Case Name: Underhill vs. Pomeroy
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1842-05
Citations: 2 Hill & Den. 603
Docket Number: 
Parties: Underhill vs. Pomeroy.
Judges: 
Reporter: Hill's Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 603–604

Head Matter:
Underhill vs. Pomeroy.
Where services have been performed under an agreement that they should be paid for in goods; queue, whether compensation can be recovered under the common counts.
On a hearing before referees in an action for services performed under such an agreement, the defendant objected that the proof did not sustain the declaration, and that upon the testimony the plaintiff was not entitled to reconer; held, that the objection was too general to raise the question in this court, whether the plaintiff could recover without declaring specially.
Motion to set aside report of referees. The declaration was in assumpsit, upon the common counts for work, labor, &c.; and the plaintiff sought to recover on a demand against the defendant for services in sawing lumber. The services were performed under an agreement that the plaintiff was to receive one half of his pay in goods out of a store, and the residue in cash or neat 'stock. When the testimony on the part of the plaintiff was closed, the defendant’s counsel “ objected that the proof of the plaintiff did not sustain his declaration, and that upon the testimony introduced, the plaintiff was not entitled to recover.” The referees decided that the proof was sufficient to put the defendant on his defence. Much testimony was given in the course of the hearing and various points raised not necessary to be stated. The referees reported in favor of the plaintiff, and the defendant now moved to set aside the report.
M. H. Sibley, for the defendant.
T. P. Strong, for the plaintiff.

Opinion:
By the Court,
Nelson, Ch. J.
As the plaintiff was not to be paid for his services in money, but in goods, I am strongly inclined to think that, had the proper objection been taken at the hearing, this action could not have been sustained upon the common count for work and labor. A different opinion was intimated by Cowen, J. in Clark v. Fairchild, (22 Wend. 582;) but he could find no authorities to that effect either in England or this state. On the contrary, as it seems to me, they are full and decisive to the point that the remedy in cases of this nature is by a special count upon the contract. (1 Chit. Pl. 347, ed. of 1840, and the cases there cited; Cowen's Treat. 635, 636, 2d ed.; Champlin v. Butler, 18 John. Rep. 169; Robertson v. Lynch, id. 451; Wheeler v. Curtis, 11 Wend. 664, 665, and the cases there cited; Ladue v. Seymour, 24 Wend. 60, 63; Saund. Pl. and Ev. 534.)
But the objection taken at the hearing was too general to enable the defendant now to avail himself of the point. It should have specified the ground. We have repeatedly so held both in respect to a case and bill of exceptions. The counsel simply objected that the proof did not sustain the declaration, and that upon the testimony the plaintiff was not entitled to recover. Whether the objection was directed to a variance between the proof and declaration, or to the point that the counts were not adapted to the cause of action, or that none had been established, is left to conjecture. The ground should have been specifically stated, in order that the referees and opposite counsel might understand the precise question intended to be raised. The former would thus have been enabled to decide it intelligently, and the latter to meet it by further proof if deemed necessary or expedient. I think the motion to set aside the report should be denied.
Motion denied.