Turner v. Jones

1 Lans. 147

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: September 15, 1869
• Status: Published

Opinion

Present — Marvin, Lamont and Barker, JJ.

By the Court

— Marvin, P. J.

The point made by the defendant’s counsel is, that upon the facts, the law will not imply a promise of. indemnity; that no such promise will be implied, unless the principal by his conduct, and representations, induced the agent to believe that the act was innocent, while the principal Icnew it was not; that it is the deceit and fraud, upon the agent by the principal, that gives the innocent agent his cause of action for indemnity. They cite St. John v. St. John's Church (15 Barb., 346); Dunlap’s Paley on Agency, 153; and Howe v. Buffalo, N. Y. & Erie R. R. Co. (37 N. Y. R., 297). The evidence in this case is very briefly stated, and most of it was by the admissions of the parties on the trial. It was sufficient, I think, to show that the defendant, as a constable, had levied upon the cow by virtue of the execution, and that he claimed to hold the cow by virtue of such execution; that he, in effect, so informed the plaintiff. The plaintiff, as a witness, says defendant wanted I should drive one (the cow) for him; one that he had an execution on. We are to assume that the plaintiff, in accepting the employment, and driving the cow, acted in good faith, believing that the defendant had the right to the possession of the cow, and that this belief was caused by the acts and declarations of the defendant, who claimed the cow. The plaintiff was not conscious that he was a trespasser. I think, in such a case, the law will impl/y a promise of indemnity. There has been, and perhaps there still is, some conflict upon this precise question.

If the agent knows that the act, is a trespass, an express promise of indemnity will not give him a remedy over.

Paley, at the place cited, says that although it was not at the time known to be a trespass, yet if it eventually turns out to be so, a promise of indemnity will not be implied. The author, in this- proposition, excludes any question of misrepresentation or fraud by the principal by which the agent was innocently drawn into the commission of the act. As to such cases, he states the rule on page 152. To the text on page 153, there is an American note, questioning its soundness, and citing many cases. In one of them (Adamson v. Jarvis, 4 Bing., 66), Best., Ch. J., said: “ From reason, justice and sound policy, the rule that wrong doers cannot have redress or contribution against each other, is confined to eases where the person seeking redress must be presumed to have known that he was doing an unlawful act.’' See the note and the eases cited in it. In Coventry v. Barton (17 J. R., 142), Spencer, Ch. J., after referring to many cases, says: “ I have no hesitation in saying that it is a true and just distinction between promises of indemnity, which are and those which are not void; that if the act directed or agreed to be done is known, at the time, to be a trespass, an express promise to indemnify would be illegal and void; but if it was not known at the time to be a trespass, the promise of indemnity is a good and valid promise.” In that case the evidence tended to show an express promise, but the learned judge does not notice any distinction between an express and implied promise. It is a rule that where there is an express promise, the law will not imply one. The parties have chosen to fix the terms of liability. But in the absence of an express promise, I understand it to be a general principle to imply a promise if the facts are such, as in equity and good conscience, to require a promise. Promises are implied in a large portion of the transactions of life. A works for B, at B’s request. Ho thing being said about pay, the law at once implies a promise to pay, and gives a rule as to the amount of compensation. So A becomes surety for B, and pays the debt; the law implies a promise to indemnity A. What can be more equitable and just than that he, who claims a right to a thing, or to do an act, and employs _ another to take the thing, or do the act — such person, believing that it was needful thus to serve his employer— should indemnify the person employed, in case it should turn out that his employer could not defend him successfully in an action brought by a third person ?

In my opinion, under proper circumstances, the law will imply the promise of indemnity in the class of cases we are considering.

In St. John v. St. John’s Church (15 Barb., 346), Justice Mason, with his usual diligence and ability, examines the ■ question of implying a promise of indemnity in cases of trespass, and comes to the conclusion that no promise can be implied. This case was decided in 1851. Horwe v. Buffalo N. Y. & E. R. R. Co. (38 Barb., 124), was decided in 1862. Welles, J., delivered the opinion of the court. The promise .of indemnity was implied in that case, though the point was made that there is no implied obligation on the part of the principal to indemnify his agent against the consequences of obedience of a lawful command. This case was carried to the Court of .Appeals, and is decided in 37 N. Y. R., 297 It is said in the opinion : “ There is an implied obligation on the part of the principal to indemnify an innocent agent for obeying his orders, where the act would have been lawful in respect to both, if the principal really had the authority which he claimed.” Several authorities are cited. The principle here enunciated embraces the present case. The judgment should be affirmed.