Case Name: John Will, Plaintiff, v. Charles P. Barnwell, Defendant
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1908-09
Citations: 60 Misc. 458
Docket Number: 
Parties: John Will, Plaintiff, v. Charles P. Barnwell, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 60
Pages: 458–460

Head Matter:
John Will, Plaintiff, v. Charles P. Barnwell, Defendant.
(Supreme Court, Erie Special Term,
September, 1908.)
Former adjudication — Adjudication in particular actions or proceedings— Actions for specific performance.
Specific performance — Actions—■ Scope and extent of relief — Provision for repayment of purchase money.
The court, in a decree for specific performance of a contract to exchange real estate, may not provide for a money judgment for damages unless it has been established in the action that specific performance could not be had.
Where, three months after the entry of judgment decreeing specific performance, plaintiff brings an action and alleges defendant’s failure and refusal to execute and deliver, the conveyance specified in said judgment and demands a money judgment for damages occasioned by such refusal and neither the pleadings nor the evidence in the former trial is contained in the complaint and there is nothing before the court by which it can be determined that it was contemplated in the former action that defendant would fail to specifically perform or that the question of Ms failure was or could have been litigated and decided in said action, a demurrer to .the complaint, alleging that there is another action pending between the parties for the same cause, will he overruled.
Demurrer to complaint. The opinion states the case.
Gordon F. Matthews, for plaintiff.
Daniel V. Murphy, for defendant.

Opinion:
Brown, J.
On November 17, 1907, a judgment was entered in Erie county cleric's office in an action wherein plaintiff herein was sole plaintiff and defendant herein was sole defendant, decreeing that the defendant specifically perform a certain contract for the exchange of certain real estate by executing and delivering to the plaintiff a good and sufficient deed of certain real estate, containing a covenant for the quiet and peaceful enjoyment, in which deed the wife of defendant should join, and awarding costs to plaintiff. Plaintiff brings this action and alleges that defendant fails and refuses to execute and deliver the conveyance specified in said judgment and demands a money judgment for damages occasioned by such refusal. The defendant demurs to plaintiff's complaint, alleging that there is another action pending between the parties hereto for the same cause. It does not appear in the complaint for what reason the defendant refuses to comply with the judgment of November 17, 1907, but it is the contention of the defendant that, under the authority of Hahl v. Sugo, 169 N. Y. 109; Levy v. Kneppern, 117 App. Div. 167; Maasch v. Grauer, 123 id. 670, the judgment of November 17, 1907, is res adjudicata and plaintiff cannot maintain this action. There can be no doubt but such judgment would have been res adjudicata if it were known to plaintiff or the court upon the trial of the former action that defendant would fail and refuse to specifically perform or comply with the judgment in that action. Neither the pleadings nor the evidence in the former trial is contained in this complaint demurred to, and there is nothing before me from which it can be determined that such knowledge was had by plaintiff or the court on that trial. It does not appear that the question whether the defendant was to refuse to execute the conveyance or not was or could have been litigated and decided in the former action. To sustain the demurrer it must appear that the cause of action, based upon the refusal of the defendant to make the conveyance, was or could have been determined in the prior action. The complaint alleges that the defendant refused to make the conveyance within twenty days after service upon him of a copy of the decree in the former action, as directed therein, and that such copy was served January 29, 1908. The plaintiff's cause of action, therefore, arose February 18, 1908; and it is difficult to see how the court in the former action could have found, in November, 1907, that the defendant was to refuse to convey in February, 1908. In order for the court in the former action for specific performance to have provided for a money judgment for damages it must have been established in that action that specific performance could not be had. Levy v. Kneppern, supra. No such fact appears in the complaint demurred to. It may be that defendant has some advantage or right that may avail him in this action by reason of the former action and judgment, but it cannot be asserted by a demurrer to plaintiff's complaint on the proof before me.
Demurrer overruled, with leave to answer on paying costs to be taxed.