Case ID: nj-misc_8/html/0706-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ALBERT J. LUEBBERS, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, v. CHARLES J. SCHAAL, DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.
    Submitted May term, 1930
    Decided September 11, 1930.
    Before Justices Tbenohabd and Lloyd.
    Eor the appellant, Frederic W. Schlosstein.
    
    Eor the appellee, Walter D. Van Riper.
    
   Per Curiam.

On petition for that purpose, a rehearing of this matter was allowed by the court, and on such rehearing the matter was submitted to the court on briefs.

In its original memorandum dealing with this appeal, the court inadvertently said that the trial judge gave judgment for the plaintiff. The court intended to say that the judgment was for the defendant.

The court also said that “there is no specification of causes for reversal,” and for that reason the court concluded that the judgment should be affirmed.

It is quite true that there was no specification of causes for reversal laid before the court. But, as pointed out in the memorandum granting the rehearing, “while it appears that the state of the case agreed upon by the attorneys of the respective parties, and printed as the state of the case, did not contain the specifications of determinations of the District Court, yet such determinations were printed and were submitted under a separate cover and were filed with the clerk of the court within due time, but through inadvertence were not before the court when the case came up for consideration.”

In such state of affairs we think we should look at such specifications, in connection with the state of the case.

Looking at them we find that the state of the case discloses that plaintiff sued to recover $500 for breach of a contract entered into between plaintiff and defendant wherein “Charles J. Schaal, Administrator of Estate,” acknowledged the receipt from plaintiff of a deposit for the purchase price of property on Mt. Pleasant avenue, West Orange, of the estate of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Schaal.

The meritorious question presented is whether or not the defendant, who was sued personally, is liable for the damages sustained by reason of the breach of the contract.

The trial judge held that the defendant was not liable, saying that the plaintiff dealt with the administrator at his peril and that the administrator cannot be held liable in an action for damages.

We think that was wrong. The rule seems to be as found in 24 G. J. 739, as follows:

“A contract of an executor or administrator, although made in the interest and for the benefit of the estate, if made upon a new and independent consideration moving between his promisee and himself, is his personal contract, which does not bind the estate, and he must be sued on such contract in his individual and not in his representative capacity. The fact that he is described in the contract as executor or as administrator, does not affect the rule.”

In support of this rule cases are cited in many j urisdictions including New Jersey, from which the ease of Sibbib v. Lloyd, 11 N. J. L. 163, is cited. Since the application of that rule discloses that the case was decided upon an erroneous principle, a new trial must be awarded.

Accordingly, the judgment of the District Court is reversed, and a new trial awarded. Costs to abide the event.