In re New York, Lackawanna & Western Railway Co.

47 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 130

Opinions

Bradley, J.:

The leading question presented is one of power of the court to make the order appealed from. The contract between the parties was for the sale and purchase of the premises, and the method of ascertaining the price to be paid was agreed upon; and it may be assumed that it was pursuant to the contract that the proceedings were taken and the commissioners named in it appointed. It is, therefore, contended that the parties were bound by the contract, and that the court in- like manner is required to observe in the proceedings its provisions, and cannot by any judicial action therein defeat its operation and effect on the parties. The contract provided that “ all rights of - appeal given by law shall be reserved to either party.” On the appeal taken from the appraisal and report the General Term held that the court had not the power to order a new appraisal before new commissioners (33 Hun, 639), and that proposition was affirmed by the Court of Appeals. (98 N. Y., 447.) This was put upon the ground that the proceeding was taken in subordination and pursuant to the contract by which the parties had selected and agreed upon the persons who should be appointed the commissioners to make the appraisal, and such stipulation was one of the considerations which produced the agreement for the sale of the property and the other provisions contained in it. And the latter court in that respect remarked that “Mrs. Bennett did not agree to convey her property for a compensation to be fixed by any three persons to be appointed by the court, but for a compensation to be fixed by the three persons named under the precise conditions specified in the agreement, and it would certainly be contrary to the understanding of the parties that she should be compelled to part with the property for a compensation to be fixed in any other way.”

It is, therefore, settled that the court has no power to appoint new commissioners of appraisement in this proceeding, and as a conse-. quence the vacation of the order appointing them effectually defeats the execution of the provisions of the contract between the parties and the consummation of the contemplated sale provided for by it.

And while it leaves the contract unaffected as made between them, it renders it valueless for any practical purpose. It is contended, on the part of the appellants, that the court cannot in this manner relieve a party from the obligation of his contract, and cites The President, etc., of Delaware and Hudson Canal Company v. Pennsylvania Coal Company (50 N. Y., 250), which was an action to recover toll for transportation of the defendant’s coal on the plaintiff’s canal. And it appearing that a contract had been made to the effect that if the parties could not agree on the rate of toll the matter should be submitted to arbitrators to fix the rate, the court held that the agreement was binding, and that on failure to agree on such rate the opportunity of the defendant to submit to arbitration was a condition precedent to the right of recovery. And Allen-, J., in delivering the opinion, said : “ No other mode or manner was thought of or prescribed; and this manner being prescribed necessarily excludes every other method, as clearly and effectually as if the parties bad said in terms that the rate should not be established by a resort to the courts, or in any other manner, except by the parties, or, in case of their disagreement, by disinterested persons to be chosen for that purpose. Expressio unius est exclusio alterius.” Reference is also made to a class of cases holding the familiar rule that the provisions in contracts for the performance of work, that payment shall be made upon certificates of satisfaction of architects or upon estimates of engineers, when made to depend upon them, are conditions precedent, and holding in like manner in respect to contracts fixing the mode of ascertaining the amount to be paid. Also, to cases in which the courts have declared the effect of agreements upon which proceedings are founded, and effectuated the purpose of the parties represented by them.

In McGheehen v. Duffield (5 Penn. St., 497) the party was not permitted to effectually revoke a submission to arbitration, after an award having been made and filed was returned to the arbitrator for correction, and before the corrected award was filed, because the agreement was not one of naked submission but was a contract upon sufficient consideration, and, “therefore, beyond the dominion of either party after its execution.”

In Bank of Monroe v. Widner (11 Paige, 529), where a foreclosure suit before the vice-chancellor (who had been counsel for one of the parties) was, by written agreement of the parties, referred to a solicitor to hear and decide, and by which it was stipulated that a decree should be entered on the decision which was made, and a decree 'entered referring it to a master to compute the amount due, etc. The defendant’s motion to set aside the decreé was denied. The court held that the agreement was binding on the parties, and the defendant had no right to revoke the power of the referee so as to prevent his making the decree of foreclosure and sale on the coming in of the master’s report. The court treated it as an arbitration, and the chancellor said that the defendants might probably have revoked their consent to the submission at any time before it had been heard by the referee and left for his decision ; and that “ it is impossible for the court to set aside that decretal order * * * without making a new agreement for the parties without their consent.”

Our attention has not been called to any cases giving greater sup port to tbe contention on tbe part of tbe appellants than those already referred to. Tbe contract was voluntarily made between the parties and fairly entered into without any fraud or mistake in any respect so far as appears. And by its terms no right to go to tbe ■court for relief against any of its provisions was reserved. And it is, therefore, urged by tbe learned counsel for tbe appellants,'that •the only right the defendant has is in its execution, and that such is tbe only aid of tbe court which it is entitled to seek. And that tbe power of tbe court cannot be distinguished from tbe legal right •of tbe party.

