Conklin v. Field

Henry P. Hedges, County J. The plaintiff held a nóte against the defendant for $50. In June, 1867, he brought an action in justice's court claiming a balance of $10 and interest due thereon. In April, 1868, he brought another action on the same note and claimed $40 due thereon. The note was proved. The defendant introduced in evidence the judgment in the former action in support of his plea thereof in bar of the action, and he pleaded also a general denial. An indorsement “ May 15, 1866, received $40,” was by consent erased from the note on the trial. The plaintiff [456] then offered to prove .that the indorsement" of $40 was made under a mistake of fact, he, at the time, believing himself authorized to indorse that amount by Geo. Field, Jr., and that the $40 had been, since the former suit, recovered against him by sai'd Geo. Field, Jr. The defendant’s counsel objected to the introduction of this evidence as inadmissible under the complaint, no mistake of fact being alleged therein, and also that the former suit on the note, was a bar to this. The objection was sustained and on motion a non-suit was granted. The plaintiff appeals from the judgment of non-suit rendered by the justice. The defendant’s counsel maintains that the mistake of fact should have been pleaded in the complaint to entitle the plaintiff to give evidence theieof. A reply not being admissible in justice’s court, the allegation of new matter in the answer must in all cases be deemed controverted by the plaintiff, and it is competent for him to countervail it by evidence, either in direct denial, or by way of avoidance. Where the defense is infancy the plaintiff may, without replying, or amending his complaint, prove the making of a new promise by the defendant after he attained majority. (Hodges agt. Hunt, 22 Barb., 150). The plaintiff still claims the unpaid $40 as due on the note. The defendant insists that the note is merged in the judgment. A judgment upon a contract technically merges the demand, but not in so complete a sense that the courts cannot look behind it for the purpose of protecting the rights of the parties. (Clark agt. Rowling, 3 N. Y., 216; Dresser agt. Brooks, 3 Barb., 429; Wyman agt. Mitchell, 1 Cow., 316). If the plaintiff has a right to recover at all, it is upon the [457] balance due on the note. He complained claiming that balance, and I think rightfully. He was not bound "to anticipate and deny, or avoid the defense. He must state a cause of action and he did so. The answer undenied or avoided is a bar, but that is deemed to be controverted by the plaintiff just as truly as if he had pleaded the very ground of avoidance offered by him to be proved. I think the plaintiff has a right to establish the fact that the indorsement and the former action were made, and brought under a mistake, and that the doctrine of merger cannot in this case be so deemed to apply as to work a virtual fraud. The judgment of the justice’s court must be reversed.