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5 Rob. 678

Brown v. Hardie

The Superior Court of New York City · decided 1867-05-06

This was an appeal from an order made at special term, dismissing the appeal of the defendants from a judgment entered in the action, for want of prosecution. The action was one for the recovery of personal property and damages for its detention. On the 27th day of April, 1866, judgment was entered for the value of the property as assessed by the jury, and the .damages awarded by them, without awarding any return of the property, in the alternative.

Decided 1867-05-06

Robertson, Ch. J.

¶1It would have been error in the

¶2judgment, as it originally stood, unless modified, (Dwight v. Enos, 5 Seld. 470; Fitzhugh v. Wiman, Id. 559,) not to allow the defendants the alternative of returning the property claimed. The change in it by inserting such alternative was a material alteration, and the defendants were entitled to notice of the change having actually been made, or the entry of the new judgment. Mere notice of permission having been accorded to do so, was' not sufficient to start the running of the time for bringing an appeal. The appeal, therefore, was in time. The defendants, by not preparing and serving a case, were only cut off from using on the appeal any thing but the record containing the pleadings,- verdict and judgment. (Gen. Rule, 35.) The order dismissing the appeal was, therefore, erroneous, This view renders it unnecessary to inquire whether the special term had jurisdiction to make the order. Generally no such application is necessary, as general court rules 35 and 37 provide for the consequences of neglect. Only the general term has a right to give judgment for not serving papers, because the cause must be on its calendar before judgment can be rendered. (Gen. Rule, 42.)

¶3The order appealed from should be reversed, without costs

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