Case Name: Coryell vs. Davis
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1843-10
Citations: 5 Hill & Den. 559
Docket Number: 
Parties: Coryell vs. Davis.
Judges: 
Reporter: Hill's Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 559–560

Head Matter:
Coryell vs. Davis.
Where a plaintiff commenced an action on the case for negligence, and, after issue joined, obtained a discharge as a bankrupt; held, that he could not be obliged to file security for costs.
Case for negligence. After issue joined, the plaintiff obtained his discharge as a bankrupt under the late U. S. bankrupt act; whereupon a commissioner granted an order that the plaintiff file security for costs in twenty days <fcc., and that in the meantime all proceedings be stayed.
E. S. Sweet, for the plaintiff,
now moved that the order be vacated.
A. Munger, for the defendant.

Opinion:
By the Court, Cower, J.
The 2 R. S. 515, 2d ed. § 1, sub. 3, and § 2, apply in terms to cases where the suit in which security is required was brought for the collection of some debt contracted before the assignment of the plaintiff's estate. Here the action is for a tort. Tidd lays down the rule that where the action is brought or proceeded in by the bankrupt, certificated or uncertificated, for the benefit of his assignees, security may be required. (Tidd, 536, Am. ed. of 1840.) But it seems otherwise, if he sue for his own benefit. (Id.) Thus there is no general principle, independently of the statute, calling for this order. The statute not applying, the order is therefore discharged.
Rule accordingly.