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21 Wend. 365

Thorn v. Smith

New York Supreme Court

Decided July 15, 1839

New York Supreme Court · decided 1839-07-15

This was an action of assumpsit for money paid. The declaration contained the money counts only; Wright alone was brought into court. On the trial it was proved, that in September, 1835, the defendants were partners in the saddling business; which partnership has since been dissolved.

Cited by 6 later decisions — most recently July 1898

6 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1839-07-15

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¶1By the Court,

Nelson, Ch. J.

¶2It was not competent for Smith by his declaration, even during the. existence of the partnership, to change what on the face of the transaction appeared to be an individual debt, into a debt against the firm. The plaintiff did not suppose that he was dealing with the firm when' he loaned his credit but the contrary. The utmost length the cases have gone is to subject the firm, where the money has been borrowed by pne of the partners expressly "for the benefit of the partnership. 16 Wendell, 505. To sanction the principle contended for would enable ' a partner at any time to turn all his individual liabilities upon the partnership.

¶3Had the note beén given in the partnership name, a different rule might ptevail.- Then the onus would lie upon Wright to show that it was given for Smith’s individual, debt. No such fact is shown. What the name of the firm is, no where appears. If Smith’s name alone constituted it, that fact should have 'been proved ; and even then, I apprehend, it would, have, been necessary further to - have *367shown that the note, when given, was avowedly given for the firm, and in that capacity—the signature alone not necessarily indicating such facts.

¶4New trial granted.

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