion for a substitution shoul4 be granted, upon the plaintiff's stipulation being filed with an order entered herein declaring the present attorney's lien pro rata upon any moneys or judgment hereafter recovered, to the extent that may be hereafter determined, should the plaintiff be successful in the suit; and that notice of such lien be given to the defendant. This will probably be a satisfactory security to the present attorney; if not, I will consider any further application in that respect in his behalf.
BATTELL V. WALLACE.
«(Jircuit (Jourt, 8. D. New York. 1.
LIBEL-ONE LIBEL DOES NOT JUSTIFY ANOTHER.
A libel upon the plaintiff cannot be justified by a previous wholly inde· pendent libel upon the defendant: and the latter cannot even be given in evidence in mitigation of dama/l:es where any considerable interval bas elapsed.!
2. SAME-PLEADING TRUTH IN JUSTIFICATION.
Where the libel complained of is that defendant published that "the wretched idiot [meaning the plaintiff] set about to injure us [meaning defend-
ISee Shattuc v. McArthur, 29 Fed. Rep. 136, and note.