City of Concord v. Pillsbury , 33 N.H. 310 ( 1856 )

Bell, J.^*

Debts to be set off must be mutual ; due from the plaintiff to the defendant, or defendants. The demand here offered in set-off is one due from the plaintiff to one of the defendants only. But this defendant is the principal in the bond upon which the action is brought, and it is contended that this circumstance makes the present case an exception to the general rule. In suppox-t of the exception thus claimed, no case is cited of a set-off allowed in an action upon a bond, but certain cases of actions upon promissory notes are relied upon. These are, first, Woods v. Carlisle, 6 N. H. 28, where a set-off was rejected because it was a claim of one of the defendants against the plaintiff, in which Ch. J. Richardson remarked: Perhaps if it had appeared that Farrar, the other defendant, was only a surety, the rule to be applied might be different; for which he cited 4 Bing. 423, Bourne v. Bennett. The case thus cited was however a case of set-off of judgments. In Mahurin v. Pearson, 8 N. H. 541, it was distinctly held, that, in an action upon a promissory note against a principal and surety, a demand, due from the plaintiff to the principal, may be set-off; and Parker, J., cites 6 N. H. 27, above, and Ex parte Hanson, 12 Ves. 349; 18 Ves. 332, S. C.; and Hale v. Crooke, 4 Johns. Ch. 15. The same doctrine is affirmed in Boardman v. Bushing, 12 N. H. 119. These cases must, we think, be regarded as settling the principle in actions of assumpsit, that the claim of the principal debtor against the plaintiff may be set off in an action against himself and his sureties.

We are unable to see any satisfactory distinction between such an action, and debt or covenant, where any set-off is admissible, and we are of opinion the same rule must be adopted in this case. Though the cases and books cited for the plaintiff show that a different rule is adopted elsewhere, yet we think the rule here is sustained by its intrinsic equity, and the debts may well be regarded as mutual, the joint bond being nothing more than a security for a separate debt. 18 Ves. 232.

But it is said, by way of objection to the admissibility of a set-off, that if the condition of the bond is broken the plaintiffs are entitled to judgment; and this is generally true, but not necessarily so. A set-off may exceed the penalty of the bond, and in that case it is not apparent why it should not be a complete answer to the action. But this objection, if well founded, would be decisive against the admission of any set-off in an action upon a bond, which is not pretended.

Where a bond is shown to be forfeited, the course prescribed by our law is, that judgment is rendered for the entire penalty. Where the bond is designed to secure several different and successive conditions, this judgment stands as a security for future breaches. If the condition is single, a hearing is to be had in chancery, and execution awarded only for the amount found actually due. If there are several conditions, a like hearing is had to ascertain the amount due at the time of the rendition of the original judgment, and the amount to be recovered on each subsequent breach, as it may occur.

It is upon these hearings in chancery, as they are called, that the plaintiff contends the defendant is to avail himself of his set-off in all ordinary cases. But it does not follow, as the plaintiff insists, that a notice of set-off is not admissible in an action of debt on bond for a penalty. The question whether the party is entitled to a set-off, and if so entitled, the mode of procéeding by which he has the right to bring his set-off to the notice of the court, is to be settled by reference to the statutes. These provide that if there are mutual debts or demands between the plaintiff and defendant, at the time of the commencement of the plaintiff’s action, one debt or demand may be set off against the other. If the defendant’s debt or demand is founded on any bond or specialty, with a penalty, the amount equitably due only shall be set off. The defendant may plead such set-off, or give notice thereof with the general issue, describing such debt or demand with the same certainty as is required in a declaration. Rev. Stat., chap. 187, secs. 6, 8 and 9; C. S. 488.

These provisions are very general, and they permit the demand to be set off to be pleaded, or notice of it to be given with the general issue, as is done in this case; and there is no provision by which, if this is not done by pleading, or notice with a plea, it can afterwards be brought to the notice of the court upon a hearing in chancery. Under these general provisions, we think, that where debt is brought, or can be maintained, that circumstance is decisive that the action admits of a set-off, though, in the liquidation of the amount for which execution is to be awarded, it may be necessary to go into the inquiry as to unliquidated damages. The judgment for the plaintiff in such case is for a debt — the entire penalty of the bond.

The general principle that a set-off is not admissible where the claim against the defendant is for unliquidated damages, nor where the defendant’s set-off is of a similar character, is well settled. Drew v. Towle, 7 Foster 427. If that principle is applicable in this case, and so far as it applies, the objection is well founded; but we do not understand that the claims of either party fall within that principle.

It is said to be against public policy that a collector of public taxes should be permitted to avail himself of a set-off, because he may thus obstruct the public business, and the public interest may suffer for want of the funds provided by law for public use. This objection seems to us rather plausible than sound. Every legal defence may have the effect for the time being to prevent a recovery of public funds, whether it is well founded in fact or not; but it will not for that cause be permissible to deny such grounds of defence. A set-off in this case has the effect of a payment. It shows that the principal defendant is not now legally bound to pay the money demanded of him; and if there are considerations of public policy which should deny to a party a defence like this, it is for the legislature and not for the court to establish the exception.

It is contended, that the defendants’ set-off should be made in the action in favor of the plaintiff against him personally, and not in this suit against himself and his sureties. The court may look to considerations of this kind, where an appeal is made to their discretionary power, as in cases of set-off of judgments. But the court has no power to refuse a set-off in any case where the party had by law a right to offer it. It is a legal defence, of which the party has a right to avail himself in any proper action. The power he has to make an application of his claim in set-off to any debt in suit, is like his power to apply the payments he makes to any debt he chooses, and it has never been thought censurable for a principal to apply his payments first to the relief of his sureties.

The set-off is to he received.

* Perlet, C. X, and Eastman and Eowusb, X X, did not sit.