Case Name: Murray v. Maybie
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1889-12-30
Citations: 8 N.Y.S. 289
Docket Number: 
Parties: Murray v. Maybie.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 8
Pages: 289–290

Head Matter:
Murray v. Maybie.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Fifth Department.
December 30, 1889.)
Pleading—Bill or Particulars.
The complaint was on a quantum meruit, for plaintiff’s services in selling defendant’s land. The answer alleged that plaintiff did not procure a purchaser for the sum and on the terms authorized by defendant, and that, in consideration that defendant would convey for such unauthorized sum and on such unauthorized terms, plaintiff agreed to waive all claims for compensation for such sale, except a certain sum, which defendant then paid in full. Held, that under Code Civil Proc. § 531, providing that the “court may in any case direct a bill of the particulars of the claim of either party to be delivered to the adverse party, ’’plaintiff was entitled to a bill setting forth when and where he had made such agreement, what were the unauthorized terms of sale and the unauthorized sum, what sum he agreed to accept, and when and where it was paid.
Appeal from special term, Erie county.
Action by Charles S. Murray against Lydia A. Maybie, to recover the value of services as broker in the sale of real estate for defendant. Plaintiff appeals from an order denying his motion for a bill of particulars.
Argued before Barker, P. J., and Dwight and Macomber, JJ.
J. M. Hull, for appellant. O. O. Cottle, for respondent.

Opinion:
Dwight, J.
The second count of the complaint is upon a quantum meruit for services rendered by the plaintiff for the defendant in the sale of real estate belonging to the latter. The answer to that alleged cause of action contains the following averments; "The defendant alleges that the plaintiff did not procure a purchaser on the terms authorized by the defendant; and, in consideration that this defendant would convey the property for a different sum and on different terms than any authorized by her, the said plaintiff agreed that he would waive all claims for compensation or commission, except a certain sum then agreed upon, and which the defendant then paid in full." By his notice of motion the plaintiff asked to be informed of the following particulars of the special contract thus averred by the defendant, viz., when and where such contract was made; what was the "different sum" and what were the "different terms" for and upon which the defendant agreed to convey the property; what was the "certain sum" which the plaintiff agreed to accept for his services, and where and when such sum was "paid in full." We think the plaintiff was entitled to the information sought. It is true the pleading was good without the particulars specified. It is a good answer to a complaint on a quantum meruit to aver that the services were rendered under a special contract. But the office of a bill of particulars is not to supply necessary allegations in a pleading, but to furnish information of particular facts which the party expects or intends to prove under the general allegations of his pleadings, and thus to limit the scope of inquiry and enable the opposite party to prepare to meet the proofs •to be made. Cunard v. Francklyn, 111 N. Y. 511, 19 N. E. Rep. 92; Childs v. Tuttle, 48 Hun, 228. Of course, it is idle to say that the plaintiff knew the facts as well as the defendant. The parties are at issue on the facts, and the plaintiff is not asking for information of what the facts are, but of what facts the defendant will attempt to establish. Although, as we have said, the answer of a special contract was good as a pleading, the proofs will be required to go further, and show what the contract was, and when and where it was made; and it is for information of what the defendant expects or intends to prove the contract to have been in these particulars that the plaintiff , asks by his motion. We think the case is a very proper one for the application of the rule provided by the statute, (Code Civil Proc. § 531,) viz.: "The court may in any case direct a bill of the particulars of the claim of either party to be delivered to the adverse party." The order appealed from should be reversed, and the motion granted, without costs of the motion to either party, but with $10 costs and the disbursements of the appeal to the appellant. So ordered.
Barker, P. J., concurs. Macomber, J., not voting.