Court Opinion

ID: 5514014
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 04:26:59.450042+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:34:14.523711
License: Public Domain

By the Court,

Savage, Ch. J.
This court has refused to interfere where a cause has been referred by consent without any rule for that purpose, because the court has no control over referees so chosen; the referees in such case being mere arbitrators. 1 Johns. R. 315, 492, 3. So, though a rule be entered, if the action be one not referable under the statute as trover. 17 id. 129. So if the case be referable as assump*481sit, if the reference be not according to the statute, as for instance to two referees, with power to them to choose an umpire. 8 Cowen, 436. But if the action be one in which a • long account might exist, if in point of fact the trial before the referees did not require the examination of a long account, the reference does not thereby become an arbitrationj a judgment, entered on such a report is regular and conclusive. In Harris v. Bradshaw, 18 Johns. R. 26, which was assumpsit for pine trees sold by special contract, and referred by rule by consent of parties, the plaintiff considered the report as an award, and sued upon it, but this court held it regular as a report of referees; it was said the reference was an admission that the case was within the act, Armstrong v. Percy, 5 Wendell, 535, was a case not referrible § it was assumpsit for failure of title to a horse sold. The cause was referred by consent, and a report made. On a motion to set aside the report on the merits, it was objected that the case not being referrible, the court would not entertain the motion. It was answered by Mr. Justice Marcy, upon the authority of Harris v. Bradshaw, that as the action is one (being assumpsit) which is referrible, although the court would not have ordered a reference in that particular case, yet they would not listen to such an allegation against the agreement and acts of the parties. Thomas v. Reab, 6 Wendell, 503, was an action of covenant for cutting timber contrary to the covenant. It was referred at the circuit after ten hours had been spent in hearing testimony. This court vacated the order for reference, because there was nothing in the case in the nature of an account. Had a motion been made in this case for a reference, and opposed, it may be doubted whether it would have been ordered, though something in the nature of an account did exist under the covenant; but the plaintiff moved for the reference on his affidavit that the trial would involve the examination of a long account. The trial did in fact require the stating an account; but if it had not, the plaintiff cannot be heard to make this objection contrary to his own oath and his own acts. A long account may well exist between the parties, where the remedy is by an action of cove*482nant. Thomas v. Reab is dearly distinguishable from this case; there the reference was against the consent of the party who moved to vacate it, and he had done no act in pursuance of it.
Motion denied, with costs.