Mattlage v. Poole

22 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 556

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: November 15, 1878
• Status: Published

Opinion

Bockes, J.:

This appeal is from a judgment dismissing the complaint as to the defendant Poole. The action was brought against both principal and agent on an alleged sale of goods to the agent. In the complaint it is averred that the plaintiff sold and delivered the goods • to the defendant Poole, who promised payment without disclosing his agency. It is also further averred that the goods were purchased for the defendant O’Donoghue, and that they came to her use in her business. On the trial, it was stipulated that if the complaint stated a cause of action against Poole, the agent, judgment should pass against him for the amount claimed. This stipulation should be construed, in connection with the fact stated in the case, that O’Donoghue, the principal, had been served with the summons and complaint and had omitted to appear and defend. Thus the action ivas against principal and agent; and so it appears from the averments in the complaint, with the admitted fact that O’Donoghue was duly served with the summons and complaint.

Now, according to the averments in the complaint, Poole, the agent, was liable originally, inasmuch as it is stated that he purchased the property and promised payment without disclosing his agency. So, too, a right of recovery existed against G’Donoghuo, the principal, when discovered; but the plaintiff, while he might elect which of them he would hold responsible, could not have a recovery against both. (Meeker v. Claghorn, 44 N. Y., 349.) In the case in hand, the plaintiff, the vendor, had, according to the statement in the complaint, an undoubted option as to which he would hold liable for the goods sold. Both principal and agent were equally responsible to him. The question then is, whether it appears that he had made a binding selection of the principal, O’Donoghue, as his debtor. Had he proceeded to judgment against the latter on the claim, he would be held concluded by his election. (Curtis v. Williamson, 11 Eng. Rep. [Moak’s notes], 149, and Priestly v. Ferrie, there cited.) But will a proceeding at law on the claim, short of judgment, be conclusive of an election?. This question was considered in the cases last cited, and it was there decided that whilst a judgment against principal or agent, even without satisfaction, would constitute a conclusive election, yet that no legal proceeding short of judgment would have that effect. So Judge Oakley said in Nason v. Cockroft (3 Duer, 368, 369), when speaking to this point, that it was clear that the mere commencement of a suit against the principal would not discharge the agent. The remark of the court iw Beymer v. Bonsall (79 Penn., 298, 300), is, perhaps, too strong. It is there said that the agent, being already liable on his contract, can be discharged only by satisfaction of it by himself or another. According to the authorities, then, the commencement of this action against O’Donoghue, the principal, no judgment having been entered against her, does not bar the ' plaintiff’s action against Poole, the agent. The plaintiff may discontinue against O’Donoghue. Strike her name from the complaint, and there remains an undoubted right of action against Poole. Again, how can it be maintained that the plaintiff, by proceeding in tüis action against both Poole and O'Donoghue jointly, elected to accept either as his solo debtor? If the commencement of the action discharged one, in like manner would it also discharge the other. It is manifest that there was no actual intent to discharge either; and it is certain that there has b.een no act on the part of the plaintiff, which in law has concluded him in his option. I think the complaint -was improperly dismissed against Poole. This conclusion is not in conflict with the decision in Rawson v. Turner (4 Johns., 469), and similar cases. (See Dash v. Van Kleeck, 7 Johns., 477; Jackson v. Bartlett, 8 id., 366; McElroy v. Mancius, 13 id., 121, 122; Littlefield v. Brown, 1 Wend., 398; Same Case, under title Brown v. Littlefield, 7 id., 454; also, 11 id., 467.) As was 'said in one. of the cases cited, the decisions in these cases were based upon the fact that the election of one remedy was incompatible with the pursuit of the other, as the one remedy was tupan the ground that the other had ceased.

.Judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, costs to abide the event.

Learned, P. J., and Boardaian, J., concurred.

Judgment reversed and new trial granted, costs to abide the event.