Case Name: The Frisia and The John N. Parker; Kitchin v. The John N. Parker
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1885-05-11
Citations: 27 F. 480
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Frisia and The John N. Parker. Kitchin v. The John N. Parker.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 27
Pages: 480–480

Head Matter:
The Frisia and The John N. Parker. Kitchin v. The John N. Parker.
(District Court, E. D. New York.
May 11, 1885.)
Costs — Foreign Commission—Evidence — Customary Rate—Reasonable Charge.
In the absence of evidence to show the existence at the place of executing a commission of a customary rate of charges for commissioner’s services, or for like services, proof that the sum actually paid the commissioner is a reasonable sum for like work at the place of payment is sufficient to warrant the allowance of thedtem as a disbursement properly made to secure the execution of the commission. See S. C. 24 Fed. Rep. 495.
In Admiralty.
Jas. K. Hill, Wing & Shoudy, for libelants.
Benedict, Taft & Benedict, for the John N. Parker.
Reported by R. D. & Wyllys Benedict, Ésqs., of the New York bar.

Opinion:
Benedict, J.
In the absence of evidence showing the existence at the place of executing a commission to take testimony of a customary rate of charges for services rendered by the commissioner in executing the commission, or for like services, I am of the opinion that proof of the fact that the sum actually paid the commissioner is a reasonable sum to pay for like work at the place of payment will warrant the allowance of the item as a disbursement properly made to secure the execution of the commission. If the decision in the case of Sedgwick v. Grinnell, 10 Ben. 6, was intended to apply to a case where there is no proof of the existence at the place of executing the commission of a customary rate of charges for like services, I am unable to agree with it. In this case the proof is, in my opinion, sufficient to justify the allowance of $130.25 as a proper disbursement to secure the execution of the commission.