Merriam v. Johnson

116 A.D. 336, 101 N.Y.S. 627, 38 N.Y. Civ. Proc. R. 190, 1906 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2666
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York·Decided December 7, 1906·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

Scott, J.:

'The action is for damages for the detention of a do[g, the property of the plaintiff,' which had been intrusted, to defendant- for .medical treatment. The complaint alleged plaintiff’s ownership of - the dog ; that' it had been in defendant’s possession, and that defendant-' detained it from plaintiff. The value of the dog is alleged, and judgment is, asked- for the recovery of the possession; of the dog, or ■for the value thereof in case a delivery cannot be had. In the 3d paragraph of the Complaint it is, alleged '“ that the said chattel hag [337] been concealed, removed or disposed of, so that it cannot be found or taken by the Sheriff, and with intent that it should not be so found or taken and to deprive the plaintiff of' the benefit thereof.” dSTo attempt was made upon the trial to prove this allegation, and for failure to make such proof the defendant moved that the complaint be dismissed, and" upon the denial of the motion duly excepted. 'A judgment for plaintiff resulted, which was affirmed by the Appellate Term, and from the .order of affirmance the defendant, by permission, appeals to this court.

The words quoted are taken from section 549 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which is entitled When right to arrest depends upon nature of action,” and which provides as follows: § 549. A defendant may be arrested in an action, as prescribed in this title,* where the action is brought for either of the following causes:

“ 1. To recover a fine or penalty.

“2-. To recover * * * a chattel where it is alleged in the complaint that the chattel or a part thereof has been concealed, removed or disposed of so that it cannot be found or tahen by the sheriff,\ and with intent that it should not be so found or tahen, or to deprive the plaintiff of the benefit thereof; or to recover for money received, or to recover property or damages for the conversion or misapplication of property where it is alleged in the complaint that the money was received or the property was embezzled or fraudulently misapplied by a public officer, Or by an attorney, solicitor or counselor, or by an officer or agent of a corporation.or banking association in the course of his employment, or by a factor, agent, broker or other person in a fiduciary capacity. Where such allegation is made the plaintiff cannot recover unless he proves the same on the trial of the action; and a judgment for the defendant is not a bar to the new action to recover the money or chattel.” It will be perceived on a careful reading of this extract from subdivision 2 of section 549 that there are two classes of cases in, which it is permitted to insert special allegations in the complaint not strictly essential to the statement of a complete cause of action. These are, an action to recover a chattel, which is the case at bar, [338] and an action.to recover money or property received in a fiduciary capacity. • The general provision that where “such allegation” is made it must be proved, obviously applies to both classes of actions, because it is further provided that in cash of failure to make such proof, the judgment for defendant shall 'not be a bar to a new action to recover the money or chattel.” Í

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Merriam v. Johnson, 116 A.D. 336, 101 N.Y.S. 627, 38 N.Y. Civ. Proc. R. 190, 1906 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2666 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1906).

116 A.D. 336 (Merriam v. Johnson) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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