Case Name: ANDERSON v. McCANN
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1897-02-19
Citations: 43 N.Y.S. 956
Docket Number: 
Parties: ANDERSON v. McCANN.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 43
Pages: 956–957

Head Matter:
ANDERSON v. McCANN.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.
February 19, 1897.)
Executors—Liability for Costs—Unreasonably Resisting Claim.
A claim against an estate was not “unreasonably resisted” (Code Civ. Proc. § 1836), so as to justify an award of costs against an executor, where he contested it before a referee, and had it reduced from $615 to $321, and there was no foundation for the whole of the award which was actually made.
Appeal from judgment on report of referee.
Claim by Ellen Anderson against Thomas H. McCann, as executor-of Margaret Haggerty, deceased, for services rendered deceased during her lifetime. There was a judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appeals. Modified.
Argued before VAN BRUNT, P. J., and BARRETT, RUMSEY, WILLIAMS, and PATTERSON, JJ.
Michael T. Sharkey, for appellant.
William C. Arnold, for respondent.

Opinion:
RUMSEY, J.
The claim was made for services rendered to Mrs. Haggerty during her lifetime. Two kinds of services were claimed to have been rendered. The first was housework done for the testatrix between the 1st of June, 1892, and the 1st of January, 1895, for which the referee allowed the plaintiff $195. The next was for nursing the testatrix in her last sickness, between the 1st of January, 1895, and the 6th of March, 1895, for which the referee allowed the plaintiff $126. Judgment was entered upon the referee's report for the amount allowed, and costs and disbursements. The case shows nothing from which the referee was justified in finding the value of the services rendered by the plaintiff to Mrs. Haggerty for housework to be $195. It is entirely silent as to the value of such services, and there is no sufficient evidence to enable the referee to fix accurately the amount of services rendered. For these reasons, his finding in that regard was entirely unwarranted by the evidence, and cannot be sustained. There was perhaps evidence enough to. warrant his fixing the value of the sérvices rendered for nursing at $126, and to that extent his report may stand, if the plaintiff shall desire. But the award of costs against the defendant was entirely improper, because it is quite clear that a claim which is reduced from $615 to $321 upon the hearing cannot be said to be "unreasonably resisted." This would be so even if the referee had been, correct in awarding to the plaintiff all that he did award to her.. Much more is it the fact when it is made to appear, as it does, that there was no foundation for the whole of the award which he actually made.
The judgment, therefore, cannot stand in its present condition;; but as, from the testimony, it appears that the plaintiff may not be-able, upon the new trial, to make any greater proof than she has-already made as to the value of the services rendered by her for housework, it may be that justice can be done in the case without the reversal of the entire judgment. To that end, we shall direct. that the judgment shall he reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the event, unless the plaintiff shall stipulate that the judgment may be reduced to the sum of $126, with interest from March 6, 3895, with the referee's fees and disbursements; and, if she shall so stipulate, then the judgment, as so modified, shall be affirmed, without costs to either party in this court. All concur.