Case Name: PEOPLE v. O'BRIEN et al.
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1913-05-07
Citations: 141 N.Y.S. 1046
Docket Number: 
Parties: PEOPLE v. O’BRIEN et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 141
Pages: 1046–1052

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v. O’BRIEN et al.
(Supreme .Court, Appellate Division, Third Department.
May 7, 1913.)
1. Appeal and Ebbgb (§ 840*)—Scope'op Review.
In determining whether a judgment for defendants on the pleadings was properly granted, although an answer was served, it could not be considered, where the judgment was granted on the ground that the complaint was insufficient.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Appeal and Error, Cent. Dig. §§ 3301, 3303-3314; Dec. Dig. § 840.*]
2. Eeatjd (§ 9*)—Ebaud by Seller.
Where parties furnishing coal to a state prison fraudulently represented to the state’s agent that it was pea coal, although it was coal of an inferior quality and worth §1 a ton less than pea coal, and the agent relying on such false representations paid therefor as ,pea coal, the state was entitled to recover its damages sustained thereby.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Fraud, Cent. Dig. § 8; Dec. Dig. § 9.*]
3. States (§ 208*)—Contracts—Fraudulent Performance—Actions—Com-
plaint.
A coniplaint, alleging that, in response to advertisements for bids for furnishing egg coal for use at a state prison, defendants made a bid of §4.75 a ton which was accepted, that with intent to defraud the state they wrongfully induced the agents and wardens of the prison to enter into contracts with them for the delivery of grate coal worth 3.5 cents a ton less than egg coal, that pursuant to such contract they delivered grate coal and presented claims to the agents of the prison and wrongfully and unlawfully received pay therefor at the rate of §4.75 a ton, which was 35 cents a ton in excess of its value, stated a cause of action for the' recovery of 35 cents a- ton for the amount of coal furnished, since it alleged by inference collusion between the defendants and the agent of the state, as the acceptance of coal of an inferior quality for a better coal to which the state was entitled at the same price was such a disregard of duty as, unexplained, imported a connivance with the defendant.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see States, Cent. Dig. § 199; Dec. Dig. § 208.*]
4. States (§ 208*)—Contracts—Fraudulent Performance—Actions—Com-
plaint.
A complaint, alleging that defendants, having a contract to deliver egg coal to a state prison, delivered grate- coal worth 55 cents a ton less than egg coal and presented to the agent and warden claims as for egg coal which were knowingly false and fraudulent and caused and induced the agent and warden to pay such false and fraudulent claims, stated a cause of action for the recovery of the amount paid in excess of the value of the coal, since, If the agent and warden had knowledge that defendants were not furnishing the coal stipulated for in the contract, they were impliedly in collusion with defendants, and, if they either were in collusion with defendants or were misled by defendants, the acceptance of the coal was not a defense.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see States, Cent. Dig. § 199; Dec. Dig. §208. ] .
Kellogg and Woodward, JJ., dissenting.
Appeal from Special Term, New York County,
Civil action by the People, against John F. O’Brien and another. From an order granting a. motion by defendants for judgment on the pleadings, and from a judgment entered pursuant thereto (78 MisC. Rep. 679, 140 N. Y. Supp. 257), plaintiff appeals. Reversed, and motion denied.
See, also, 141 N. Y. Supp. 1134.
Argued before SMITH, P. J., and KELLOGG, LYON, HOWARD, and WOODWARD, JJ.
Thomas Carmody, Atty. Gen., and James A. Parsons, Deputy Atty. Gen., for the People.
Royal Corbin, of Plattsburgh (Edgar T. Brackett, of Saratoga Springs, of counsel), for respondents.
For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, &.Rep'r Indexes

Opinion:
SMITH, P. J.
Defendants made application pursuant to section 547 of the Code of Civil Procedure for judgment upon the pleadings. While an answer has been served, its allegations cannot be considered in determining the question at issue. The order for judgment has been made upon the ground that the complaint fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, and that ground presents the only question here for consideration.
The complaint assumes to assert three causes of action. The defendants were furnishing coal to the Clinton state prison at Danne:more, Clinton county. From October, 1903, until May, -1910, they furnished 32,943 tons of coal. This coal they fraudulently represented to the warden of the state prison as pea coal, knowing that of the amount 16,133 tons were not pea coal but were of an inferior •quality, and worth $1 a ton less than pea coal. The said agents relying upon said false representations made payments of said claims as and for pea coal. These are the facts which the plaintiff alleges as constituting its first cause of action. Upon proof of these facts standing alone the plaintiff would.be entitled to the judgment of the court for the damages sustained. The money was procured by the fraudulent representations of the defendants, relied upon by the agent of the state who had authority to act. All the elements of fraud are therefore included in the statement of this cause of action.
