Case ID: ad_123/html/0207-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Hobson, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Edwin Collins, Appellant, v. St. Lawrence Club, Respondent.
    Fourth Department,
    January 8, 1908.
    Trial — amendment to set up counterclaim.
    A referee is without power to allow an amendment of the answer at trial to set up a counterclaim to the plaintiff’s cause of action.
    Appeal by the plaintiff, Edwin Collins, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of -the defendant, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Onondaga on the 8th day of December, 1902, upon the report of a referee. ' '
    
      William L. Barnum, for the appellant.
    
      William F. Hodge, for the respondent.
   Hobson, J.:

During the progress of the -trial and after considerable -testimony bad been taken for plaintiff, the referee on- defendant’s, application.' permitted it to amend its answer by setting tip a counterclaim to the caiise of action which plaintiff had pleaded. Plaintiff duly objected to -the amendment, and excepted, to its -allowance- by the referee. The referee has found for ' defendant- and against the . plaintiff the- full, amount of -the counterclaim, and.the result of the action was materially changed thereby.

The referee had no power to grant this amendment and plaintiff’s, exception thereto .presents reversible error. (Mitchell v. Bunn, 2 T. & C. 486.)

All concurred.

Judgment reversed, and -new trial 'ordered before another referee, with costs to appellant to abide event.