Case ID: misc_11/html/0428-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Bookstaver, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The Lamson Consolidated Store Service Co., Appellant, v. Michael Conyngham, Respondent.
    (New York Common Pleas—Additional General Term,
    February, 1895.)
    A denial upon information and belief that plaintiff is a corporation is not an affirmative allegation within the meaning of section 1776-of the Cod^, and does not require the plaintiff to prove its corporate existence.
    An agreement upon á sale of personal property to keep it in repair for-two years without charge is not'a warranty or condition precedent, but •an independent undertaking, a breach of which does not entitle the.vendee to rescind the sale, but gives'him an action for damages.,
    Appeal from a judgment of the District Court in the city of Hew York for the sixth judicial district, rendered by the justice in favor of defendant, for costs.
    Action to recover on certain promissory notes given for the purchase price of a cash register. The answer, a breach of a guaranty on plaintiff’s part to keep the machine in repair.
    
      Wilmer & Cornfield, for appellant.
    
      Qumbleton da Mottenroth, for respondent.
   Bookstaver, J.

In an action by a foreign corporation the plaintiff need not prove, upon the trial, the existence of the corporation, as alleged in the complaint, unless the answer Contains an affirmative allegation that the plaintiff is not a corporation. Code Civ. Proc. § 1776. A denial, upon information and belief that plaintiff is a corporation is not such an “affirmative allegation.” Vulcan v. Myers, 58 Hun, 162; Concordia Savings & Aid Assn. v. Read, 93 N. Y. 474; Bengston v. Thingvalla S. Co., 31 Hun, 96. By section 1779 of the Codé section 1776 -is made to apply to foreign corporations. Vulcan v. Myers, supra. It is not, therefore, incumbent upon plaintiff to prove its corporate existence.

The machine was delivered to, and accepted by, defendant. According to the terms of the contract of sale defendant paid down twenty-live dollars and gave notes of fifteen dollars each and one for twenty dollars, payable on succeeding months, for the remainder of the purchase price. Two of these fifteen-dollar notes were paid and the remainder were not.

This action is brought to recover on the remaining eight, amounting to $125 in all.

At the time of the delivery of the machine the agent gave defendant a written agreement to keep the cash register in repair from ordinary wear and tear for two years free of charge.

Defendant contends that this agreement was a condition precedent to his performance of the contract, and that by reason of plaintiff’s failure to keep the machine in repair he was justified in tendering back the machine and demanding the return of the payments already made. We cannot concur in this view. The contract was a complete instrument in itself, and plaintiff performed his part by delivering the cash register called for, which defendant accepted. The agreement to keep in repair was not a warranty of the original article, nor was it a condition precedent. Benjamin Sales, §§ 561, 562; Tipton v. Feitner, 20 N. Y. 423; De Kay v. Bliss, 120 id. 91. It was an independent undertaking on the part of the plaintiff, a breach of which did not entitle defendant to rescind the first contract, but gave him an action for damages for the breach. Even if it could be held to be a condition of the first contract, the effect would be the same. It was not a condition precedent, and the breach of a condition subsequent only gives a right of action for damages. It was not necessary to prove the presentation of the notes, as the action is against the maker and not an indorser. Hills v. Place, 48 N. Y. 520.

It is, therefore, clear that the judgment should have been for plaintiff, less any damages sustained by defendant by reason of any breach by plaintiff of the agreement to keep in repair. No damages for such a breach were proved upon the trial.

The judgment must, therefore, be reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide the event.

Bischoff, J., concurs.

Judgment reversed and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event.