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1 Thomp. & Cook 404

Schofield v. McGregor

New York Supreme Court

Decided September 15, 1873

New York Supreme Court · decided 1873-09-15

Action to recover damages for breach of contract by defendant to build a school-house. The plaintiffs composed the board of education of school district No. 3 of the town of Fishkill.

Relies on Pierson v. Hooker

Decided 1873-09-15

Barnard, P. J.

¶1I think the justice erred on the trial m not permitting the jury to determine the fact of the discharge of defendant by Schofield, one of the plaintiffs.

¶2As a general rule, one of many parties to a contract in writing may rescind it. Pierson v. Hooker, 3 Johns. 68; Fitch v. Forman, 14 id. 172; Lattimore v. Harsen, id. 330; Buckley v. Dayton, id. 387; Austin v. Hall, 13 id. 286; Wheeler v. Curtis, 11 Wend. 653.

¶3In this case the plaintiffs themselves proved that the plaintiffs, as a board, had voted that Schofield should be the superintendent and overseer of the building. The fact of the discharge by Schofield was denied. I think if Schofield was by vote made superintendent and overseer by plaintiffs, and he did discharge defendant from the contract, this action fails.

¶4*406The jury were told that Schofield could not discharge defendant, even if he was superintendent and overseer of plaintiffs.

¶5The judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, costs to abide the event.

¶6Judgment reversed and new trial granted.

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