People Ex Rel. Crummey v. . Palmer , 152 N.Y. 217 ( 1897 )

Robert Crummey, the relator, was a member of the volunteer fire department of the city of Brooklyn, and as such had served the time required by law, and had received his discharge. In May, 1886, he was appointed to the position of assistant warrant clerk in the office of the comptroller of the city, and continued in that position until the 30th day of January, 1895, at which time he was discharged by the comptroller. On the 19th day of July, 1895, he instituted proceedings for a mandamus to compel his reinstatement. An alternative writ was issued, upon which issue was joined, which was tried before a judge and jury and resulted in a verdict in favor of the relator. Upon the verdict so rendered a peremptory writ of mandamus was issued which has been affirmed by the Appellate Division. Upon the trial before the jury the judge charged as a matter of law that the relator did not occupy a confidential relation to the appointing officer within the meaning of the statute. To this charge an exception was taken by the appellant. The statute provides that "no person holding a position by appointment in any city or county of this state or who may hereafter be appointed, receiving a salary from such city or county (unless he has been appointed for a definite term), who is an honorably discharged soldier, sailor or marine, having served as such in the Union army or navy during the war of the rebellion, or the Mexican war, and who shall not have served in the Confederate army or navy, or who shall have served the time required by law in the volunteer fire department of any city, town or village in the State, or who shall have been a member thereof at the time of the disbandment of said volunteer department, shall be removed from such position except for cause shown after a hearing had; but this provision shall not be construed to apply to the position of private secretary or chief clerk or deputy of any official or department, or to any other person holding a confidential relation to the appointing officer." (Laws of 1888, ch. 119, § 1, as amended by ch. 577, Laws of 1892.)

What is a "confidential relation" to the appointing officer? A complete definition may be difficult. We shall only attempt one in general terms. The meaning of "confidential" has two elements, that of secrecy and that of trust and confidence. Confidential relation, in law, as defined by the Century Dictionary, is a relation of parties in which one is bound to act for the benefit of the other and can take no advantage to himself from his acts relating to the interest of the other. Such a relation arises whenever a continuous trust is reposed by one person in the skill or integrity of another. The statute which we have under consideration has reference to officials, and the confidential relations mentioned undoubtedly have reference to official acts, and include not only those that are secret, but those that involve trust and confidence which are personal to the appointing officer. If, therefore, the statute casts upon an officer a duty involving skill or integrity, and a liability either personal or on the part of the municipality which he represents, and he intrusts the discharge of this duty to another, their relations become confidential.

It appears that the defendant became comptroller of the city of Brooklyn on the first day of January, 1895; that as such he became the chief financial officer of the city, charged with the duty of keeping the accounts of its receipts and disbursements and the paying of the demands upon it by warrants drawn upon the treasurer; that the annual expenditures amounted to from ten to thirteen millions of dollars, which, in the year 1895, were paid out upon 46,000 warrants; as comptroller he was also a member of the board of estimate, which occupies nearly a month each year in making up the budget; he was also a member of the sinking fund commission, which has meetings on an average of once a week during the year, and a member of three other commissions, which held occasional meetings. The duties of his position were of such a character that it was impossible for him to personally discharge them, and he of necessity was compelled to intrust the performance of them largely to subordinates.

The relator's duties consisted in taking care of the bills and vouchers as they came in, filing them away, of getting them out and exhibiting them when called for, and seeing that the papers and boxes were kept in their places. In case of the sickness or absence of the warrant clerk he filled out the warrants for the payment of bills, and, after they were signed by the proper officers, the warrants were returned to him. He then examined the bills to see if they were properly made out and verified, whether they were properly audited and certified, and, if correct, he delivered the warrants to the persons entitled thereto, first requiring them to be identified if they were not personally known to him. In addition to this he was charged with the duty of keeping track of the liens filed and of the executions and attachments levied upon claims in the office and of examining the same before delivering warrants to claimants.

It will thus be seen that the greater portion of the duties devolving upon the relator's position involved skill and integrity, and if the duties were carelessly or negligently performed, it might result in great loss either to the comptroller or the city. It is said that the defendant could not be held responsible for the misfeasance or nonfeasance of the relator. Chapter 583 of the Laws of 1888, title 3, § 12, so provides as to third parties. The act does not purport to relieve the defendant, so far as the city is concerned, as to losses or liabilities incurred through his or his subordinates' misconduct or negligence in the discharge of the duties of his office; as a faithful officer he would be interested in protecting the interests of the city and in the saving of it, as well as himself, from responsibility. It appears to us that the position is one requiring trust and confidence, and that it is, within the provision of the statute, a confidential relation to the appointing officer. In the Matter of Ostrander for a writ of mandamus (12 Misc. Rep. 476), the applicant sought the position of deputy superintendent of public buildings; the mandamus was asked for under the provisions of chapter 716 of the Laws of 1894, which provide as follows: "But the provisions of this act shall not be construed to apply to the position of private secretary or deputy of any official or department, or to any other person holding a strictly confidential position." It was held at Special Term that the position was confidential, and that case was affirmed in the General Term and by this court upon the opinion of the Special Term. (146 N.Y. 404.)

It is claimed that under the classification of officers by the civil service commission the relator was placed in Schedule A in the class of those occupying confidential relations with the appointing officer; that under the statute the civil service commission is required to classify the employees in the public offices, and that this classification has the force and effect of a statute; and that the provisions of this act should be construed in accordance therewith. Under the construction of the provisions of the act above given a determination of this question is at this time unnecessary.

The judgment and order should be reversed and the motion for a mandamus denied.

All concur, except O'BRIEN and VANN, JJ., dissenting.

Judgment accordingly.