Case ID: abb-pr_16/html/0465-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "By the Court.—Miller, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

THE PEOPLE a. THE ALBANY AND VERMONT RAILROAD COMPANY.
    
      Supreme Court, Third District; General Term,
    
    
      May, 1862.
    Allowance.—Subject-matter Involved.
    The value of the property to be directly affected by the result of an action affords a proper basis for computing the percentage authorized by section 309 of the Code of Procedure, as an allowance in addition to costs, in difficult and extraordinary cases.
    
      So held, where the action was brought to restrain the defendants from discontinuing and removing a railroad.
    Appeal from an order made at special term granting an extra allowance to-the defendant.
    The action was brought by the People against the Albany and Vermont Railroad Company, to compel defendant to repair and operate its road between Waterford Junction and Eagle Bridge, a distance of about twenty-one miles. The case was severely litigated. It was difficult and extraordinary, involving large interests and new and difficult questions of law. The value of the property directly affected by the result of the action, exceeded $50,000 in amount. The proceedings are reported, 11 Ante, 136; 12 lb., 171; and 24 M. Y., 261.
    
      John H. Reynolds, for the appellant.
    
      William A. Beach, for the respondent.
   By the Court.—Miller, J.

By section 308 of the Code, in addition to the allowance provided for by section 307, the plaintiff', upon the recovery of judgment by him in certain actions, is allowed a percentage on the amount of the recovery. By section 309 these rates are to be estimated upon the value of the property claimed, &c., and upon the amount found due in case of a mortgage foreclosure. The concluding portion of the same section is as follows: “ In difficult and extraordinary eases, when a trial has been had, 1 except’ in any of the actions or proceedings specified in section three hundred and eight, the court may, also in its discretion, make a further allowance to any party, not exceeding five per cent, upon the amount of the recovery or claim, or subject-matter imolved.” It must be conceded that this is a “ difficult and extraordinary” case within the meaning of the clause last cited. The subject-matter involved” in the controversy was the operating and repairing of the road in question. The amount of the subject-matter affected by it and involved in it, was of. the value' of $50,000. The suit was brought to prevent the removal of property of the road of larger value, and to compel a reconstruction, involving a heavy expense. An injunction was obtained, and the controversy was terminated by a successful defence. It appears to me that this is a ease clearly within the intentt meaning, and spirit of the clause above cited, and was of such a character as to authorize an extra allowance. I think, therefore, that the order made at special term should be affirmed, with ten dollars .costs of appeal. 
      
       Present, Hobeboom, Peckham, and Milieb, JJ.