Case ID: misc_29/html/0564-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Scott, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Benjamin C. Smith, Plaintiff, v. Alexander Bryant, Defendant.
    (Supreme Court, New York Special Term,
    November, 1899.)
    Costs — In an action for money only, the defendant is entitled to costs unless the plaintiff recovers fifty dollars — Code Civ. Pro., §§ 3228, 3229.
    Where an action is within subdivision 4 of section 3228 of the Code of Civil Procedure and the complaint demands judgment for a sum of money only, the plaintiff is not entitled to costs unless he recovers the sum of fifty dollars; and where he recovers nothing and the defendant recovers less than fifty dollars on a counterclaim, the latter is entitled to costs as of course.
    Motion for a retaxation of costs.
    Samuel 0. Walters, for plaintiff.
    Taylor & Seymour, for defendant.
   Scott, J.

Plaintiff sued in this court for the sum of $83.58 for goods sold and delivered. Defendant admitted not only the sale and delivery of the goods sued for, but also of other goods aggregating in value, including the goods mentioned in the complaint, the .sum of $127.41. He asserted, however, that plaintiff was indebted to him for goods sold and delivered to the amo’unt of $169,71, and .he asks for a judgment against the plaintiff for $42,"with interest. Upon the trial the defendant succeeded, and a verdict was rendered in his favor for the sum of $42. Both parties presented to the county clerk bills of costs for taxation. The clerk decided that the plaintiff was entitled to costs and taxed his bill, refusing to tax that of defendant. The latter now moves for a retaxation. It seems to be quite clear that the clerk erred. Subdivision 4 of section 3228 of the Code of Civil Procedure deals with actions other than those specified in the foregoing subdivision of the section, in which the complaint demands judgment for a sum of money only. This action is not one of those specified in either the first, second or third subdivisions,' and the complaint demanded judgment for a sum of money only. Hence this action is one of those provided for by subdivision 4. As to such actions the subdivision provides that the plaintiff is not entitled to costs, under this subdivision, unless he recovers the sum of fifty dollars or more.” The plaintiff recovered nothing, hence he is not entitled to costs. Section 3229 provides that the defendant is entitled to costs of course, upon the rendering of final judgment in an action specified in the last section, unless the plaintiff is entitled to costs as therein provided. This was an action specified in section 3228, and the plaintiff was not entitled to costs therein. Hence, under section 3229, the defendant was entitled to costs, and the clerk should have taxed his bill. It will not do to say that, because he set up a counterclaim and recovered upon it, he assumed the position of a plaintiff, so far as affects the question of costs. As was said in Peet v. Warth, 1 Bosw. 653: “ The legislature, evidently, intended to discourage the bringing of actions for small claims in the higher Courts.” The defendant brought no action, and did not trouble this court with his claim against plaintiff until compelled to do so in self-defense. The case cited by the clerk as authority for his action has m> application. Sherry v. Cary, 111 N. Y. 514. In that case the count held that the plaintiff was entitled to costs, although he recovered less than fifty dollars, because the several causes of action alleged in the complaint and in the counterclaim constituted subsisting accounts between the parties within the meaning of subdivision 4 of section 2863, Code Civil Procedure, and as they aggregated more than $400, the action could not have been tried in a Justice’s Court. Hence, the plaintiff was entitled to costs upon any recovery, although less than fifty dollars, under subdivision 3 of section 3228. But even in such a case the plaintiff is entitled to costs only when judgment is rendered in his favor. The present case differs from Sherry v. Cary in two important particulars. In the first place the defendant and not the plaintiff has recovered a verdict, and in the second place the cause of action alleged in the complaint and counterclaim aggregated only $297.12. The clerk’s taxation must be set aside, and he must be directed to tax the defendant’s bill of costs, with ten dollars costs of this motion.

Ordered accordingly.