Case Name: Joseph N. Goodfellow, Resp't, v. Royal L. Wolcott, App'lt
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1887-12-13
Citations: 12 N.Y. St. Rep. 620
Docket Number: 
Parties: Joseph N. Goodfellow, Resp’t, v. Royal L. Wolcott, App’lt.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 12
Pages: 620–621

Head Matter:
Joseph N. Goodfellow, Resp’t, v. Royal L. Wolcott, App’lt.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department,
Filed December 13, 1887.)
Reference — Items of damages not an account — Reference not a MATTER OF RIGHT.
The defendant sold the plaintiff a piece of land, taking back a mort* gage in which it was covenanted that the plaintiff should perform all the carpenter work required by the defendant at reasonable rates in payment of the interest in the bond. The plaintiff brings this action alleging a breach of this covenant on the part of the defendant. The defense is a general denial and a demand for a bill of particulars The plaintiff obtained an order for a reference. Held, that this is not a case for a compulsory reference as a matter of right, that these is no account between the parties, and an examination of numerous items of damages does not constitute a long account properly so called.
T. C. Cronin, for resp’t; A. C. Aubrey, for app’lt.

Opinion:
Barnard, P. J.
This action is brought to recover damages for a breach of a covenant. It is inferable from the complaint and bill of particulars that the defendant conveyed a piece of. land to the plaintiff and took back a mortgage for $4,500. A covenant was given by the defendant to the plaintiff that the plaintiff would furnish carpenter work sufficient to pay the interest and would give defendant all the carpenter work at cash prices. The answer is a general denial. The case is not one for compulsory reference as a matter of right. There may be many items of damages, but there is no account between the parties. An examination of numerous items of damages does not constitute a long account properly so called. Camp v. Ingersoll, 86 N. Y., 433; Selmser v. Redfield, 19 Wend., 21.
The subject has really been again considered in the court of appeals in Untermeyer v. Bemhauer, 8 N. Y. St. Rep., 1. That action was for a breach of contract, with sundry items of damages. It was held that the action was not referable except by consent, and that the parties had a constitutional right of trial by a jury.
If the case was referable it is not one which ought to be referred. It is manifest that the bill of particulars cannot all be the subject of inquiry. If there be a default proven it will be easily within the power of a jury to comprehend the items of damages.
The order should be reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.
Pratt and Dykman, JJ., concur.