Case ID: nys_92/html/0434-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "WOODWARD, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

CORNELL v. HUBER.
    (Supreme Court, Appellate division, Second Department
    March 3, 1905.)
    Innkeeper—Refusal of Privileges of a Guest.
    An innkeeper is liable at common law to one to whom he refuses the privileges of a guest.
    [Ed. Note.—For cases in point, see vol. 27, Cent. Dig. Innkeepers, §§ 10, 11.]
    Appeal from Special Term, Queens County.
    Action by William Cornell against George H. Huber. From a judgment sustaining a demurrer to the complaint, plaintiff appeals. Reversed.
    Argued before HIRSCHBERG, P. J., and BARTLETT, WOODWARD, HOOKER; and MILLER, JJ.
    J. Wilson Bryant, for appellant.
    M. Strassman, for respondent.
   WOODWARD, J.

The complaint clearly is an action to recover on the common-law liability of an innkeeper to one who has been refused the privileges of a guest. The learned Special Term evidently treated it as an action for a penalty under the civil rights act (chapter 1042, p. 974, Laws 1895), and disposed of it on the authority of Lewis v. Hitchcock (D. C.) 10 Fed. 4. The common-law liability of an innkeeper, under the circumstances disclosed by this complaint, is fully recognized in Grinnell v. Cook, 3 Hill, 485, 38 Am. Dec. 663, and the subject is treated at length in People v. King, 110 N. Y. 418 et seq., 18 N. E. 245, 1 L. R. A. 293, 6 Am. St. Rep. 389.

I advise that the interlocutory judgment be reversed, with costs, and that the defendant be allowed 20 days in which to answer. All concur; HOOKER, J., not voting.