McLaughlin v. Rosenbloom

114 N.Y.S. 10

• Court: Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York
• Decided: January 7, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinion

FORD, J.

This is an action on a promissory note for $50. Defendant admits the making and delivery, and nonpayment, and sets up a counterclaim for $45. Plaintiff introduced in evidence a -writing, which was admitted over defendant’s objection and exception, as an assignment to plaintiff of the note. At the close of the case decision was reserved, and judgment for the defendant subsequently rendered.

To support the judgment it must be assumed that the learned trial justice disregarded the assignment, undoubtedly on the ground that its execution was not in proper form to entitle it to be received in evidence in this state, and that he erred in overruling the objection to it; for, if he had considered it as evidence, it was conclusive as to the plaintiff’s claim, and judgment for at least $5 should have been awarded to plaintiff, even if the full amount of defendant’s counterclaim of $45 had been allowed. So the only alternative is that it was wholly disregarded.

With the assignment thus excluded from the evidence, the most that the trial judge should have done was to dismiss the complaint without prejudice to a new action, as provided-in subdivision 4 of section 248 of the Municipal Court act (Laws 1902, p. 1561-, c. 580). Instead of so disposing of plaintiff’s claim, he rendered a judgment which on its face is an adjudication of plaintiff’s alleged cause of action upon the merits. 0

As to defendant’s counterclaim, the form of the judgment raises the presumption that upon it judgment was given against the defendant; but, since the record does not make clear just what considerations induced the judgment, I am of opinion that a new trial of all the issues involved should be had.

The judgment appealed from should' be reversed, and a new trial granted, with costs to the appellant to abide the event. All concur.