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17 Abb. Pr. 318

Packard v. Wood

New York Supreme Court

Decided March 15, 1864

New York Supreme Court · decided 1864-03-15

The action was by Austin Packard against loftis Wood, for an accounting between quasi-partners. Plaintiff had judgment for $29,322.10, from which defendant appealed to the general term, but without staying execution. Nearly the whole of the judgment had been collected by the sale of the defendant’s real estate to one Peter B. Amory. On the appeal, it was ordered that the judgment be reversed, unless plaintiff submit to certain reductions.

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1864-03-15

How this case has been cited

Cited by 9 later decisions — most recently July 1950

9 state decisions

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Later decisions citing this case, by decade. The current decade is in progress, and our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so the latest bars are undercounted — not a real decline.

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Leonard, J.

¶1—The question here arises on appeal from an *322order made at special term, denying a motion, on the part of the defendant, that Peter B. Amory be joined as a party-plaintiff in this action as of the time he became interested therein, and that the judgment and proceedings be so amended. It appears that the case has been tried, and judgment rendered for the plaintiff, and that an appeal has been taken, which is not yet determined ; and a further appeal or a new trial is contemplated by the defendant, if the result of the present appeal is adverse to him.

¶2The plaintiff assigned his interest in the demand in suit to Amory, who has made the advances to carry on the action since a trial was had before the referee. As the plaintiff retains a small interest only, and is now insolvent, the defendant desires that Amory, the responsible party, for whom the action is now prosecuted, shall be made a party-plaintiff, not only for the purpose of obtaining his liability for costs, but also for restitution in case the judgment shall be reversed, the said Amory having collected a large part of the judgment since its recovery.

¶3The provisions of the Code relied on to sustain the motion are sections 121 and 173. Section 121 authorizes the action to be continued in the name of the original party, in case of a transfer of interest by means other than death, marriage, or disability. It provides also for allowing the person to whom the transfer is made to be substituted in the action. The latter .clause relates to the particular subject of introducing new parties to an action, by reason of an assignment of the interest of an original party. The language of this paragraph is poor authority for compelling a person to whom an interest has been transferred, pending an action, to become a party thereto.

¶4In my opinion, the application is to be allowed in the discretion of the court, when the person to whom the transfer has been made demands it, and on the application of such party only. I am unable to perceive that authority to permit or allow an act to be done, can be construed as authority to compel it, against the wish of the person in whose favor the provision is made.

¶5I have not overlooked the case of Shearman a. Coman (22 How. Pr., 517), decided at special term, but with great respect for the learned justice who made that decision, I am unable to concur in his views.

¶6. Section 121 has superseded the practice of the late court of *323chancery in respect to the manner of conducting an action where a change or transfer of interest has occurred since the commencement of the action. As to the former practice, see Sedgwick a. Cleveland (7 Paige, 287).

¶7Section 331 affords the defendant as effectual indemnity as to the costs, as he could have by substituting the assignee of the demand as the plaintiff herein. As to the liability of Amory for restitution in the event of the final success of the defendant, his remedy will not be improved, as the order cannot create a retroactive liability in this respect.

¶8Section 173 relates to amendments. The court is thereby authorized to amend any pleading, process, or proceeding, by adding or striking out the name of a party. An amendment signifies the correction of something which was previously defective. It is not the office of an amendment to introduce new facts or parties, arising or becoming interested after the commencement of the suit. A supplemental complaint or answer is the proper practice in such cases.

¶9The order appealed from should be affirmed, with costs.

Sutherland, J.

¶10I think the judge at chambers had power to grant the defendant’s motion; and as he denied it solely on the ground of want of power, I think the order should be reversed, irrespective of the question whether he ought to have granted the motion.

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