Camp v. . Ingersoll

86 N.Y. 433, 1881 N.Y. LEXIS 235

• Court: New York Court of Appeals
• Decided: October 18, 1881
• Status: Published

Opinion

Folger, Ch. J.

If it be conceded that this is a suit in equity to compel the specific performance of an award, that alone does not dispose of the question made on this appeal. It would show that the plaintiff has not an absolute right under he Constitution to have a trial of his case by a jury. It would show that it was in the legislative power to provide for a trial of it by referee. It would not show that the legislature has ever done so. It still remains to inquire whether the Code authorized the reference of this case. It was authorized, only if the trial will require the examination of a long account on either side, and will not require -the decision of difficult questions of law. (New Code, § 1013.) It may be taken that the trial of this case will not require the decision of difficult questions of law. It is not so easy to say that it will require the examination of a long account, as that phrase is to be interpreted in view of previous decisions. In Van Rensselaer v. Jewett (6 Hill, 373), it is said that the case cannot be referred, though there be many items of damage, unless there is an account between the parties in the ordinary acceptation of the term. And what is that acceptation is shown by Thomas v. Reab (6 Wend. 503), where the contention for the order was based upon the conceded fact that the trial would require the examination of a variety of items. The contention was not sustained, because, though there were sundry items of damage, they did not form an account existing between the parties. Though the examination of numerous items of damage may be involved, they do not constitute an account, technically or properly speaking, between the parties. (Silmser v. Redfield, 19 Wend. 21.) An account between the parties is one made up of the dealings of the parties with one another (Dederick's Adm’rs v. Richley, 19 Wend. 108); though the account may be that of one party only. And so in Kain v. Delano (11 Abb. [N. S.] 29), it is held that the accounts to be examined must be the immediate object of the action, or the ground of defense, and must be directly and not collaterally involved.

Now here, the immediate object of the action is not to recover any portion of the matter, that will be shown by the account of the assets and property of that manufacturing company. It is to recover a sum of money, the amount of which is, to be sure, to be gauged by the figures that will be disclosed by that account, but it is not money for any thing that that account will show. That account is not the ground of the defense. A fact which it is claimed that account will reveal, that is the ground of defense. The defense does not seek to make the plaintiff liable for any thing that will be shown by the account, but only by what the account will disclose to affect the magnitude of the sum in which the defendants shall be held liable. The account is not directly involved in the suit. It' is incidental or collateral. It is not the account of both parties, or of either party. It is the account or inventory of a third and unconcerned party, referred to and inquired into to make proof upon the issues in this suit.

It is plain that it would be for the convenience of the parties to try this case before a referee, where the various and numerous items which together show what was the value of the assets of the corporation, and thus what was the value of its capital stock, could be inquired into and arrived at with care and deliberation, and consequent accuracy. It is plain that it will be tedious, if not impracticable, to do this with a judge and jury. A reference of this case would be within the spirit of the law permitting a compulsory reference. We have seen bnt one case of former days, holding that it is within its purview. That is Samble v. Mech. Fire Ins. Co. (1 Hall’s Supr. Ct. 560). It is not in harmony with the cases that we have cited above, and we may not disregard them and follow it. We are constrained, by the force of authority, to hold that there was no power in the Special Term to compel the plaintiff to a reference to hear and determine. We must reverse the orders appealed from. But the court below is not without the power to relieve itself and the parties of the tedium of such a trial/ If it shall be of opinion that this is a suit in equity, it' may refer the case so far as to have the testimony as to the value of the assets of the corporation taken by a referee and reported .to the court, with his opinion thereon. (New Code, § 1015.) And upon the coming in of the report the court may hear the case upon that testimony on that issue and upon other evidence upon the other issues, and determine it.

All concur.

Order reversed.