Case Name: Abraham Denike, Respondent, v. Charles W. Denike, Appellant
Court: Brooklyn City Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1894-05
Citations: 8 Misc. 604
Docket Number: 
Parties: Abraham Denike, Respondent, v. Charles W. Denike, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 8
Pages: 604–605

Head Matter:
Abraham Denike, Respondent, v. Charles W. Denike, Appellant.
(City Court of Brooklyn—General Term,
May, 1894.)
Plaintiff conveyed his interest in certain real estate to defendant upon an agreement, as alleged, that the defendant would pay therefor the sum of §1,000, with interest, upon the final settlement of the estate. Such agreement was denied by defendant, who claimed to have promised to pay §500 at the final settlement if he received a distributive share at that time. There was no division at the final accounting. The jury found a verdict for §500 and interest from the date of the deed. Held, error; that defendant was not in default until the final accounting, and that interest was recoverable only from that time.
Appeal from judgment in favor of the plaintiff, entered upon a verdict, and from order denying motion for a new trial.
JT. J. Morris, for appellant.
M. L. Towns, for respondent.

Opinion:
Clement, Ch. J.
The plaintiff brought this action to recover of the defendant the sum of $1,000, with interest from July 11, 1883. In the complaint the plaintiff alleged that on or about July 11, 1883, the defendant applied to him for a deed of his interest in certain real estate, and promised him, in consideration thereof, to pay him the sum of $1,000 and interest from said July 11, 1883, upon the final settlement of the estate of one Abraham Denike, who had devised the real estate in question to plaintiff, defendant and Elizábeth A. Burnham. Plaintiff further alleged in his complaint that by reason of such promise of the defendant he delivered to him a deed conveying all his right, title and interest in and to said real estate, and that a decree upon a final accounting of the estate of Abraham Denike was made and entered on February 6, 1893. The defendant denied that he promised to pay plaintiff the sum of $1,000 at the time of the delivery of the deed, but testifies that two years afterward, in 1885, he did tell the plaintiff that he would give him $500 if he received a distributive share on the final accounting of the estate of Abraham Denike. It appears in the final accounting that there was nothing to divide. The testimony of defendant is confused, and it is difficult to understand what he did mean to say.
The jury found a verdict for plaintiff for the sum of $500, with interest from July 11, 1883. If the jury liad found a a verdict for $1,000, with interest from the date of the final accounting, February 6, 1893, it would have been in accordance with the testimony of plaintiff. The plaintiff did not testify that the defendant agreed to pay interest in addition to the $1,000, but that he agreed to pay $1,000 at the last accounting. As there was no promise to pay interest, the defendant was not in default until the date of such accounting. On no theory of the case was it possible for the defendant to be liable for interest, except from the date of the final accounting. The jury could have found a verdict for plaintiff for the sum of $801.58 (the amount of damages in the judgment), and the defendant could not complain; but it appears, on the face of the verdict, that the plaintiff was awarded $500 of principal and $301.53 interest.
The question whether the defendant was liable to plaintiff for the sum of $1,000, or a smaller amount, was one purely of fact, and was properly submitted to the jury.
Judgment and order denying new trial reversed and new trial granted, costs to abide the event, unless within ten days plaintiff's attorney files a stipulation reducing the damages to the sum of $500, with interest from February 6, 1893, in which case judgment and order denying new trial are affirmed, without costs of appeal.
Osborne, J., concurs.
Judgment and order reversed and new trial granted, costs to abide event, unless plaintiff stipulates to reduce damages to $500, with interest from February 6, 1893, in which case judgment and order affirmed, without costs of appeal.