Case Name: Tiffany against Driggs & Lynch
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1816-05
Citations: 13 Johns. 252
Docket Number: 
Parties: Tiffany against Driggs & Lynch.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 13
Pages: 252–252

Head Matter:
Tiffany against Driggs & Lynch.
Where *■ an «attorney is. sued in a justice's' court, jointly • with another defendant, he. cannot plead in abatement, that .the court, of which he is ap attorney, is then,sitting.
IN ERROR, ón. éertiorari to a justice’s cq.uit-
The plaintiff in error brought an action of assumpsit, against the defendants', in the court below, for ■ work and labour; the defendants pleaded, that Lynch,.one of the,defendants, was:an., attorney ; of the supreme court, which was. then sitting. The plaintiff objected that thé supreme court was .not sitting when the summons was issued, but-. the justice decided that- this 'was immaterial, and the plaintiff haviñg no furthef;answer;'tlíéj.üstice-gave judgment for the defendants.'

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The first' section of the áct ;for-tlié recovery .of debts to the value of 2-5 dollars, (1 N. R. L. 387.,) gives cog- , nizan'ce to a justice of the peace of all actions not exceeding -25 dollars, as well .against attorneys, and other officers of any court of justice in this state, (except during the sitting óf'siich court,),ás others,; • ,•
Before the passing . of this statute, it must be conceded that an. attorney, in no court of justice, could be allowed to plead his - privilege, when prosecuted, jojntly with .others; and the above section does not enlarge' this privilege sp as to extend it to such a case. It- evidently intends no .more, than that an attorney shall not avail himself of the privilege he was entitled to .before the. passing of the apt, except during the sitting: of the court, and the law remains unaltered.- when he is sued jointly with another. , • > . ;
. jLywc/i haying been prosecuted jointly with Driggs, his plea of privilege ought not to'have been aHowed by the justice. It was, therefore, unimportant wlfothey thp cónrt,'pf which he was §r attorney,, was in., session., at the timé the' sumrrfons .issued; o, \yhen the trial took place ; it is-manifest, that the proceedings of the justice, were/erroneous in extending tohim a privilege to which lie was nqt entitled, The judgment must, therefore, be .reversed..' \ ' ; - "
Judgment reversed.