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21 Wend. 624

Franklin v. Smith

New York Supreme Court

Decided October 15, 1839

New York Supreme Court · decided 1839-10-15

Error from the New York common pleas. Smith sued Franklin in an action on the case for negligence in omitting as a notary to give notice of the non-payment of a note, whereby the plaintiff alleged he had lost his remedy against the endorser.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently April 1907

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1839-10-15

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¶1By the Court,

Nelson, Ch. J.

¶2It is clear upon principle, and not without authority, (vide Van Wart v. Woolley, 3 Barn. & Cress. 439; 5 Dowl. & Ry. 374; 5 Maule &. Sel. 62; and 1 Barn. & Cres. 10,) that if the plaintiff sustains no loss, or need not sustain any with ordinary attention to the case, notwithstanding a defective notice of protest, the notary is not liable to him; and if he is fully advised of a ground of sustaining the action against an endorser independently of the notice, and wilfully or negligently omits to to avail himself of it, he cannot subsequently sustain an action against the notary. But this ground of supporting the action against the endorser should be not only well taken, but well known to the plaintiff; and it seems to me also that he should have some intimation that the notice would be questioned, so that he might come prepared to resort to the other aspect of ti: case. In the absence of such intimation, he might, I think, put himselt upon the simple ground of notice, assuming that the officer had done his duty. In this respect, 1 am inclined to think the case was more favorably for the defendant submitted to the jury than can be upheld by the strict principles of law.

¶3Judgment affirmed.

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