Case Name: The People, ex rel. Green, against The Judges of Onondaga Common Pleas
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1825-02
Citations: 4 Cow. 21
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People, ex rel. Green, against The Judges of Onondaga Common Pleas
Judges: 
Reporter: Cowen's Reports
Volume: 4
Pages: 21–22

Head Matter:
The People, ex rel. Green, against The Judges of Onondaga Common Pleas
A notice of set-off need not expressly claim a balance in the defendant’s favor, in order to warrant hia recovering one.
It is enough to warrant this, that it set forth his demand in the usual form.
On a reference in the.Court below, between Green, plaintiff, and Hall, defendant, the referees had certified a balance in favor of the defendant, of about $80, which the C. P. had, on motion, refused to set aside, and they rendered judgment thereon.
This Court had, at a previous term, on various grounds, granted an alternative mandamus, commanding the Court below to set aside the report, &c.
Now, upon the return, different questions were made; and, among other things, it was objected, in behalf of Green, that the defendant’s notice of set-off, in the Court below, did not, in terms, claim that a balance was due to him over and above the plaintiff’s demand.
J. A. Spencer, for the plaintiffs.
G. C. Bronson, for the defendants.

Opinion:
Curia.
This was not necessary. The right to a balance in the defendants' favor followed, upon the common notice, as a legal consequence. They need not claim a balance in terms.
Peremptory mandamus denied.