Cook v. Dickerson

1 Duer 679
CourtThe Superior Court of New York City
DecidedApril 9, 1853
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 1 Duer 679 (Cook v. Dickerson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering The Superior Court of New York City primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cook v. Dickerson, 1 Duer 679 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1853).

Opinion

By the Court. Bosworth, J.

The plaintiff insists that the papers attached together and filed, as constituting the judgment roll, were insufficient to make a legal and valid judgment roll, for the reason that it did not contain a copy of the minutes of the trial, or the verdict rendered in the action.

The-judgment itself recited that a verdict had been rendered ' in favor of both defendants. Prior to the making of this motion, a copy of the minutes of the trial had been inserted in the roll,informal in some of its parts, but showing a verdict in favor of the defendants, and that the court, on its being rendered, ordered judgment accordingly.

In Renouil v. Harris, 2 Sand. S. C. R. 641, this court at General Term, decided that a roll, which omitted the answer, was not a nullity, and that it was sufficient to support and give validity to the execution. That it is the' duty of the clerk to enter the judgment and make up the judgment roll, and that if it should be made up defectively, the court, if necessary, would order the defects remedied as of the date of filing the roll. See Clute v. Clute, 4 Denio, 243.

The Revised Statutes, relative to amending pleadings and proceedings, cured such a defect. 2 R. S. 425, sub. 13,14. It is an error, or defect, not affecting the. substantial rights of the plaintiff, and the Code requires the court po disregard such errors, and declares that no judgment shall be reversed' or affected by reason of such error or defect. § 176.

This section is also a conclusive answer to the objection, that the judgment should have awarded to Dickerson separately the costs taxed in his favor, and to Brewster the costs taxed in his favor, instead of awarding to the two jointly the aggregate amount of the costs taxed in favor of each.

This affected no substantial right of the plaintiff. He was adjudged to pay a certain amount of costs, and it did not prejudice any right of his, that has been shown, or suggested, to adjudge that he should pay the whole costs to the two jointly, [687]*687instead of adjudging that he should pay a parcel of the whole amount to one, and the residue to the other. In addition to this consideration, an order was made on notice to the plaintiff, which directed “ that there be allowed to the defendants in this cause, in addition to the specified costs adjusted in this case, the sum of §125, being the fall amount of per centage allowed by statute on the sum claimed to be recovered by the plaintiff.” ISTo appeal was taken from that order, and the judgment for the amount so allowed must necessarily have been in favor of both defendants jointly. The order seems to contemplate a judgment in favor of the two jointly for their other costs, as the sum of these and of the amount allowed are to be inserted by the clerk in the entry of judgment as an aggregate sum. Code, § 311.

As a general rule, a party who seeks to set aside a proceeding for irregularity, must make his motion, at the first opportunity after the irregularity has taken place, and the attorney must show due diligence in informing-himself of it, Graham’s Pr. 702. In this case judgment was entered on the 2d of March, 1852. The costs were adjusted previously on notice to plaintiff’s attorney. This motion was noticed to be made on the 9th of March, 1853, over a year after the judgment was entered.

The Revised Statutes are peremptory, that no judgment, in any court of record, shall be set aside for irregularity on motion, unless such motion be made within one year after the time such judgment was rendered. 2 R. S. 359.

The day for which this motion was noticed to be made, was more than a year subsequent to that on which the judgment was rendered, and the judgment roll filled. If it be true, as contended, that, in such a case, there must necessarily be several judgments for the costs, then the rendition of a joint judgment, is an error appearing upon the record, and the plaintiff will have the benefit of it, on an appeal from the judgment of this court.

An execution may be issued in the name of an attorney other than the one by whom the judgment was recovered. Graham’s Pr. 356; Code, § 289.

There are many papers embraced in the judgment roll, which should have been omitted. It should not be made to include [688]*688any papers, or orders except those enumerated in § 281 of the Code. The costs, affidavit of service of the bill, a stipulation, and some orders in no, way involving the merits, or affecting the judgment, should not be contained in it. Besides the fact that by § 281 of the Code they form no part of the roll, if an appeal be taken, the expense of printing unnecessary matter must be incurred, if they are not stricken out, and the papers to be furnished to the appellate court, will be encumbered with extraneous matter.

All papers incorporated into the judgment roll, not required by § 281, to form a part of it, may be detached by the clerk, and any amendments may be made which are necessary to make it conform with precise accuracy to the proceedings that have been had. These may be specified in the order to be entered, and any‘questions respecting them will be disposed of on the settlement of such order.

Heither the judgment roll nor the execution issued thereon is a nullity, nor was there any such irregularity, as in the exercise of a sound discretion, would justify the court in setting either aside.

The order of March 24,1853, appealed from by the plaintiffs, must therefore be affirmed with costs. The only important question arises on the appeal taken by the sheriff from the order of January 29,1853. That question makes it necessary for the court to determine what effect, the taking and perfecting of an appeal, in an action under the Code, and the giving of sdch security as operates as a stay of proceedings, have, upon an execution issued and levied on personal property prior to giving notice of the appeal.

If it merely stays farther proceedings on the execution pending the appeal, the order appealed from is right. If it of itself supersedes the execution, and releases the property from the levy made upon it by virtue of the execution, the order is erroneous.

The plaintiff insists that the former, and the sheriff that the latter is the effect of a perfected appeal and the giving of security for the payment of the debt and costs.

Prior to the Revised Statutes, filing a writ of error and putting in bail within four days superseded an execution issued and levied within the four days. But if the writ was brought [689]*689and bail put in after the four days had expired, it did not supersede the execution, and courts of law disclaimed the power to make an order superseding it. Blanchard v. Myers, 9 J. R. 66; Kinnie, qui tam, v. Whitford, 17 J. R. 35; Beekman v. Bemus, 7 Cowen, 418; Jackson ex dem. v. Schauber, 7 Cowen, 417; Blunt v. Greenwood, 1 Cowen, 15; Payfor v. Bissell, 3 Hill, 239.

In Jackson v. Schauber,- the proceedings of the plaintiff had been stayed to enable the defendant to bring error, and to prevent the judgment being executed in the mean time.

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Bluebook (online)
1 Duer 679, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cook-v-dickerson-nysuperctnyc-1853.