Gallation v. Smith

Boardman, J. — If Lomore Bros. & Co., by themselves or their attorneys, brought this action in order to secure payment of their debt against Coke, they should be made to pay the costs incurred by defendants. It is conceded that Lomore Bros. & Co. conducted the supplementary proceedings to discover property of Coke; that certain property of Coke’s, in defendants’ hands as collateral security, was discovered; that they or their attorneys thought said property was more than sufficient to pay defendants’ debt against Coke, and was sufficient in addition to pay L. B. & Co.’s debt; that on the same day of such' discovery, plaintiff was appointed receiver, on the basis of such supplementary proceedings, by the attorneys of L. B. & Co., who had also . acted on such supplementary proceedings; that the same attorney, thereupon begun this action in the name of the receiver, and that L. B. & Co. alone would receive the proceeds of any judgment plaintiff might recover and collect in the action. Beyond this there is some controversy. According to plaintiff’s affidavit he did not employ the attorneys, or expect or agree to pay them, but that they were employed by and acted for L. B. & Co.; that plaintiff’simply [479] allowed the use of his name, as receiver, at the request of L. B. & Co.’s attorneys, and for their benefit, with an agreement that he should in no event be put to any trouble, costs, or expenses, except .the mere formal trouble necessary in signing the legal paper necessary in the action; that the action was conducted by E. B. & Co., and their attorneys, and that L. B. & Co. recognized such attorneys as acting in their behalf, but only upon an adventure. This evidence is corroborated by the affidavits of James Wright, Geo. A. Brush and Eewis M. Smith. In opposition, we have a number of affidavits. They do not deny that the writ was brought to collect L. B. & Co.’s debt; that they knew it was to be bought by their attorneys, and assented to its being brought, upon the understanding that they could not be made liable for costs, and that during its pendency they recognized it as their action. Under such circumstances, I am inclined to hold that the action was brought in the plaintiff’s name by L. B. & Co., for their own sple and exclusive benefit, and by .their own attorneys acting in their behalf. The facts that L. B. & Co.’s attorneys, acting in their behalf in the collection of this debt, conducted the supplementary proceedings, discovered what they thought were available assets in defendants’ hands, procured the appointment of a receiver, and brought this action with the knowledge and consent of L. B. & Co., all on the same day, ought to satisfy me, I think, that they were the sole parties in interest and the persons whoxprocured the action to be brought. It is certainly apparent that Hart and Tomlinson were the attorneys of L. B. & Co., in the supplementary proceedings, and continued to act as such in the new action, with the knowledge and assent of L. B. & Co. This constitutes sufficient evidence of 9 retainer in that action. Ho one pretends they were retained by the plaintiff or Coke, or that any other person than L. B. & Co. had any pecuniary interest in having it brought, or in its results. [480] Under such circumstances, and under the authorities, I deem it just that L. B. & Co. should pay the costs incurred by the defendants in their successful defense. The following cases illustrate the application of this rule: McHench agt. McHench (7 Hill, 204); Whitney agt. Cooper (1 Hill, 629); Giles agt. Holhert (12 N. Y. R., 32); Cutler agt. Reilly (31 How. Pr. R., 472): Bliss agt. Otis (1 Denio, 656; 2 R. S., 619, § 44). The action was brought without leave .of the court, and thus furnishes an additional reason why the costs should be charged to the real plaintiff, if the facts are such as to justify it. The motion of defendants is therefore granted, without costs of this motion.