Case Name: JACKSON v. BROWN
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1893-12-01
Citations: 26 N.Y.S. 156
Docket Number: 
Parties: JACKSON v. BROWN.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 26
Pages: 156–156

Head Matter:
(74 Hun, 25.)
JACKSON v. BROWN.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department.
December 1, 1893.)
Pleading—Misjoindeb.
A complaint in two counts, the first of which Is for loss of services of plaintiff’s servant, and the second to set aside a release of the first cause of action on the ground that it was obtained by fraud, states but one cause of action, and is not demurrable on the ground of misjoinder.
Appeal from special term, Queens county.
Action by Robert Jackson against Pierre M. Brown to recover damages for loss of services of plaintiff’s servant. Defendant demurred to the complaint on the ground of misjoinder, and, from a judgment sustaining the same, plaintiff appeals.
Reversed.
Argued before BARNARD, P. J., and PRATT, J.
Mansfield Compton, for appellant.
A. A. Gardner, for respondent.

Opinion:
PRATT, J.
This is an appeal from a judgment entered upon an order sustaining a demurrer to the complaint. Nominally, the first cause of action is for loss of services of a servant by reason of seduction by the defendant, and the second cause alleged is to set aside a release of the first cause of action, obtained by fraud. Although alleged as two causes of action, there is really but one,— the action for loss of services. The allegations relative to the release were merely incidental to the cause of action. It is true the plaintiff has pleaded the loss of services, and left it for the defendant to set up the release as a defense, and then avoided it on the ground that it was obtained by fraud, but the defendant is not prejudiced by the fact that it is a part of the complaint. We also think this method of pleading is authorized by the Code, but it may not be greatly commended. The case resembles the familiar method often employed when it is sought to reform a policy of insurance, and then recover upon it as reformed. Judgment reversed, and new trial awarded, with costs to the appellant, to abide the event.