Case Name: Perry v. Erie Transfer Company
Court: New York City Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1892-11
Citations: 1 Misc. 208
Docket Number: 
Parties: Perry v. Erie Transfer Company.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 208–209

Head Matter:
Perry v. Erie Transfer Company.
(City Court of New York—General Term,
November, 1892.)
The plaintiff, a truckman, residing in New Jersey, contracted there with defendant, a New Jersey corporation, to furnish it with horses and trucks as required. The principal part of plaintiff’s work was done in New York city. In an action to recover thereon, defendant submitted no testimony, and a verdict for plaintiff was directed by the court. At the close of plaintiff’s case defendant moved to dismiss on the ground that the court had no jurisdiction, that the plaintiff could not maintain the action because he was a non-resident and the defendant a foreign corporation, and that plaintiff had not shown that the contract of hire was made in New York, or that there was any agreement that the price should be paid in New York "'city, which motion was denied. Held, error; that as the contract was made in New Jersey, and its breach, if any, must have occurred there, and the-plaintiff and defendant both being residents of that state, the court had no jurisdiction of the action, it not being included in section-1780 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Appeal from, judgment entered on a verdict of the jury directed by the court in favor of the plaintiff.
Andrew Wesley Kent, for defendant (appellant).
Strong & Cadwalader, for plaintiff (respondent).

Opinion:
Fitzsimons, J.
The plaintiff is a resident of ¡New Jersey. The defendant is a ¡New Jersey corporation having an office in this city. The plaintiff, who is a truckman, contracted with defendant in his office in Jersey City to furnish defendant with horses and trucks as required. The principal part of the trucking was done in this city. Plaintiff sues for trucking-done in the months of September and October, 1890.
Defendant submitted no testimony, and by direction of the court the jury rendered a verdict for plaintiff for $281.98. At the close of plaintiff's case defendant moved to dismiss the complaint on the ground that the court had no jurisdiction, that the plaintiff could not maintain the action because he was-a non-resident and the defendant a foreign corporation. That plaintiff had not shown that the contract of hire was made in New York, or that there was any agreement that the price should be paid in New York city, which motion was denied.
In denying this motion we think that the trial justice erred. The contract of hiring was entered into in Jersey City, and the defendant was not bound to pay for such hiring in this city, not having contracted to pay here. Therefore it seems to us clear that the contract having been made in New Jersey, and its breach, if any, must have occurred there, and the plaintiff and the defendant both being residents of that state, that this court has no jurisdiction of this action, it not being included in section 1780 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The plaintiff is mistaken in his statement that the allegations in his complaint to the effect that it was expressly or implicitly agreed that the defendant should pay for said hiring in the city of New York is not denied, on the contrary the defendant's answer positively denies that allegation, and therefore plaintiff' was required to prove the same, that being a natural allegation which he failed to do.
The complaint should have been dismissed.
Judgment is, therefore, reversed.
Newburger, J., concurs.
Judgment reversed.