Case Name: Herman G. Goldsmith, Resp't, v. Nathan J. Newwitter, App'lt
Court: New York City Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1894-10-23
Citations: 62 N.Y. St. Rep. 775
Docket Number: 
Parties: Herman G. Goldsmith, Resp’t, v. Nathan J. Newwitter, App’lt.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 62
Pages: 775–776

Head Matter:
Herman G. Goldsmith, Resp’t, v. Nathan J. Newwitter, App’lt.
(New York City Court, General Term,
Filed October 23, 1894.)
Evidence—Parol—Custom.
In an action for services, plaintiff cannot, without establishing the existence of the custom, testify as to the usual compensation according to the custom of the business.
Appeal from a judgment in favor of the plaintiff.
Hess, Townsend & Me Olelland, for app’lt; A. Boihschild, for resp’t.

Opinion:
Fitzsimons; J.
The plaintiff, a dealer in diamonds, was requested by the defendant, in conjunction with two other persons, to appraise certain diamonds. They did so, and presented their bills for the value of such service to-defendant for payment, each, one claiming one per cent, of the value of such appraised diamonds as the value of his services. . The claims of the. other two appraisers -were assigned to plaintiff, and this action embraces all such claims for services as were rendered by said three appraisers, and a judgment amounting to $446.39 was rendered in favor of the plaintiff. The plaintiff was required to prove upon the trial the value of the services rendered by himself and his colaborers, which he proceeded to do by answering the following question : <f Q. What is the usual compensation allowed, to appraisers who appraise goods, according to the custom of jewelers and the diamond business ? " Counsel for the defendant objected to said question, upon the ground that the plaintiff had not laid the proper foundation for the question. The objection was overruled, and exception duly taken. The witness answered: " A. Always one per cent." In my opinion it was error for the trial justice to overrule the defendant's objection to said question. No question preceded said question which justified it. To entitle plaintiff to have an answer to any such question, it was necessary for him to show that it was an habitual, general, well-established and continued usage in his business to charge the fee which he claimed, so that' all persons having to do with a transaction like the one herein sued upon might reasonably be said to have had knowledge of such usage, and thereby be bound by the same. Such a usage is called a " custom." The plaintiff made no attempt or offer to submit such evidence. He merely gave his bold conclusion or opinion, as above relatedand, therefore, it was proper for the defendant's counsel to make the objection which he did. It does not appear in evidence that the plaintiff ever before acted as an appraiser, or that he ever knew or heard of any other person having acted in such capacity, or that he ever heard from any person the fees or charges that were likely to be made for such services, for aught that the evidence discloses. It must, therefore, be apparent that his opinion was not based upon his knowledge or experience, but is the mere expression of his notion of what he ought to receive for the services rendered by himself and the other appraisers.
For this error the judgment must be reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide event.
All concur.