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32 Misc. 690

Curro v. Altieri

Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York · decided 1900-11-15

<p>General release — Not to be varied by parol evidence.</p> <p>Parol evidence is inadmissible to show that a certain demand, made the subject of an action by a party releasing against the party released, was intended to be excepted from the operation of a general release theretofore executed between the parties.</p>

Relies on Pierson v. Hooker

Decided 1900-11-15

Per Curiam.

¶1The effect of the testimony to which the counsel for the appellant objected was that although the plaintiff had executed a general release on the 6th day of October, 1899, releasing the defendant of all claims that he, the plaintiff, had against him, the defendant, yet, nevertheless, one particular claim, viz., the claim in suit, was excluded from the effects of the said general release. To admit this testimony was error. It was admitting parol evidence which varied the terms of a written instrument. The release is general and comprehensive, and reaches every debt due defendant to the plaintiff. To show by parol evidence that it was not intended to release every claim that the plaintiff had against the defendant is to contradict the instrument. Pierson v. Hooker, 3 Johns. 68.

¶2Judgment reversed and new trial ordered, with costs.-

¶3Present: Truax, P. J.; Scott and Dugro, JJ.

¶4Judgment reversed, with costs.

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