Bridge v. Mason

By the Court, Leonard, J. There is some reason to believe that the jury; under the charge of the judge, gave [39] their verdict with reference to the character of the indorser, Fulda, rather than to his pecuniary ability. I can account in no other way for the singular amount of their verdict foy the plaintiffs, $25. The only witness for the plaintiffs in respect to the amount of his means was Fulda. There was some internal evidence from his own testimony, that he was not much to be relied on as a witness. He appeared to be ignorant of facts which it seemed incredible that he should not know; and he also caused himself to be denied, when application was made at his residence for the payment of a small draft. The jury might have wholly discredited Fulda as a witness; 'but in that event their verdict would have been for the defendants, or merely in a nominal sum for the plaintiffs. From the evidence of the defendants, Fulda appeared to be insolvent. If the jury, however, gave full credit to the evidence of Fulda, they should have found for the plaintiffs the full amount of the note. The charge of the judge left it to the jury to find so much damages as they would consider such a claim to be worth against such a man as Fulda was shown to be. Had the judge instructed them to find so much damages as a claim of the amount of the note was worth against a man of Fulda’s means, I think there would have been substantially a conformity with the true rule of damages. Fulda may b"e a very mean man, and yet the claim be collectable against him. The rule laid down by the judge admitted of the construction, that Fulda, being contemptible, denying himself when called on for the payment of drafts, the jury might find that nothing could be collected from him. The charge should have had reference to the pecuniary means of Fulda, not to “ such a man as he was shown to be.” The charge was erroneous in this respect. The amount of the note was prima facia the rule of damages. The defendants can show in mitigation of damages that the indorser is insolvent, or not worth property sufficient to enable the amount to be realized by process on a. judgment If the indorser is [40] shown .to ho wholly insolvent, and destitute of means, the defendants are entitled to a verdict. The plaintiffs aró entitled to recover such damages only as they have sustained, having reference to the amount of property which it shall appear from the evidence that the indorser whose liability has been lost by the negligence of the .defendants was possessed of as owner. (Allen v. Suydam, 20 Wend. 321, 330.) I see no other error in the case. The judgment should be reversed, with costs to abide the event. [New York General Term, September, 19, 1865. Ingraham, Leonard and Sutherland, Justices.]