Tbe proceeding in form is an ordinary one for such purpose taken in court, and has its force as such proceeding in tbe action of tbe •court. Although behind it as between tbe parties there is this contract. Although independent of tbe legal proceeding, it so governs the rights of tbe parties as to make tbe action of tbe court as ■between them pursuant to it, and' on being advised of this contract "the court will observe its provisions in so far as not to permit tbe proceeding to go in violation of its provisions. Hence it was that tbe court held it bad not tbe power to put new commissioners into the proceeding. And the Court of Appeals, in tbe opinion delivered ■on tbe former appeal in this case, said that “ tbe agreement of the parties bound them and concluded the court in that proceeding, and tbe •court was bound, as between tbe parties, to observe, enforce and carry •out tbe agreement. * * * Here tbe agreement of tbe parties was •a factor which tbe court was bound to recognize and to give proper weight and significance. Whatever in that agreement bound tbe parties bound it.” These views had reference to tbe proceedings ■taken and which might be bad in tbe matter. And thus far there •can be no question that tbe parties in going forward with or in that proeeeeding, must observe the situation and relation which they had assumed by their contract, but that is not the precise question here. The inquiry now arises whether the court may, for reasons which appear to it, decline to entertain the continuance of the proceeding in the manner stipulated in the contract.

In the consideration of this question it must be borne in mind that the proceeding is an independent one in court, founded upon a petition in the usual form, and has all the appearances of legal procedure usually attending those for such purpose. The contract is no part of its record. It is only the monitor which the parties have themselves created for their direction in particular respects, and while the court will not permit them to proceed in violation of it in the proceeding so taken, it may decline to be the instrument to do so through the forms of law when adequate reasons are brought to its attention, why it should not lend its aid in that direction. It was in that view that the Court of Appeals, by the opinion of Judge Earl, further declared : “ It is undoubtedly true that the court at Special Term was not bound to appoint the three commissioners named by the parties. It could have refused to appoint them, and have left the parties either to abandon their agreement or to carry it out in some other wajn” It may be said this was obiter. And it is true that it was not necessary to the decision of the case, but the discussion involved the consideration of the powers of the courts in legal proceedings, and we think the proposition was a correct and fundamental one as applied to the legitimate power of the courts, and it is fairly within the duty of the court to deny to a party that which it has become satisfied will be improvident, unjust or unreasonable, even if the application upon which the proceeding is founded is a stipulation of the parties whicü binds the other party, and who can only suggest to the court reasons why it should not be executed through the form of legal proceedings. The cases cited on the part of the appellants have relation to the effect upon the parties of agreements between them, and to the observance by the courts of the conditions to relief which they contain, and that a remedy will not be given by the courts in violation of them or only through their execution. They have no application here, except as relates to the obligation which the contract creates as between the parties. This contract has not been executed by any order or judgment of the court founded upon any award. The proceeding has been initiated by the order appointing the commissioners. The petitioner suggests to the court alleged reasons why it should not further entertain the proceeding, because the appointment of the commissioners named, as it has turned out, was ill-advised and improvidently made. If that is the situation it is difficult to see any want of power in the court to vacate its order. What it may decline to do originally it may effectuate by withdrawing its support which has been given to an action or proceeding by its process or order. The legal right of a party is to make suggestions to the court for its action in that respect, which does not depend upon the legal right of the party to be relieved from his contract, but upon that of the court to control its proceeding and action in so far as in its judgment the right of the party as recognized by it may require, and in so far as not to permit the' •proceeding to be taken to a result in violation of the contract which may be binding on the parties. The order in question does not interfere with the contract as made-between the parties, and it must ■ be assumed that it stands binding upon them until rescinded, which, ■if the order is sustained, the appellants may accomplish, as its performance is defeated by the refusal of the court, by its order,- to : entertain the proceeding contemplated by it, on the application and at the instance of the petitioner. The situation of the parties by ■force of this order is that in which they were placed by the con•tract after it was executed and before the original order was made. If the cause was sufficient to justify the conclusion that the com•missioners were not suitable persons for the performance of the judicial duties required of them as such, we think the court had •the power to vacate the order of their appointment, and do it in the •proper sense of the term, which does not distinguish power from 'duty of the court in the administration of justice. This power of ■the Special Term of vacating such orders in statutory proceedings '.of this character has with approval been exercised (Matter of N. Y. C. and H. R. R. R. Co., 5 Hun, 105; S. C., 64 N. Y., 60) and is deemed a matter of discretion. (In re P. P. and C. I. R. R. Co., 85 N. Y., 489.)

