Case ID: nys_9/html/0880-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Barnard, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Chatfield v. Reynolds.
    
      (Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department.
    
    May 12, 1890.)
    Appeal ebom Justices op the Peace—Amendment op Notice.
    Where the unsuccessful party in an action in a justice’s court inadvertently omits to ask for a new trial in his notice of appeal to the county court, as required by Code Civil Proc. N. Y. § 3068, an amendment of the notice is properly allowed by the county court, under section 3019, providing that when the appeal is taken in good faith, and where any act necessary to perfect the appeal is omitted, an amendment may be made supplying the omission.
    Appeal from Westchester county court.
    Action by George Chatfield against Charles Reynolds. Plaintiff appeals from an order of the county court permitting defendant to amend his notice of appeal to that court.
    Argued before Barnard, P. J., and Dykman and Pratt, JJ.
    
      Smith Lent, for appellant. Francis Larkin, Jr., for respondent.
   Barnard, P. J.

This action was tried before a justice of the peace. The complaint demanded a judgment for $150. The plaintiff’s recovery was for $34.83. The defendant appealed, and the notice of appeal did not “demand a new trial in the appellate court,” according to section 3068 of the Code. The county court permitted an amendment of the notice so as to demand a new trial in the appellate court. The amendment was authorized by section. 3049 of the Code. The appeal was taken in good faith, and by it the action was removed to the county court. The case was one where a new trial could be demanded, and an inspection of the return shows that the question was-one of fact only. The appellant’s attorney made an affidavit that the inserted clause was left out by mistake and inadvertence. Section 3049 provides that an amendment may be made when the appeal is taken in good faith, and where any act necessary to perfect the appeal is omitted, supplying the omission. The amendment was needed to complete the appeal for a new trial. The point is decided in McCarthy v. Crowley, 5 N. Y. Supp. 675. The appeal in this case was for a new trial in the appellate court, where the appeal was addressed to a new trial upon the default before the justice. The notice of appeal was amended so as to ask the proper relief. The order should be affirmed, with costs. All concur.