Van Brunt v. . Day

81 N.Y. 251, 8 Abb. N. Cas. 336, 1880 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 36, 1880 N.Y. LEXIS 230

• Court: New York Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 1, 1880
• Status: Published

Opinion

Andrews, J.

The defendant’s guaranty was in writing, and was contained in the same instrument by which he assigned the mortgage. It was an absolute undertaking to pay the mortgage, in the event of failure of payment by the mortgagors. This undertaking could not be varied by proof of an oral contemporaneous agreement that the guarantor was only to be bound on condition that the plaintiff should keep the premises insured for his protection. The rule is elementary that such proof, in the absence of fraud or mistake, is inadmissible to change or qualify a written agreement. But the answer of the defendant, although in artificially drawn, in substance alleges that at the time of the execution of the assignment and guaranty, the plaintiff, in consideration of being permitted to retain $300 out of the purchase-money of the mortgage, and of the assignment to him by the defendant of a policy of insurance upon the premises, agreed to keep the premises insured until the mortgage should become due, which she neglected to do; that the building on the premises was destroyed by fire, and that by reason of such neglect the security of the defendant was lost. The court on the trial rejected proof of this agreement, and of the consideration therefor, offered by the defendant. The rejection is sought to be sustained on the ground that the written agreement is conclusively presumed to contain the whole engagement of the parties, and that the offer was an attempt to engraft by paroi a new term upon the written con tract. But we are of opinion that the rule referred to does not apply to the case. The writing was executed by the defendant alone. It was given in execution of his contract to assign the mortgage, and guaranty its payment. The agreement was an independent collateral engagement made by the plaintiff u]3on a new consideration, to keep the premises insured for the protection of the defendant. If established it would not qualify or change the defendant’s guaranty. Its breach would give a right of action, available to the. defendant as a counter-claim to the extent of the damages sustained, in reduction or extinguishment of his liability. The cases sustain the defendant’s claim, that the proof of the oral agreement would not violate the rule that when the agreement of parties has been reduced to writing, that alone is to determine their respective obligations. (Batterman v. Peirce, 3 Hill, 171; Hope v. Balen, 58 N. Y. 380; Lewis v. Seabury, 74 id. 409.)

The objection, that the breach of the plaintiff’s agreement was not in terms set up in the answer as a counter-claim is not available. The facts showing the agreement and its breach, and that loss resulted to the defendant therefrom, are substantially, although imperfectly, alleged. Ho objection to the proof offered was made, so far as appears, upon the ground that the pleading was defective; and under the statutory rule that the allegations of a pleading must be liberally construed, with a view to substantial justice (Code, § 519), the answer must be regarded as sufficient. (Springer v. Dwyer, 50. N. Y. 19; Isham v. Davidson, 52 id. 237.)

The judgment of the General Term should be reversed, and a new trial ordered.

All concur.

Judgment reversed.