Kohen v. Kieley

COHALAN, J. The plaintiff sued upon a special agreement, alleging that the defendant promised to pay her $100 for services rendered as a broker in leasing premises owned by the defendant. The defendant set up a special agreement, averring that for her services in leasing his property he agreed to pay her a percentage, based upon the receipts from the property; the property consisting of a hotel, which had been leased upon a percentage, to be derived from the gross receipts. [1] Upon the trial the plaintiff sought to amend her complaint, by setting up, in addition to the special agreement, a claim for the reasonable value of her services in such leasing. The justice in the court below stated that, if the amendment were allowed, he would require the plaintiff to elect upon which count of the complaint she should proceed. Upon this statement being made, the plaintiff withdrew the proposed amendment. The court erred in imposing, as a condition for granting the amendment, a requirement that the plaintiff must make an election under which count she should proceed. [2] The allowance of material amendments to pleadings, when offered by parties in a Municipal Court action, is mandatory upon the court; and, even if the complaint had been amended in the respect asked for, the plaintiff could not be required to proceed upon one count alone. Byrne v. John Gillies Co., 144 App. Div. 677, 129 N. Y. Supp. 602; Donovan v. Harriman, 139 App. Div. 586, 124 N. Y. Supp. 194. [3] The plaintiff also sought to prove the reasonable value of her services, and the usual and ordinary rate charged by real estate brokers for leasing property under like circumstances. This testimony was erroneously excluded. Even when suit is brought upon a special agreement for services rendered, proof of their reasonable value may be shown, as bearing upon the issue, and the probability that such an agreement was made. Barney v. Fuller, 133 N. Y. 605, 30 N. E. 1007. Judgment reversed, and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide the event.’ All concur.