In the" second cause of action it appears that the defendants were furnishing coal to the Sing Sing prison in the state of New York; that between April, 1907, and June, 1908, proposals were advertised for by the Department of Prisons for the furnishing of egg anthracite • coal for use at said prison; that pursuant to said advertisements the defendant bid $4.75 per gross ton, and said bid was accepted by the Prison Department as being the lowest bid. It is further alleged that with intent to defraud the people of the state the defendants wrongfully induced the agents and wardens of said Sing Sing prison to enter into written contracts with the defendants for the delivery of grate coal, which was a coal of inferior and cheaper grade, and of a value of 35 cents per ton less than egg coal, and that pursuant to said contract the defendants did deliver to the said Sing Sing prison grate coal to the amount of 11,085 tons. It is further alleged that the defendants from time to time wrongfully and unlawfully presented claims,to the .agents of said prison for coal so furnished, and wrongfully and unlawfully received pay therefor at the rate of $4.75 per ton, which was 35 cents per ton in excess of the value of the coal so furnished, and for this 35 cents" per ton the plaintiff demands judgment. It is not directly alleged that this grate coal was furnished in substitution for the egg coal for which the bids were made. It is so treated, however, by counsel and by the Special Term, and perhaps this is fairly infer-able from the facts stated. Nor is it explicitly alleged that the agents' of the prison wrongfully colluded with the defendants to furnish an inferior coal as a substitute for the better coal to which they were entitled at the same rate. The facts, however, unexplained, would warrant necessarily an inference that there was collusion between the defendants and the agent of the state. To accept coal of an inferior quality for a better coal to which the state was entitled at -the same price is so at variance with the duty of the agent of the state that his consent thereto, unexplained, imports a disregard of his duty and a connivance with the defendants in obtaining from the state an unfair advantage. In my judgment, therefore, the facts alleged in the second cause of action entitled the people to relief.
The questions arising as to the third cause of action present more difficulty. That is a cause of action to recover an overpayment for coal furnished at the Sing Sing prison under a contract to deliver 5,000 tons of egg anthracite coal at $4.95 per gross ton. It is alleged that between the 1st day of May, 1909, and the 1st day of May, 1910, the defendants delivered to said Sing Sing prison 6,050 tons of grate coal, the same being a coal of an inferior quality and of a value at that time of 55 cents less per ton than egg coal, and from time to time during said period presented to said agent and warden claims for egg coal. It is further alleged that the claims so presented were knowingly false,fraudulent, and unlawful, in that the coal furnished was ffiot egg coal, but was grate coal and of an inferior quality and of a value at that time of 55 cents per ton less than egg coal. Further, that said defendants well knew that said claims were false, fraudulent, and unlawful, and said defendants wrongfully caused and induced said agents and wardens to pay false and fraudulent claims,-and thereby obtained and received, and have ever since kept and retained without authority, money belonging to the state to the amount of $3,327.50. In this cause of action, as in the second cause of action, there is no allegation that the grate coal was delivered in substitution for the egg anthracite, for which the contract was made; but, as in the second cause of action, it has been assumed by the court and by counsel that such was the fact, and so it will be here assumed. It is not specifically alleged in this cause of action that the agent of the state relied upon the fraudulent claims of the defendants in making these payments. It is alleged, however; that they falsely and fraudulently represented that the coal was egg coal, while in fact it was not egg coal, but was of an inferior quality, and that they wrongfully and fraudulently induced the wardens to pay such false and fraudulent claims. The court should give the pleading a fair interpretation, and the complaint should probably be deemed fairly to allege that the agents and wardens of prisons were induced to make payment of said claims by the fraudulent representation of the defendants that the coal delivered was egg coal, as specified in the contract. If the agent and warden of the prison had knowledge that the defendants were not furnishing the coal stipulated for in the contract, they were impliedly in collusion with the defendants in not insisting upon the rights of the state and in making payment as for the better coal. If through the fraud of the defendants the agent or warden was misled and thereby induced to make full payment therefor, the state should clearly recover back the excessive value paid. So that upon either horn of the dilemma, whether the agent colluded with the defendants, or whether innocent and misled, upon the statement of facts as appear in the complaint the plaintiff is entitled to relief. The questions presented by the allegations of the answer are not here for consideration. The learned judge at Special Term has held the complaint insufficient, upon the ground that the state officers are presumed to have done their duty and to have examined and accepted this coal as in full compliance with the contract. His opinion indicates that if collusion were averred between the defendants and the agent a different question might be presented. If, as stated above, however, the acceptance of the coal were induced by the fraudulent representations of the defendants, or if upon the other supEosition the agent having full knowledge of the rights of the state and aving sacrificed the interests of the state, his collusion with the defendants may be deemed to be impliedly averred, the acceptance is no defense to the claim of the state.
I recommend, therefore, that the order and judgment be reversed, with costs, and that the motion for judgment be denied, with $10 costs.
Order and judgment reversed, and motion for judgment denied, with $10 costs and disbursements. All concur, except KELLOGG, J., dissenting in memorandum in which WOODWARD, J., concurs.