Case ID: ny-st-rep_70/html/0323-01.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

Anna S. Seguine, App’lt, v. George Spaeth, Resp’t.
    
      (New York Common Pleas, General Term,
    
    
      Filed November 4, 1895.)
    
    1. Evidence—Pakol.
    Where a written contract purports to contain the obligation of one party only, paroi evidence is admissible to show the undertaking of the other party.
    2. CONTRACTS—CONSIDEBATION.
    Where the work on the construction of a building has been suspended for want of funds, and in consequence of liens, judgments, etc., on the building, the making, by a third person, of such arrangements as will allow the work to proceed, is a sufficient consideration for a promise to pay therefor.
    Appeal from a judgment for defendant, rendered by the justice without a jury.
    ■ Quincy, Wendel & Robeson, for app’lt; Arthur J. Westermayer, for resp’t.
   Per Curiam.

The plaintiff sued to recover for certain commissions or payments claimed to have been earned by her assignor, John L. Douglas. The first cause of action was for five per cent, on $625 ; the second cause of action was for five per cent, on $400; and the third cause of action for five per cent, on $650.

With respect to the second and third causes of action there appears to have been a conflict of fact, upon which we will not pass ; but with regard to the first cause of action there was no such dispute. The agreement of the defendant to pay the plaintiff’s assignor was embodied in a written contract, signed by the defendant. The writing was not signed by plaintiff’s assignor, and does not purport to contain his obligation. It was therefore proper to show upon the trial, by paroi, what his undertaking was. Curtis v. Soltau, 34 St. Rep. 767; Tocci v. Arata, 36 id. 42 ; Wise v. Rosenblatt, 12 Supp. 288. He testifies : “All I had to do under my contract was to make such arrangements as would allow the work to proceed thereon.” And this he reiterated afterwards. The testimony disposes of any contention that there was no valid contract proved under the first cause of action because of any lack of consideration on the part of Douglas. The ground upon which the claim of the plaintiff upon this contract was disallowed does not appear from the record. If the plaintiff was not bound to do more than make arrangements as to allow the work to proceed, and he did so, he had performed the contract upon his part, and was entitled to recover. If his obligation was to do more, the defendant should have been permitted to show it. But he was not permitted to contradict plaintiff’s evidence on that point; for, when he attempted to show what Douglas’ statements or promises were at the time the writing was signed, such evidence was excluded. Upon a new trial any defense based upon the evidence can be considered. There was evidently a mistrial upon this cause of action,- at least ; and the whole judgment must be reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to abide the event.