Case Name: McClurg v. McKercher
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1890-04-11
Citations: 9 N.Y.S. 572
Docket Number: 
Parties: McClurg v. McKercher.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 9
Pages: 572–573

Head Matter:
McClurg v. McKercher.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Fifth Department.
April 11, 1890.)
Parent and Child—Right to Infant’s Earnings—Notice to Employer.
Laws N. Y. 1850, c. 266, § 1, providing that “it shall be necessary for the parents or guardians of such minor children as may be in service'to notify the party employing such minor, within thirty days after the commencement of such service, that said parent or guardian claims the wages of said minor, and in default of such notice, payment to such minor shall be valid, ” was not intended to prevent the parent from collecting any wages if he failed to give notice within the time specified, and a subsequent notice is sufficient to enable the parent to collect the infant’s future earnings.
Appeal from judgment on report of referee.
Action by Hugh McOlurg against John McKercher. There was judgment for plaintiff. Defendant appeals.
Argued before Dwight, P. J., and Macomber and Corlett, JJ.
J. N. Hastings, for appellant. S. Hubbard, for respondent.

Opinion:
Corlett, J.
The plaintiff's infant son, John McOlurg, worked for the defendant from the 1st day of March, 1887, until the 1st day of December of the same year. His services were worth $20 per month. The son became of age the 2d day of Decemer, 1887. He had worked for the defendant for eight months, the previous year, at the same rate. At the close of his labors the first year, the plaintiff went to the defendant to settle for his services. He informed him that he was a minor, and directed him not to pay the boy any more money. The defendant agreed to this, and afterwards paid the balance due. About the middle of August of the second year, the plaintiff notified the defendant to reserve for him $70 out of the boy's wages. His work after this notice, and until he became of age, was worth the sum reserved by the father. The defendant, notwithstanding this notice, assumed to settle with the boy. This action was brought, and the issues referred to a referee, who found for the plaintiff. On his report, judgment was entered, and the defendant appeals to this court. He claims that the father emancipated the boy. The evidence does not sustain this contention. He also insists that the plaintiff within 30 days after the work commenced did not notify the defendant that he claimed the wages. Section 1, c. 266, of the laws of 1850, provides: "It shall be necessary for the parents or guardians of such minor children as may be in service to notify the party employing such minor, within thirty days after the commencement of such service, that said parent or guardian claims the wages of said minor; and, in default of such notice, payment to such minor shall be valid." If the employer should pay the infant before the expiration of 30 days, notice within that time would enable the parent or guardian to recover the sum previously paid. It was not the intention of the legislature to deprive the parent of the services or wages of his minor child; but, for the protection of the employer, he could pay the infant, unless notified. The only effect of a 30-days limitation was to defeat the effect of payment before the 30 days, in case notice was served in that time. It was not the purpose of the legislature to prevent the parent from collecting any wages, if he failed to give notice within the time specified. Subsequent notice would enable the parent to collect the infant's future earnings, but would not affect prior payments. The defendant knew that the boy was an infant. He had notice the previous year that the father would claim his future wages, and in August of the last year the father notified the defendant to pay him $70 of the son's wages. He earned that sum after such notice, and the referee reached a correct conclusion. The judgment must be affirmed. All concur.