Case ID: nys_90/html/0154-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "DEVENDORF, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(44 Misc. Rep. 454.)
    WRIGHT v. SHEPHERD, Highway Com’r.
    (Herkimer County Court.
    July, 1904.)
    1. Justice op the Peace—Ad journment—Jurisdiction.
    Where, after joinder of issue and one adjournment by consent, a justice of the peace adjourns an action for more than eight days, over defendant’s objection, he loses jurisdiction by Code Civ. Proc. § 2960, which is not restored by defendant’s subsequent participation in the trial.
    Appeal from Justice Court.
    Action by William Wright against Nat W. Shepherd, commissioner of highways. From a judgment for plaintiff, defendant appeals.
    Reversed.
    Charles B. Hane, for appellant.
    James Coupe, for respondent.
   DEVENDORF, J.

This judgment cannot be sustained, because errors were committed in the court below which require a reversal. Among such errors is that of an adjournment granted by the justice, at plaintiff’s request, contrary to the provisions of the Code. The summons was returnable November 14th, at which time the parties appeared and issue was joined, and the case by agreement postponed to November 25th following, at which time the parties again appeared. Amended pleadings were filed by consent, and plaintiff asked for a further adjournment, also for a venire. Defendant objected to both the adjournment and the drawing of a jury; his objections were overruled, and the action adjourned by the justice, on plaintiff’s motion, for more than eight days, namely, to December 4th. At the adjourned day the parties appeared, and the defendant moved to dismiss the action by reason of such illegal adjournment. The motion was denied, and the case proceeded to trial against the specific objection of the defendant. The adjournment from November 25th to December 4th, at plaintiff’s request (defendant objecting), was illegal, and jurisdiction was lost. Code Civ. Proc. § 2960; Moody v. Becker (Co. Ct.) 70 N. Y. Supp. 543; Morris v. Hays, 14 App. Div. 8, 43 N. Y. Supp. 639. Jurisdiction was not subsequently conferred by defendant’s appearance at the trial, after his motion made at the time to dismiss had been denied; having done all that he could to prevent an unauthorized adjournment, defendant was not bound to abandon the case. Baird v. Helfer (Sup.) 42 N. Y. Supp. 484. The judgment entered was erroneous, and hence must, for the above reasons, if no other, be reversed.

I think further errors were committed by the justice upon the trial in rejecting evidence offered by the defendant, and in striking out certain evidence, but it is unnecessary to call attention to them specifically, as the illegal adjournment necessitates a reversal. Judgment of reversal will enter herein accordingly.

Judgment reversed.