Case Name: Patrick Dunn et al., Resp'ts, v. Charles Wehle, App'lt
Court: New York City Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1895-04-16
Citations: 67 N.Y. St. Rep. 299
Docket Number: 
Parties: Patrick Dunn et al., Resp’ts, v. Charles Wehle, App’lt.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 67
Pages: 299–301

Head Matter:
Patrick Dunn et al., Resp’ts, v. Charles Wehle, App’lt.
(New York City Court, General Term,
Filed April 16, 1895.)
Pleading — Complaint—Jubisdiction.
The city court is without jurisdiction, where the complaint shows on its face a necessity for equitable relief.
Appeal from an order discontinuing the action without costs. The complaint is as follows:
The plaintiffs above named, bv John Whalen, their attorney, complaining of the above-named defendants, allege and aver: First. That on or about the 23d day of February, 1894, these plaintiffs,
by Charles Wehle, the defendant above named, an attorney practicing in the courts of this state, and retained by them to conduct a certain action against the president and directors of the Phoenix Assurance Company of London, obtained a judgment against said company for the sum of $1,793.73, to which judgment the plaintiffs hereby refer, and make a part of this their complaint, when the same shall be produced and proved. Second. That on or about said date, viz. 23d day of February, 1894, the defendant herein requested these plaintiffs to sign and execute an instrument in writing, a'nd which he represented to them to be an authority to the defendant to collect and receive the amount of said judgment from the company aforesaid. Third. That the defendant herein, by means of representations, false and calculated to deceive these'plaintiffs, induced the said Patrick Dunn to sign and execute said instrument; that said Ann Dunn, one of the plaintiffs herein,
_ absolutely refused to sign or execute the said instrument. Fourth. Upon information and belief, that upon the same day last aforesaid there was filed in the office of the clerk of the city court of New York an instrument purporting to be signed and acknowledged by both the plaintiffs above named, assigning said judgment, in consideration of eight hundred dollars, to the defendant herein, at that time the attorney for these plaintiffs. Fifth. That said instrument in writing was and is, by virtue of such false representations, and nonexecution by the said Ann Dunn, null, void, and of no effect Sixth. Upon information and belief that thereafter, and on or about the 12th day of March, 1894, said defendant received from said Phcenix Assurance Company of London the sum of $1,400 in payment and satisfaction of said judgment recovered as aforesaid; and a satisfaction piece was thereupon executed by the defendant herein, and delivered to said company or its attorneys, and was thereupon executed by the defendant herein, and delivered to said company or its attorneys, and was thereupon, and on March 12, 1894, filed in the office of the clerk of the city of New York. Seventh. That thereafter, and before this action was commenced, the plaintiffs herein duly demanded from the defendant herein payment of the money so recovered, with which demand the defendant refused to comply, and that no part thereof has been paid, except the sum of twenty-five dollars. Eighth.
That there is now justly due and owing to these plaintiffs the sum of $1,793.73, with interest, less the sum of $25 paid as aforesaid. Wherefore the plaintiffs herein demand judgment: First. That
the alleged assignment aforesaid be declared fraudulent and void and of no effect, and that the same be set aside. Second. That plaintiffs herein recover the sum of $1,793.73, less the sum of $25 paid as aforesaid, together with interest and the costs and disbursements of this action, or for such other, further and different order, judgment, or relief in the premises as to the court may seem just and proper.
Charles Wehle, in pro. per.; John Whalen, for resp’ts.

Opinion:
McCarthy, J.
It seems to me clear that the want of jurisdiction in this case appears on the face of the complaint plaintiff can claim any money judgment, he must apply to a court of equity, as appears by the demand of the complaint for judgment, to wit: " First. That the alleged assignment aforessid be declared fraudulent and void and of no effect, and that the same be set aside." The court has no power to grant such relief, and the order to discontinue without costs was properly allowed.
Order is therefore affirmed, with costs. •