Our attention has been called to no case presenting the situation -produced by this contract where such order has been made. The 'case in that respect is novel perhaps, but it is not seen, how that ■feature affects the power, and in a proper case the duty of the court to stay the pi’oceeding in it and leave “ the pai’ties either to abandon 'their agreement or to carry it out in some other- way.” This is within the inherent powers of the court. (Lowber v. Mayor, 26 Barb., 262; Baldwin v. Mayor, 42 id., 549.) In Beddow v. Beddow (L. R., 9 Ch. Div., 89; S. C., 25 Moak, 786) it was held that the court would restrain by injunction an arbitrator from acting in any case in which, in the' opinion of the court, he is unfit or incompetent to act. And substantially the same was held in Malmesbury Railway Company v. Budd (L. R., 2 Ch. Div., 114). Those were actions in equity. This court at Special Term may exercise equity powers upon motions in actions or proceedings in the court where the question upon which relief depends can in that manner be presented to the satisfaction of the court, and the question is one of propriety rather than power whether the motion will be entertained or the party asking the relief be put to his action. And this discretion is governed much in such cases by the character of the matters involved and the nature of the controversy presented. (Wetmore v. Lam, 34 Barb., 515-517; Smith v. McCluskey, 45 id., 617; Hale v. Clauson, 60 N. Y., 341.)

There seems to be no substantial reason why the motion was not •a proper remedy for the purposes in view. The court has control •over its own orders, judgments and proceedings, and may exercise its power in that respect at the instance of any person whose rights .are or may be injuriously affected by them within well recognized limits. The court was not required, by the fair exercise of its judgment, to send the petitioner to its action in equity to embrace, within the controversy and the relief sought, the question of rescission of the contract. That was a matter wholly between the parties and was no part of the legal proceedings and over it the •court had no control. The effect upon it was the proper subject of consideration upon the motion, but not necessarily the governing one, and the granting the order did not necessarily require the judicial conclusion that the contract should be annulled.

The fact that the award the commissioners should make, if they proceeded to that result, would be final and conclusive, was not an unimportant one for the consideration of the court upon the merits ■of the application. This finality is a qualified one and goes to the right of review by appeal only. (In re Mayor, etc., 49 N. Y., 150-154.) And does not take away the restricted right of motion to set aside the award for irregularity, fraud or misconduct of the commissioners. (Matter of N. Y. C. and H. R. R. R. Co,, 64 N. Y, 60; Matter of P. P. and C. I. R. R. Co., 85 id., 489.)

This is a right incident to all judicial proceedings and actions for the protection against wrong and injustice arising out of circum Stances wliieh go to the disclosed motives, irregular conduct or action of a judicial body. And is fundamental.

But a party is not required to wait until action is taken and judgment announced before taking steps for relief, if he is advised that reasons exist why he should not be subjected to the action of those who are vested with judicial power, if such reasons so relate to their quality or fitness as to reasonably give apprehension that the result may not come from their impartial judgment or from a proper appreciation of their duties. (Beddow v. Beddow, supra.) A party may waive any interest in a person selected for a judicial duty, except, perhaps, that arising out of consanguinity to one of the parties (Oakley v. Aspinwall, 3 N. Y., 547; Chambers v Clearwater, 1 Abb. App. Dec., 341); but it is assumed, until the contrary appears, that when vested with such power it is upon the faith and with the understanding that no relation or interest will exist or intervene to interrupt the exercise of his impartial and unbiased judgment. The causes which are asserted as the reason for the application made by the petitioner have relation to two only of the commissioners. It cannot now be demonstrated that their judgment would not be fairly exercised, or that the result they would give to the proceeding before them would not represent exact justice between the parties. It is upon apprehension only that the moving party and the court can act; that may depend upon circumstances which do not reflect upon the moral quality of the persons, and no such imputation necessarily results from the order in question. The alleged causes which induced the motion did not exist or were not known by the petitioner at the time the order of appointment was made. And while they may not be decisive of the impropriety of continuing the hearing to a result before them, we are not prepared to say that the discretion of the Special Term was not fairly exercised in view of all the circumstances presented by the record. And without here referring to them in detail, w'e are inclined to think they were sufficient to justify the conclusion there reached. But the agreement of the parties should not fail in other respects for want of means of performance, if the appellants desire to have it consummated.

This can be done by such modification of the contract, by consent, as will authorize the court to appoint other commissioners to carry it out. And if they do not desire this and want the contract, rescinded, the petitioner should consent and do what may be necessary on its part to accomplish it.

The order in granting the motion should be so modified as to require the petitioner to consent to such modification of the contract as will permit the court to appoint three other suitable persons as commissioners, provided application is made to its attorneys, and they are requested to do so by the attorneys for the appellants within ten days after service upon them of a copy of the order entered upon the decision of this appeal. And if they refuse on Such application and request to give such consent, the motion should be denied with costs, and as so modified the order should be. affirmed, without costs.

Haight, J., concurred; Smith, P. J., not sitting.