Case Name: Kelly v. Baker
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1898-02-25
Citations: 49 N.Y.S. 973
Docket Number: 
Parties: KELLY v. BAKER.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 49
Pages: 973–975

Head Matter:
KELLY v. BAKER.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.
February 25, 1898.)
1. Action on Contract—Performance—Tender and Refusal.
An action was brought to recover a sum of money upon a contract, by which the defendant agreed to pay the plaintiff $2,500 at a certain time, upon condition that the plaintiff should first furnish to defendant a general release specified. The complaint alleged, among other things, that at the-proper time the plaintiff tendered such release to the defendant, and de mantled payment, which was refused, etc. Held, that the reciprocal agreements were substantially mutual conditions to be performed at the same time, and that the allegations of tender and refusal set up a good cause of action.
■3. Attachment—Vacation.
On a motion to vacate an attachment on the ground that the bank accounts levied upon, though standing in defendant’s name, did not belong to her personally, but as an executrix of a certain will, it appeared that defendant, who was also the residuary legatee under the will, had in fact received the money, and undertaken to deal with it as her own. Held, that the question of actual ownership was immaterial upon this motion, and that the levy, having been properly made, could not be interfered with, until, at least, the sheriff had had an opportunity to be heard.
Appeal from special term.
Action by James E. Kelly against Lucinda Baker. From an order vacating an attachment, defendant appeals.
Reversed.
Argued before VAN BRUNT, P. J., and BARRETT, RUMSEY, McLAUGHLIN, and O’BRIEN, JJ.
James E. Kel'ly, in pro. per.
T. M. Tyng, for respondent.

Opinion:
RUMSEY, J.
The action was brought to recover a sum of money apon a contract by which the defendant agreed to pay to the .plaintiff ."$2,500 at a certain time, upon condition that the plaintiff should first furnish to the defendant a general release, specified in the contract. 'The defendant was a nonresident, and upon that ground the plaintiff procured an attachment. The defendant moved to vacate the .attachment for the reason that the complaint did not allege facts .-sufficient to constitute a cause of action. The defect insisted upon was that the plaintiff had not shown that he had performed that .portion of his contract which required him to furnish the general release, and that for that reason he was not entitled to the money claimed. The allegation upon that point is that, after the time for the payment of the money had arrived, the plaintiff tendered such •release to the defendant, and demanded from her the said sum provided in the instrument, to be paid; but that the defendant refused "to pay, and has not paid, the sum, or any part thereof, and that the plaintiff now is, and always has been, ready and willing to deliver said release to the defendant upon receiving the said payment.
We think that the allegation was sufficient to show that the plaintiff had done all he was required to do. to entitle him to the payment of the money. The agreement to furnish the release, and the corresponding agreement on the part of the defendant to pay the money, were substantially mutual conditions, and to be performed at the same time. In such a case, if the person 'who claims to be entitled to the money alleges a tender of performance on his part, and a • demand of performance by the defendant, which is refused, he sets up a good cause of action. Pordage v. Cole, 1 Saund. 320e; Laird v. Pim, 7 Mees. & W. 474. The conclusion of the learned judge "below that a cause of action was not set up was erroneous.
It is claimed also by the defendant that the levy was improper, and •should be vacated. It appears that the sheriff levied upon two bank accounts standing in the defendant's name in certain savings banks in this city, which the defendant claims to not belong to her personally, but as executrix of the will of Eliza Schneider', deceased. From the facts set out in the opposing affidavits, however, it appears that the defendant is not only the executrix of Eliza Schneider, but is her residuary legatee, and that she has a beneficial interest in the estate of Eliza" Schneider, after the payment of all debts and expenses of administration, much larger than the amount of the plaintiff's claim. But this is not of much importance. The defendant has received that money, and undertaken to deal with it as her own. That being •so, it is not necessary to examine in this case whether she actually owns the money, or whether she is bound to account to some other person or estate for it The sheriff was bound to levy upon it, and his levy cannot be interfered with until, at least, he has had an opportunity to be heard in regard to the matter.
The order appealed from must therefore be reversed, with $10 costs and disbursements, and the motion to vacate the attachment -and levy denied, with $10 costs. All concur.