Healey v. R. H. Macy & Co.

251 A.D. 440, 297 N.Y.S. 165, 1937 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 6964

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: June 22, 1937
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

We are of the opinion that there is ample evidence in the record to sustain the verdict of the jury in favor of plaintiff, and that it was error to set it aside. While it is true that the defendant introduced proof to show that the idea used in its 1934 Christmas advertising campaign was originated and developed by its own advertising department independently of plaintiff, there are many inconsistencies and circumstances in defendant’s case which cloud the testimony with suspicion. The issue on this score, therefore, was strictly one of veracity, and it was the jury’s province to determine wherein the truth lay.

The exceedingly fair attitude of the plaintiff from the outset of this controversy, in offering to drop the matter, if proof were furnished him that defendant’s advertising department originally conceived the idea, indicated that his claim had a basis in fact and was not advanced as an afterthought.

Furthermore, the jury was warranted in finding that the originality and novelty of plaintiff’s idea was not disproved by the documentary evidence introduced by the defendant.

The judgment-should be reversed with costs, and the verdict of the jury reinstated.

Present •— Martin, P. J., Glennon, Dore, Cohn and Callahan, JJ.

Judgment unanimously reversed, with costs, and the verdict of the jury reinstated.