Summary
In Mulry v. Eckerson (149 App. Div. 29, at p. 31) Mr. Justice MILLER said: "It is the law in this State that a judgment against the principal is not even evidence against his surety unless the latter had notice of the suit and an opportunity to defend.
Summary of this case from Adams v. United States Fidelity Guaranty Co.Opinion
February 2, 1912.
William J. Wallace, for the appellant.
Arthur J. McClure, for the respondents.
The plaintiff's testator, John Fleming, and Charles A. Brown were copartners. Fleming sold his interest to Brown and the latter assumed and agreed to pay the copartnership debts. The defendant joined him in an undertaking to Fleming, the condition of which was: "The said Charles A. Brown shall well and truly pay within six months from the date hereof all commercial debts and bills payable by said copartnership of Brown Fleming and the expenses and debts of said James J. Coogan, as receiver of the property of Brown Fleming, other than claims in judgment and in tort, and also claims upon notes upon which the copartnership of Brown Fleming was accommodation endorsers." This action is brought on that undertaking. The complaint alleged the existence of certain partnership debts stated, the failure of Brown to pay, the commencement of actions against Brown Fleming, notice thereof to the defendant, and the recovery of judgments therein. The answer denied the existence of debts covered by the undertaking and the notice of the actions. On the trial the plaintiffs were permitted to prove, over the defendant's objection and exception, the judgments recovered against Brown Fleming, and upon that proof was given a judgment for $49,496.52 damages.
It is the law in this State that a judgment against the principal is not even evidence against his surety unless the latter had notice of the suit and an opportunity to defend. ( Douglass v. Howland, 24 Wend. 35; Berry v. Schaad, 50 App. Div. 132; Loewer's Gambrinus Brewing Co. v. Lithauer, 43 Misc. Rep. 683.) The exception is where the covenant is to indemnify against the consequences of a suit. (See Bridgeport Ins. Co. v. Wilson, 34 N.Y. 275.)
There was no attempt to prove either the existence of claims covered by the undertaking, with one exception, or that the defendant had notice of the suits in which the judgments were recovered.
The judgment should be reversed and a new trial ordered before another referee, with costs to appellant to abide the event.
INGRAHAM, P.J., LAUGHLIN, CLARKE and SCOTT, JJ., concurred.
Judgment reversed, new trial ordered before another referee, with costs to appellant to abide event. Order to be settled on notice.