MacLear v. Mayor of Newark

73 A. 503, 77 N.J.L. 712, 48 Vroom 712, 1909 N.J. LEXIS 206

• Court: Supreme Court of New Jersey
• Decided: June 14, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

1'arkeh, -L

The defendant in error, plaintiff below, recovered a judgment of $1,000 and interest against the city of Newark for services as one of three “special counsel” to a committee appointed to inquire into and report on the legality of a contract of the city with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company for the elevation of its tracks, and certain other matters connected therewith, and the city brings this writ of error to review that judgment.

At the time of his retainer by the special committee Mr. Mae Lear held the office of city attorney of the city of Newark, receiving a salary as such of $-1,000 a year, and his claim was resisted on the grounds—first, that his employment was not made in a maimer binding on the city; secondly, that any sen iecs which he performed were such as properly would be rendered by virtue of bis office as city attorney, and thirdly, that by city ordinance he was debarred from receiving any compensation, except salary, tor any service performed by him.

The material facts are that in .December, 1905, the common council passed a 'resolution providing for the appointment of a special committee for the purposes already mentioned, and purporting to give the committee “the power to employ, in its discretion, special counsel,” * * * “and that the expenses of said investigation shall not exceed six thousand dollars.” The committee met and appointed two outside counsel (whose bills were afterward paid) and plaintiff. An identical resolution was passed on January 5th, 1901!, the term of the first committee having expired with that of the counsel on December 31st, and a new' committee was appointed, who designated the same counsel. Neither resolution was ever approved by the mayor or passed over his veto, as required by section 30 of the city charter, but on December 1st, 1905, a resolution was passed appropriating a sum not to exceed $1,000 for the purpose of investigation, and on January 5th, 190(>, a similar resolution was passed appropriating $5,000 more. Both these last resolutions were approved by the mayor.

Motion to nonsuit was made on the first two grounds above mentioned, and motion to direct a verdict on all three grounds. These motions were denied and the case submitted to the jury, which found for the plaintiff in the full amount of his claim.

Several interesting questions are raised on this writ of error—first, whether plaintiff, being already city attorney, could be a “special counsel” within the meaning of the resolution; secouit!y, whether the services performed by plaintiff were wholly or partly outside the scope of his regular duties as city attorney, and so not within the rule in Evans v. Trenlon, 4 Zab. 764; thirdly, whether the acceptance of plaintiff’s services and tin* payment of the other two counsel would amount to such a ratification by the city authorities as to bring the claim within the rule in New Jersey Car Spring and Rubber Co. v. Jersey City, 35 Vroom 544. We find it unnecessary to decide any of these points for the reason that we consider the plaintiff's claim barred by the ordinance introduced in evidence, and which reads as follows:

“Section 10. No city officer shall be interested in any contract with the city, or in compensation for work done for, or materials or supplies furnished to the city, or to any contractor, or other person furnishing the same to the city, nor shall he participate in any profits with such contractor or other person or receive any compensation, commission, gift or other reward for his services, except the salary or fees established by law, or by ordinance or resolution of the common council.”

This ordinance, which had been continuously in force from a time prior to plaintiff’s employment up to the trial, makes no discrimination between services within and without the scope of employment of a city officer, but applies to all alike, and, unless invalid or repealed, effectually disposes of the claim under consideration. Its validity is not attacked, but it is argued that the case of Klemm v. Newark, 32 Vroom 112, justifies a recovery under the circumstances of this case notwithstanding the ordinance. That decision is not binding on this court, but if it were it would not control this case. The declaration in Klemm v. Newark set up services performed by plaintiff as an architect in designing two engine-houses for the city “at -its request!’ The plea alleged that plaintiff at the time of performing the services was a school commissioner, and that his claim was barred by the ordinance. On demurrer to the pica the court held that the words “at its request” contained in the declaration and admitted by the plea, implied a contract by the city itself with one of its officers for work manifestly outside the line of his official duty, which amounted to a suspension pro tanto of the ordinance, and when it had been performed by the other party, the city would'not be permitted to repudiate it. The opinion expressly distinguishes the case from one in which the contract •is made with a city officer by a board or committee, as in the case at bar. All that appears in this case is that by resolution, not approved by the mayor, the committee was authorized to employ special counsel; that at the same time certain moneys were by resolutions, which were so approved, appropriated to pay expenses of the investigation; that the committee requested plaintiff to do certain work as counsel and that he did it. There is nothing in any of the resolutions to indicate that the employment of a city official was contemplated by the council or that any repeal of the ordinance or action inconsistent therewith was intended.

The court was requested to direct a verdict for defendant on the ground that this ordinance prohibited plaintiff as a city officer from receiving any compensation beside his salary for the services rendered, except as provided in the ordinance, and that plaintiff was not within the exception, and was requested to charge that under section 10 of the ordinance plaintiff had no right to compensation beyond his salary and could not recover in the suit. Verdict should have been directed accordingly, or the jury instructed in accordance with the request stated, which would amount to a direction.

The judgment will be reversed and a venire de novo ordered.

For affirmance—None.

For reversal—The ChaNcellor, Chief Justioe, GarriSON, Swayze, Reed, TeeNCI-iard, Paeicer, BERGEN, Voor-iiees, MiNtueN, BogeRt, VredeNburgi-i, Vroom, Gray, Dill, Coygdon, J.J. 16.