Case ID: nys_81/html/0351-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "O’BRIEN, J. VAN BRUNT, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(81 App. Div. 603.)
    LINDBLAD et al. v. LYNDE.
    (Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.
    April 9, 1903.)
    1. Pleadings—Amendment—Costs.
    Where plaintiff cannot recover on his complaint as it stands, he should be taxed, on leave to amend, with all costs and disbursements incurred subsequent to the service of the complaint.
    2. Same—Amendment Without Prejudice.
    Under Laws 1900, p. 1326, c. 591, amending Code Civ. Proc. § 723, relative to amendments of pleadings, etc., by providing that the court may, on allowing an amendment to a pleading in a case which is on the general calendar of issues of fact, direct that the case retain its place upon the calendar, the court cannot grant leave to amend “without prejudice to proceedings already had,” so as to permit the testimony taken in support of the cause of action as first tried to stand.
    Van Brunt, P. J., dissenting.
    Appeal from Special Term, New York County.
    Action by Paul E. Eindblad and Hogo Von Hagen against Elizabeth B. Lynde. From an order allowing amendment of complaint, defendant appeals.
    Modified.
    Argued before VAN BRUNT, P. J., and McLAUGHLIN, O’BRIEN, INGRAHAM, and LAUGHLIN, JJ.
    Henry A. Forster, for appellant.
    Gilbert Ray Hawes, for respondents.
   O’BRIEN, J.

The action is to foreclose a mechanic’s lien. The parties entered into a building contract whereby the plaintiffs agreed, for the sum of $13,132.60, to erect and finish an extension to, and make certain alterations in, the defendant’s house. The complaint alleged full performance of the contract and specifications, and states that there has been paid to the plaintiffs for their work $16,185.25, and that there is still due them for extra work $2,599.90, to recover which sum this action is brought. The specifications contained the provision that “no extra charge will be allowed unless ordered by the owner in writing, and in that event it must be specifically stated that the work to be done is extra.” The defense was nonperformance of this condition.

Proceeding upon the theory alleged in the complaint, of full performance, the case was reached for trial; but, instead of sustaining the allegations in support of this theory, the plaintiffs sought to introduce paroi evidence of excuses and reasons for nonperformance and of waivers of performance. Such evidence was excluded, and then, at the plaintiffs’ request, the trial was adjourned for two weeks to enable them to amend their complaint. Thereafter some efforts were made to reach a settlement. These, however, resulted in failure, and the plaintiffs, instead of availing themselves of their privilege of moving to amend the complaint, elected again to proceed with the trial.

On the new trial the attempt to introduce evidence showing grounds for nonperformance was again unsuccessful, and such evidence was again excluded. The court, instead of dismissing the complaint, sent the case back, on the plaintiffs’ application, to the general calendar upon payment of $30 costs, with leave to move at Special Term for an amendment of the complaint. These costs were paid to defendant, and thereafter this motion to amend was made, and granted upon the following conditions, viz.: On payment of $10 costs of this motion, “without prejudice to proceedings already had.”

As said in McEntyre v. Tucker, 40 App. Div. 444, 58 N. Y. Supp. 146: “It seems to us that the terms upon which the motion was granted were entirely inadequate. It is conceded by the motion that ■ the plaintiff cannot recover in the present form of action. The defendant was therefore justified in defending, and for the costs and disbursements to which he has been put in the establishment of a successful defense he is entitled to be reimbursed.” See, also, as to terms which should be imposed, Fox v. Davidson, 40 App. Div. 620, 58 N. Y. Supp. 147; Bates v. Salt Springs Nat. Bank, 43 App. Div. 321, 60 N. Y. Supp. 313. We think, therefore, that the court should-have required, as a condition of the amendment, the payment of all costs and disbursements subsequent to the service of the complaint, to be taxed.

We also think, upon the facts here appearing that it was improper to grant the motion “without prejudice to proceedings already had.” Prior to the amendment of section 723 of the Code of Civil Procedure in 1900 (Laws 1900, p. 1326, c. 591) a provision of this kind in an order was unauthorized, and, although the insertion of such a condition is now discretionary, this necessarily means legal discretion. So far as this provision permits the case to hold its present position on the calendar, we have no criticism to make; but, if it is intended thereby to permit the testimony already taken in support of the old cause of action to stand, it should not upon the facts here appearing be allowed, as this would affect a substantial right.

The order should accordingly be modified by imposing costs and disbursements as above indicated, and by requiring the plaintiffs upon the new issues to try the case de nova, and as modified affirmed, without costs to either party upon this appeal.

McLAUGHLIN, INGRAHAM, and LAUGHLIN, JJ„ concur.

VAN BRUNT, P. J.

I think the motion should have been denied. 
      
       1. See Pleading, vol. 39, Cent. Dig. §§ 630, 631,