Bellingham v. Palmer , 54 N.J. Eq. 136 ( 1895 )

Reed, V. C.

The question is, whether the facts are such as to warrant this court in assuming jurisdiction in this contest, and directing the defendants to account in a court of equity.

The equitable jurisdiction to compel an account rests upon three grounds — -first, the existence of a fiduciary or trust relation; second, the complicated character of the accounts; and third, the need of discovery.

No fiduciary or trust relation is exhibited in this cause, therefore the right to an account cannot be rested upon that ground. Nor is the bill one purely for'discovery.

The discovery asked is only incidental to the main relief sought, namely, an account. The bill therefore cannot be supported as one for discovery, and must rest upon the right to an account, for the rule is entirely settled that where discovery is sought as a mere incident to some other main relief, if the principal relief is denied, the suit must be dismissed. Pennsylvania Railroad Co. v. Hoppock, 1 Stew. Eq. 261; Jewett v. Bowman et al., 2 Stew. Eq. 174; Foley v. Hill, 2 H. L. Cas. 28, 37, 42.

Jurisdiction, therefore, if it exists at all, must rest upon the complicated character of the accounts, and the intricate character of the accounts must be such that if th¿ ease is tried at nisiprius it cannot be tried with any certainty that an accurate result would be reached. Bliss v. Smith, 34; Beav. 508; Taff Vale Railway Co. v. Nixon, 1 H. L. Cas. 111; Foley v. Hill, 2 H. L. Cas. 28; Crane v. Ely, 10 Stew. Eq. 564;.

What will constitute this complexity of accounts is a matter from which little light can be obtained from an examination of the English reports. Every case seems to rest upon its own speciál features.

It is impossible, said Lord Collingham in Martin v. Northeastern Railway Co., 2 Phil. 758, with precision to lay down rules or establish definitions as to the cases in which it may be proper to exercise jurisdiction.

The criterion is, whether the degree of intricacy is such as to deprive a court of law, by reason of its method of procedure, of the ability to properly investigate and decide. In applying this test, I think regard should be had to the modern alteration in the methods of trial in a court of law. When equity first assumed jurisdiction of complicated accounts, there was in a court of law no power to examine a party, to obtain discovery before trial, or to have an account stated by a referee. How, it is true, that in those instances where a court of equity has acquired jurisdiction over a class of cases by reason of the absence of a legal remedy, it will not be deprived of such jurisdiction, either by the operation of a statute conferring similar jurisdiction upon the common-law courts, or by the adoption by the common-law' courts of the principles and practices of the court of equity. Frey v. Demarest, 1 C. F. Gr. 236.

Therefore, in cases of account between persons holding a fiduciary relation, the right to an account in equity exists unchanged, although a court of law has now improved methods of procedure by which some of these matters can now be tried, and would exist unchanged, although the jurisdiction of courts of law should become complete in its procedure and suitable for the trial in such cases. But in cases of account other than those just mentioned, the jurisdiction of the court of chancery is a discretionary jurisdiction. The superior right of a court of law is admitted so long as that court can properly deal with the matters litigated.

How, in determining whether a court of law can adequately deal with an account, I do not perceive why the present, and not the past, method of legal procedure should not be regarded. This is the rule in regard to bills for new trials exhibited in the court of equity. The propriety of such bills is not tested by the restricted power of courts of common law to grant new trials at the time when such bills were first entertained, but is tried by the present liberal practice of the court in this respect. As was observed in Executors of Powers v. Administrator of Butler, 3 Gr. Ch. 465: “Upon examination of the numerous authorities, it will be seen that, as the courts of law have extended their jurisdiction over these subjects, the courts of equity-have withdrawn their jurisdiction from it.” This remark was reiterated in the case of Hannon v. Maxwell, 4 Stew. Eq. 318, 329, decided by the court of appeals.

So it seems to me that the question is whether a court of law can now adequately deal with the account. The question is simply adequacy of the remedy, and that should be decided by the present processes of legal investigation. As already remarked, these processes have become radically changed — so changed, in fact, that the remarks of Judge Finch, in his opinion in the case of Marvin v. Brooks, 94 N. Y. 71, 80, are almost as pertinent here as in the State of New York. Speaking of the jurisdiction of a court of equity in matters of account resting upon their complicity and also for discovery, he observed: “ That the necessity for a resort to equity is now very slight, if it can be said to .exist at all, since a court of law can send to a referee a long account, too complicated for the handling of a jury, and furnishes by the examination of the adverse witness before trial and the production and deposit of books and papers, almost as complete a means of discovery as can be furnished by a court of equity.”

The power to refer, the power to previously examine witnesses and the power to obtain an inspection and copies of books and papers in actions at law, must be taken into account when the question of equity jurisdiction rests upon the single ground of the inadequacy of a court of law to reach satisfactory results in the trial of a legal cause of action.

These improved methods of procedure do not strip this court of jurisdiction in instances of complicated accounts, but when the degree of complexity which will put the case beyond the capacity of the law court to try is to be ascertained, then the present mode of trial is certainly a factor of importance.

There are still many cases in which a court of equity and a master can afford a fuller measure of relief than can a court of law, dealing with the report of a referee; but there are also cases of which'courts of equity would once have assumed jurisdiction which, I think, should now be remitted to the legal tribunals.

In my judgment, the present account is not one for equitable cognizance. As already observed, the quantity of manufactured goods that was furnished by the complainant is entered in complainant’s own books. The cash paid to him each week was within his own cognizance and could have been, but was not eutered on his books. So of the rents, the amount of which he knew. So of the repairs which he had had made. These are entered upon defendants’ books, and, so far as appears, are all entered.

So far the account appears to be one of great simplicity, involving the simple addition of the sums charged.

The only contested items involve purely legal questions— first, whether, under the contract between the parties, the complainant was to pay for the twine used by him; second, whether there was an assent by complainant to the charge for damages for defective goods, or a right to make such deduction arising from the contract between the parties.

I see no difficulty in trying the case at law. Indeed, if sitting at circuit, I would not, ás matters now appear, order a reference.

If the complainant can compel these defendants to account, I see no reason why each one of five hundred employes, to whom wages have been paid on account, cannot compel the employer to do the same, or why any person, after a few weeks’ dealing with a grocer on credit, has not the same privilege.

There is characteristic force in the remarks of Chief-Justice Marshall, in his opinion in Fowle v. Lawrason’s Executors, 5 Pet. 495, that “ it cannot be admitted that a court of equity may take cognizance of every action for goods, wares, merchandise sold and delivered, or of money advanced where part payments had been made, or of every contract, express or implied, consisting of various items of which different sums of money have become due and different payments have been made. Although the line may not be drawn with absolute precision, yet if may be safely affirmed that a court of chancery cannot draw to itself every transaction between individuals in which an account between parties is to be adjusted. In all cases in which an action of account would be the proper remedy at law, and in all cases where a trustee is a party, the jurisdiction of a court of equity is undoubted. But in transactions not of this peculiar character, great complexity should exist in the account or some difficulty at law should interpose, some discovery should be required in order to induce a court of chancery to exercise jurisdiction.”

I am constrained to hold that there should be a decree denying the accounting.