Case Name: Townsend B. Baldwin agt. William H. Briggs
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1874-02
Citations: 53 How. Pr. 80
Docket Number: 
Parties: Townsend B. Baldwin agt. William H. Briggs.
Judges: 
Reporter: Howard's Practice Reports
Volume: 53
Pages: 80–80

Head Matter:
SUPREME COURT.
Townsend B. Baldwin agt. William H. Briggs.
Counter-claim—when cannot he set up.
Where one defendant is sued upon an individual liability, he cannot set up as a counter-claim a claim which he holds jointly with another against the plaintiff.
Special Term, February, 1874.

Opinion:
Van Brunt, J.
It seems to me that the demurrer in this action must be sustained. There are many cases which decide that in a suit against two or more persons or partners a several claim in favor of one defendant only cannot be enforced as a counter-claim (Hurlburt agt. Post, 1 Bosw., 28; Peabody agt. Bloomer, 3 Abb. Pr., 353; 6 Duer, 53; Mott agt. Burnett, 2 E. D. Smith, 50). I can see no reason why the converse of the proposition should not be equally true, viz., that where one defendant is sued upon an individual liability he cannot set up as a counter-claim a claim which he holds jointly with another against the plaintiff. The cause of action constituting the counter-claim must be one existing in favor of a defendant against a plaintiff, between whom a several judgment might be had in the action (Sec. 150 of the Code). The cause of action set up as a counter-claim in the action does not exist in favor of the defendant and his copartner against the plaintiff, and this does not comply with the requirements of the section. Furthermore, in litigating a claim either made by a firm or against a firm, the opposite party has a right to have all the members of that firm before the court. The demurrer must be sustained, with leave to the defendant to amend his answer, upon payment of costs, if he be so advised.