Hagmayer v. Armbruster , 71 N.Y.S. 1029 ( 1901 )

Hascall, J.

It appears to us that the allegations of the defendants were quite fully corroborated upon the trial by the facts, exhibits, and circumstances shown by the plaintiff himself, and that the burden of proof was not sustained. The verdict was not only clearly against the weight of evidence, but it seems that the jury were misled, either by the charge of the learned court below, or by the assumption, on their part, that statements of account rendered to one of the defendants, in his individual name, were sufficient to carry evidence of liability against both of them as partners.

The court charged “ Row, unless they can show that the balance of $168 applies to the two deliveries, for which the plaintiff claims his charge, then you must find as I have stated. If you find that both of these deliveries were not paid for in the payment of $768, then you can find against both of the defendants for those two deliveries.” This was manifestly not only prejudicial to the defendants, but was error in law, because, if sale and delivery were never made to Gunther, nor to the firm of which he was a member at the time, and plaintiff had knowledge of dissolution of defendants’ firm, plaintiff could, in no event, recover. Schwab v. Elias, 2 Civ. Pro. 340.

Judgment and order appealed from should be reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs and disbursements to appellant to abide the event.

Conlan and O’Dwyer, JJ., concur.

Judgment and order reversed and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event.