Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

36 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 210

Dingee v. Shears

New York Supreme Court

Decided February 15, 1883

New York Supreme Court · decided 1883-02-15

06 in favor of plaintiff and against the defendant. The plaintiff sued the defendant to recover $600. The defendant made an offer to allow judgment for $108, which was not accepted. The action was tried January 2, 1878, and the plaintiff obtained a verdict for $108, thus giving costs to the defendant. On January 25, 1878, the defendant in writing assigned his recovery, if, any, to one William Eomer, his attorney. The defendant then was and now is insolvent. .

Decided 1883-02-15

Barnard, P. J.:

¶1The right to set off interlocutory costs has been established. (Doe v. Allsop, 9 B. & C., 760 ; Doe v. Carter, 8 Bing., 330.)

¶2In cases where the plaintiff was entitled to judgment and the defendant to costs there could be but one record. (3 Wend., 308.) The plaintiff made a suggestion upon the record of the defendant’s right to costs, and if he refused to do so the court would compel it. This was done to avoid circuity. The present case arises under the Code and is new to the old practice.

¶3By reason of a failure upon the part of the plaintiff to recover a verdict in excess of an offer made, he was entitled to recover the verdict and the costs up to the date of the offer and must pay costs of the action after the offer. The verdict determined the rights of the parties.

¶4The proper way to enter a judgment in such a case is, to suggest the right of the defendant to the costs after offer, as taxed; and when the plaintiff’s claim and costs is greater than the defendant’s taxed bill to deduct the same from the plaintiff’s claim and exter judgment for the balance. This is the rule when a counter-claim less than the plaintiff’s claim is set up. (Code C. P., § 512.) No other rule would work justice. The same vej'dict settles all the rights of the parties, and the judgment should only be for the portion due after set-off of the respective claims. Set-off has always been favored to avoid circuity of action or redress.

¶5*212At the time of the assignment to the attorney by the defendant there was a legal set-off existing and nothing passed by it.

¶6The order should therefore be affirmed, with- costs.

Dtkman and Cullen, JJ., concurred.

¶7Order setting off costs against judgment affirmed, with costs and ■ disbursements.

/36/nysupct/210 · .json · Public domain