Brinkman v. Eisler

Ehrlich, C. J. We agree with the learned judge who tried the cause that where a person agrees to do an unlawful act, and incurs expense, he cannot recover, either on the illegal contract or for a quantum meruit, for the law leaves the parties where they place themselves. The authorities hold that a structure such as the plaintiff undertook to erect is illegal and in the nature of a nuisance. See Trenor v. Jackson, 15 Abb. Pr. (N. S.) 115; and on the subject, generally, see Telegraph Co. v. Hess, 125 N. Y. 641, 26 N. E. Rep. 919; Lahr v. Railroad Co., 104 N. Y. 268, 10 N. E. Rep. 528; Story v. Railroad Co., 90 N. Y. 122; Callanan v. Gilman, 67 How. Pr. 464, 107 N. Y. 360, 14 N. E. Rep. 264; Clifford v. Dam, 81 N. Y. 52; Knowlton v. Spring Co., 57 N. Y. 518; Materne v. Horwitz, 101 N. Y. 469, 5 N. E. Rep. 331; Foley v. Speir, 100 N. Y. 552, 3 N. E. Rep. 477; Goodrich v. Houghton, (Sup.) 9 N. Y. Supp. 214; Arnot v. Coal Co., 68 N. Y. 558; Pease v. Walsh, 39 N. Y. Super. Ct. 514; McDonough v. City of Brooklyn, 1 Wkly. Dig. 390; Archer v. McDonald, 86 Hun, 194; Booth v. Mills Co., 60 N. Y. 487; New York, etc., R. Co. v. Standard Oil Co., 87 N. Y. 486; Tompkins v. Dudley, 25 N. Y. 172; Farrell v. Mayor, etc., (Sup.) 5 N. Y. Supp. 672; Anderson v. Equitable G. L. Co., 12 Daly, 462; Cohen v. Mayor, etc., 113 N. Y. 532, 21 N. E. Rep. 700. For these reasons, and those assigned by the trial judge on making the order appealed from, the order must be affirmed, with costs. All concur.