Case Name: Hearman v. Snyder
Court: New York Supreme Court General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1888-11-20
Citations: 3 N.Y.S. 94
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hearman v. Snyder.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 3
Pages: 94–95

Head Matter:
Hearman v. Snyder.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Third Department.
November 20,1888.)
Justices of the Peace—Procedure—Judgment bt Consent.
The return by a justice in an action before him showed that plaintiff objected to the introduction, as a counter-claim, of a note which, taken with plaintiff’s demand, exceeded the justice’s jurisdiction, but that he would “allow” it. No proof of the execution of the note was given. The return also showed that defendant consented • “to the whole thing.” Held, that judgment was properly given for plaintiff for the amount of his demand, less the note, and for costs.
Appeal from Rensselaer county court.
Action before a justice of the peace by George H. Hearman against Jacob H. Snyder for legal services. Judgment for plaintiff for the amount of his demand, with certain deductions, less a note against plaintiff, and another, offered by defendant, and for costs. Judgment affirmed by the county court, and defendant appeals.
Argued before Learned, P. J., and Landon and Ingalls, JJ.
Henry A. King, for appellant. A. C. Comstock, for respondent.

Opinion:
Learned, P. J.
The return of the justice is not very clear. After reciting plaintiff's proof of his cause of action, it proceeds: "Defendant offers a note of $125 given by plaintiff, and another to defendant. Plaintiff objects to it as a counter-claim, and that it was not an offset against plaintiff. Plain tiff said note was good, and lie would not repudiate, but would allow; but it was not a legal claim. Defendant moves to dismiss the complaint; that judgment be rendered against the plaintiff for cost; no objection to the note being paid, consenting to the whole thing. No defense; no witnesses sworn." Now, it appears from this that no formal proof of the execution of the note was given. The plaintiff objected to its introduction, but would allow it. The ground of defendant's motion to dismiss is not stated; and it would seem that defendant had no objection to the note being paid, "consenting to the whole thing." We think it is a fair construction that the plaintiff objected to the note as a counter-claim, but offered to allow it as payment on this claim, and that the defendant consented to this. Very possibly the plaintiff feared that, if the note came in as a counter-claim, the objection might be -taken (which is now urged) that the sum total of amounts would exceed the justice's jurisdiction. Therefore he says: "I object to this as a counterclaim, but I am willing to allow it as a payment. " The defendant says he has no objection to the note being paid,—that is, by this allowance,—and consents to the whole thing. The matter was very justly and properly disposed of. The judgment of the county court should be affirmed, with costs.
Landon and Ingalls, JJ., concur.