Court Opinion

ID: 5498338
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 02:55:42.619851+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:52.168624
License: Public Domain

O’Brien, J.
This action was brought to recover from the defendant the proceeds of certain securities pledged by an executor of the deceased with the defendant. The complaint prayed for equitable relief. The trial of the action resulted in a judgment in favor of the plaintiff against the defendant for $21,508.58. On defendant’s appeal this judgment was reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to abide the event; from which judgment of reversal plaintiff appealed to the court of appeals upon the usual stipulation. The court of appeals have affirmed the judgment of the general term, with costs. The defendant now moves for an extra allowance in addition to the taxable costs.
Upon succeeding at special term, the plaintiff was awarded an extra allowance; and it is conceded that the case was a difficult and extraordinary one, in which an allowance should properly be granted. Several objections have been raised to the granting of this motion, which may be briefly noticed.
Thejwvsí is that the plaintiff, who is an administrator, has no assets in his hands out of which an allowance could be paid. While this might prevent the defendant from obtaining the benefits of an allowance, it is no reason for withholding the granting of one.
Second. The position that an allowance cannot be granted after an order has been entered upon a remittitur is equally untenable, under the authority of Parrott v. Sawyer, 26 Hun, 467.
*338Third. The most serious objection is that, as the party has not been awarded costs, he cannot receive an allowance; or, in other words, to entitle the party to an allowance, he must be entitled to costs. This application, however, is for both costs and an allowance; and, if the court has power to grant the former, it has equal jurisdiction to award the latter. My attention has been called to the case of Eldridge v. Strenz, 39 N. Y. Super. Ct. 295, which in effect decided that, if the court before whom the final determination is had does not direct an allowance in its judgment, there is no authority elsewhere to adjudge it. This decision has been expressly overruled by the general term of this court in the case of Parrott v. Sawyer, supra, and also in the case of Helk v. Reinheimer, 14 N. Y. St. Rep. 465. The contrary is, however, held in the case of People v. Railroad Co., Id. 169. I am inclined to the view that, as the defendant was beaten in the trial court, he had no occasion or opportunity to ask for costs; and, as stated in Helk v. Reinheimer, “we think he ought not to be deprived of- that opportunity.” This being an equitable action, the application should more properly be made to the judge who tried the case; but, upon the fact appearing that he is no longer a member of the court, the application was properly made to the special term at chambers. Having concluded, therefore, principally upon the reasoning of the opinion in Helk v. Reinheimer, supra, that the defendant is not barred from making this application for costs, which in the exercise of a sound discretion upon the character of the action should be awarded, his right to an allowance in addition would naturally follow. I am of the opinion, therefore, that the motion should be granted, allowing the defendant to tax his costs upon the trial, and, in addition, should be awarded an extra allowance of $500. Ordered accordingly.