Case ID: nys_13/html/0353-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Van Brunt, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Terry v. Horne.
    
      (Supreme Court, General Term, First Department.
    
    February 13, 1891.)
    1. Dismissal—Failure of Proof—Judgment.
    Where a complaint is dismissed because of failure of proof, the court should not give absolute judgment in favor of the defendant.
    
      3. Equity—Rescission of Contract.
    A suit in equity will not lie to set aside a contract as being obtained by duress, as complainant has a perfect defense to an action at law to enforce the contract.
    Appeal from special term, New York county.
    Action by Arthur Terry against George E. Horne, as trustee for the benefit of Harriet E. Terry. Plaintiff appeals from a judgment dismissing his complaint upon the merits.
    Argued before Van Brunt, P. J., and Bartlett and Barrett, JJ.
    
      B. Terry, for appellant. T. C. Campbell, for respondent.
   Van Brunt, P. J.

The plaintiff and Harriet E. Terry were married several years prior to 1876, and lived together as husband and wife until said year, when the said Harriet E. Terry commenced an action against the plaintiff for divorce upon the ground of cruel and inhuman treatment, and for alimony for her support. The plaintiff also commenced an action in the same court against said Harriet E*. Terry for divorce upon the ground of adultery. For some time prior to the commencement of these actions said plaintiff and defendant had separated, and continued to live apart until the 14th of April, 1877. After the commencement of said actions the defendant Harriet E. Terry commenced proceedings in both to obtain alimony for her support during the pendency of the action and for counsel fees to enable her to prosecute and defend the same, which was granted, and the plaintiff, not •complying with the order, was adjudged guilty of contempt, and gave a bond for his appearance at a future day to puige himself of his contempt. While these proceedings were pending, the plaintiff admitted to the defendant that he had been deceived as to the statement charging her with adultery, and proposed that she should discontinue her action, and he would discontinue his, and that they should assume their marital relations. The defendant 'Terry declined to do so unless the plaintiff would make some provision for her by securing some money through a trustee for her use. It was agreed that the plaintiff should do so, and the agreement set forth in the complaint was drawn up and executed, whereby there was secured for the benefit of said Harriet E. Terry the sum of seven dollars per week. One T. C. Campbell was mentioned as trustee in the agreement, and, he having declined to act, the defendant Horne was duly apppointed in his place. The plaintiff continued to make the weekly payments so secured by said trust-deed up to the time of the commencement of this action, which was brought to set aside said trust-deed upon the ground of duress and illegality of the contract. Upon the trial, at the end of the plaintiff’s case a motion being made to dismiss the complaint upon the ground that facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action had not been set out in the complaint or proved, the motion was granted, and the court dismissed the complaint upon the merits, and from the judgment thereupon entered this appeal is taken. So far as the court dismissed the complaint upon the merits we think the judgment was erroneous. The complaint was dismissed because of the failure of proof upon the part of the plaintiff, and not because there was any issue of fact which had arisen between the plaintiff and the defendant, which had been determined in favor of the defendant. The court should not, where a complaint is dismissed because of failure of proof, give absolute judgment in favor of the defendant. The result in such a case is similar to that which obtained in a nonsuit under the old practice; and, under such circumstances, the judgment was never considered a bar to a new action, in case the plaintiff could fortify his case by additional proof. It is not necessary to discuss the other propositions which have been presented for consideration, namely, whether, after 12 years of acquiescence in a contract, a party can plead duress, or whether a contract of the description mentioned in the complaint, entered into for the benefit of a wife, is illegal, and against public policy, for the reason that there is no ground whatever for equitable interference. If the contract is illegal, it is a perfect defense in an action at law. If it had been obtained by duress, such would be a perfect defense to an action at law brought to enforce the contract. It is well settled that equity cannot be called upon to afford relief to a plaintiff where he has a complete answer at law in case an action is brought against him upon the contract. Grand Chute v. Winegar, 15 Wall. 373; Allerton v. Belden, 49 N. Y. 373; Town of Venice v. Woodruff, 62 N. Y. 462; Fowler v. Palmer, Id. 533; Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Reals, 79 N. Y. 202; Troy & B. R. Co. v. Boston, H. T. & W. Ry. Co., 86 N. Y. 107. In all these cases the principle is recognized that equitable interference cannot be sought where the rights of the parties can be equally protected in an action at law'. If the plaintiff was sued upon the contract in question, if any of the causes of action set up in his complaint in this action were well founded, they would form a complete defense to the action upon the contract. The judgment should be modified by striking therefrom the words “on the merits,” and, as modified, affirmed, without costs. All concur.