Case Name: Kilpatrick v. Villaume
Court: New York City Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1893-11
Citations: 6 Misc. 33
Docket Number: 
Parties: Kilpatrick v. Villaume.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 33–34

Head Matter:
Kilpatrick v. Villaume.
(City Court of New York—General Term,
November, 1893.)
It is no defense in an action upon a promissory note that in doing the work for which the note was given plaintiff "used a fictitious name, and a motion to amend the answer by setting up such facts is properly . denied.
In order to make an act of business under a fictitious name illegal within the meaning of chapter 262 of the Laws of 1886, it must appear that credit was given to and reliance placed upon the false designation, and that credit was given to the persons using the false designation.
Appeal by defendant from judgment entered on verdict directed by the court for plaintiff.
Kelly & Macrae, for plaintiff (respondent).
F. Jellenik, for defendant (appellant).

Opinion:
Van Wyck, J.
The plaintiff sues upon three promissory notes made by defendant to order of Kilpatrick & Roylanee,, and alleges that they were made and delivered to her, " doing, business as successor to and under the name of Kilpatrick & Roylanee." The defendant resists on the sole defense that when the notes were made there was no such partner as Roy-lance, and that plaintiff had not filed the certificate and published the notice for continuing the use of such firm name as required by statute. In the Barron Case, 12 N. Y. Supp. 455, Chief Justice Daly, in referring to the rule laid down in. the Gay Case, 97 N. Y. 472, says: " This decision establishes the rule, that it is not every case of transacting business under a fictitious' n^me that is within the statute, but that to make the act illegal it must appear that credit was given to and reliance placed upon the false designation, and that credit was. given to the person or persons, using the false designation ; in the case before us the proposed defense merely alleges the use of the fictitious name by the plaintiff in doing the work for the defendant and furnishing the materials, and in making the contract therefor, and the carrying on of the business by plaintiff under the fictitious name. These facts alone, if proved, would constitute no defense under the case quoted, and the motion to amend the answer by setting them up was properly denied." This decision in the Barron case was rendered by our appellate-authority six years subsequent to the adoption of chapter 262 of the Laws of 1886. Hence the judgement must be affirmed, with costs.
Uewburger and McCarthy, JJ., concur.
Judgment affirmed.