Case ID: how-pr_63/html/0047-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Westbrook, J.\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

SUPREME COURT.
    William C. Lampkin and Alfred S. Foster agt. William B. Douglass.
    
      Attachment—What the affidavit on which it is asked must state and shew— Code of Civil Procedure, section 636.
    An affidavit on which, an attachment is asked is defective where it does not state, as section 636 of the Code of Civil Procedure requires, that the plaintiffs are entitled to recover the sum therein alleged to he due to them " over and above all counter-claims ; ” and it is not sufficient to allege that such sum is due to them “ over and above all discounts and set-offs.”
    An affidavit is defective where it fails to show that the demand is due to the plaintiffs over and above all counter-claims known 'to them.
    
    As the knowledge of the plaintiff who applies for an attachment must be shown, he personally must make the affidavit, or. if made by some other person, such facts, at least, should be stated as satisfy the court that the plaintiff has no knowledge upon the subject, because the entire transaction was with the affiant.
    Where his sureties in an undertaking, instead of signing at the foot of the undertaking, each signed his own affidavit of justification, which was on the same page with the undertaking, both sureties appearing before a notary public, who certified that they knew them "to be the persons described in and who executed the above undertaking, and severally acknowledged that they executed the same,” the execution of the undertaking will be held valid.
    
      Ulster Special Term, February, 1882.
    Motion to vacate an attachment upon the papers on which it was allowed.
    
      
      Howard Ghijpp, Jr., for motion. _
    
      William Lownsbu/ry, opposed.
   Westbrook, J.

The facts sufficiently appear in the statement of the points made in behalf of the defendant, which will at once be considered.

First. It is claimed that the affidavit on which the attachment was allowed is defective, because it does not state as the Code (sec. 636) requires, that the plaintiffs are entitled to recover the sum therein alleged to be due to them “ over and above all counter-claims,” but, on the contrary, the allegation is, that such sum is due to them over and above all discounts and set-offs.”

The language of the Code in the section referred to is mandatory. It declares that the plaintiff to obtain an attachment “ must show ” that- he is entitled to recover the sum stated to be due to him over and above all counter-claims.” The courts also have repeatedly held, that without such an averment the affidavit is radically defective (Lyon agt. Blakesly, 19 Hun, 299; Donnell agt. Williams, 21 Hun, 216; Dickey agt. Coe, 13 Weekly Dig., 318.)

It is urged, however, by the plaintiffs’ counsel, that the words “ over and above all discounts and set-offs,” which the affidavit contains, cover the same ground. This position is not maintainable. The word discounts ” simply conveys the thought of something to be discounted or taken from the claim itself by reason of any agreement, express or implied, between the parties (see in this connection, the word “discountsas defined in Bouvier's Law Dictionary), and the word set-off ” has acquired a special meaning as defined by our old statutes (2d vol. R. S. [Edm. ed.], 250, 251, 365, 366).

The word “ counter-claims ” used in the Code is much broader and includes more than “ discounts and set-offs.” A comparison of section 501 of the Code, which defines a “ counter-claim ” with the old statute of “ set-off ” (see Mr. Throop's note to section 501) will justify the statement just made without further argument (see, also, Vassear agt. Livingston, 13 N. Y., 248-257; Moak's Van Santvoord’s Pleadings, 612, 613, &c).

This objection, which has just been discussed, is undoubtedly fatal to the affidavit upon which the attachment issued, and the latter must be vacated on this ground only, but it is further urged by the defendant’s counsel, that

Second. The affidavit is defective also, because it fails to show that the demand is due to the plaintiff over and above all counter-claims known to them.

The language of the Code is (section 636), “ the affidavit must show that the plaintiff is entitled to recover a sum stated therein, over and above all counter-claims known to him.” This fact (the personal knowledge of the plaintiff) is not stated in the affidavit, and could not be, because it is not made by the plaintiffs or either of them, but by an agent, who does not profess to have transacted the whole business for the principals. As the knowledge of the plaintiff who applies for an attachment must be shown, it is clear that he personally must make the affidavit, or if made by some other person, such facts, at least, should be stated as satisfy the court that the plaintiff has no knowledge upon the subject, because the entire transaction was with the affiant. In the present case, not only is the affidavit of the plaintiff absent, but no facts are detailed showing that the party deposing has knowledge covering that ground. Indeed, the whole affidavit may have been believed by the party making it to have been true, and yet the plaintiff may have knowledge of circumstances which will entirely extinguish the sum alleged to be due.

Thi/rd. It' is objected that the undertaking has not been duly executed.

The undertaking is partly written- and partly printed. The blank contains, 1st, the undertaking-; 2d, on the same page, two affidavits; and, 3d, on the other side of the half sheet, the certificate of acknowledgment.

The securities instead of signing at the foot of the undertaking, have not, nor has either one, there placed their or his signature, but each has signed his own affidavit of justification, which, as before stated, is on the same page with the undertaking. This is not strictly formal, but as both sureties appeared before a notary public, who certifies that he knows them “ to be the persons described in and who executed the above undertaking, and severally -acknowledged that they executed the same,” the execution of the undertaking will be held valid.

The question which the point presents is: Has the undertaking been executed ? The instrument is signed below the usual place, but it is for the parties affected to declare what papers subscribed by them their signatures covered. In the solemn form known to the law, they have admitted the execution of the undertaking, which admission must conclude them if the defendant attempts to enforce the obligation (See Post & Baldwin agt. Coleman, 9 How., 64; Purdy agt. Upton, 10 How., 494).

My conclusion is, that the attachment and all proceedings thereunder, should be set aside upon the first two points, which have been stated, with costs.