Court Opinion

ID: 5468590
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-09 20:13:08.366205+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:12.816488
License: Public Domain

By the court—James, Justice.
Three questions are presented by this appeal, arising under § 399 of the Code, viz.: 1st. Are the provisions of § 399 applicable to courts of justices of the peace % 2d. Is the payee of a negotiable promissory note, who transfers it by delivery, an assignor of a thing in action or contract, within its meaning 1 and, 3d. In what cases is notice of the party’s intention to examine an assignor as a witness requisite %
The first question must be considered as settled in this district. We have repeatedly held that § 399 is a rule of evidence, and thus applicable to justices’ courts by virtue of § 64, subd. 15, of the Code.
Were the second a new question, we should hold that the payee bf a negotiable promissory note, who transferred it by mere delivery, was not an assignor within the true intent and meaning of said § 399. In its popular sense, an assignor is one who transfers a right of action not transferable at common law; and such, we have no doubt, was the sense in which the word was used, in this instance, by the legislature. But a different construction has been given to the section in several of the judicial districts, and we deem it better to adopt such construction rather than multiply conflicting decisions. Such construction does no violence to the express language of the act. Strictly speaking, an assignor is one who transfers property to. another, and a promissory note is a chose in action. (Seeley agt. Seeley, 2 Hill, 496.) We, therefore, hold that the witness, Hudson, was an assignor within § 399. It therefore follows that the justice, in refusing to allow the plaintiff to be sworn in his own behalf, to the same matter testified to by Hudson, committed an error, for which this judgment must be reversed. *165(9 Bar. Rep. 214; 11 id. 634; 16 id. 580; 18 id. 532; 10 How. Pr. Rep. 94.)
The consideration of the third question is not necessary to a disposition of the cause; but as much conflict of decision has arisen, it may not be improper for us to express an opinion for the future guidance of the profession, at least, in this district.
Section 398 declares, that “ no person offered as a witness shall be excluded by reason of his interest in the event of the action.”
Section 399 provides, 1st. The last section shall not apply to a party to the action, nor to any person for whose immediate benefit it is prosecuted or defended. 2d. Where an assignor of a thing in action or contract is examined as a witness on behalf of any person deriving title through or from him, the adverse party may offer himself as a witness to the same matter, and shall be so received. 3d. But such assignor shall not be admitted to be examined in behalf of any person deriving title through or from him against an assignee, or an executor, or administrator, unless the other party to such contract or thing in action, whom the defendant or plaintiff represents, is living, and his testimony can be procured for such examination, nor unless at least ten days’ notice of such intended examination of the assignor, specifying the points upon which he is intended to be examined, shall be given in writing to the adverse party.”
This section is properly divisible into three parts, which I have numbered first, second and third. The first part qualifies and limits the preceding section: the second extends to the adverse party the right to offer himself as a witness; and the third, (which forms the whole of a single sentence, disconnected from the two preceding parts,) “ applies to a definite class of cases,” claims or set-offs, against an assignee, (trustee,) an executor, or administrator. Separated thus, the section is free from much confusion, and easily understood and applied. The legislature, no doubt, intended, by the last part of this section, to prohibit an assignor from being a witness against an executor or administrator; and where an assignee (or trustee) is a party, notice of intention to examine an assignor was required *166to enable the adverse party to procure the attendance of the person or persons whom he represents, or be prepared to show that it could not be procured. In cases where the other party to the contract is a party to the record, the complaint or answer is a sufficient notice. These views are more clearly expressed and fully sustained in Collins agt. Knapp, (18 Bar. 532,) second judicial district; Gable agt. Kinny, (11 How. Pr. Rep. 248,) fifth district; Farley agt. Flanagan, (1 Smith, 313,) and Burtnett agt. Gwynne, (2 Abbott’s Pr. Rep. 79,) New-York Common Pleas.
The contrary doctrine was first held in this district in Knickerbacker agt. Aldrich, (7 How. Pr. Rep. 1,) and was followed in Jagoe agt. Alleyn, (16 Barb. 580,) seventh district; and approved Pelham agt. Bryant, (10 How. Pr. Rep. 60,) sixth district.
Thus stands the question upon authority. Did this appeal turn upon this question, we should feel bound by the case of Knickerbacker agt. Aldrich, supra; but as it does not, we deem it proper to say, that hereafter we shall not regard that case as a binding authority.
' Judgment of the justice reversed.