Rundle Spence Manufacturing Co. v. Gainsborough Construction Co.

PER CURIAM.

Plaintiff, a foreign corporation, sued upon a promissory note. The complaint was dismissed on the ground that the plaintiff failed to show compliance with section 15 of the general corporation law (Consol. Daws, c. 23) by procuring a certificate authorizing it to do business in the state. Plaintiff’s first witness testified as follows:

“Q. You are the president and manager of the plaintiff corporation? A. I am. Q. And you transact all the business for the plaintiff corporation in the state of New York in the city of New York'? A. I do.”

The cross-examination opens as follows:

“Q. Are you an officer of the plaintiff corporation? A. No, sir. Q. What position do you occupy in the corporation? A. I am the resident salesman for the eastern territory.”

On these passages in the record it is claimed that "defendants are bound by the witness’ admission that he was an officer, and that the company was actually doing business in the state within the language of the statute. It is perfectly evident that the witness’ admission that he was an official was either an inadvertence or a typographical error in the record; and the statement that he does all the business of the company, etc., evidently means that he does all the business which the company does in this state. It by no means follows, therefore, that ,the ■company, although in common parlance, doing business in this 'state, does business within the meaning of the statute as construed by our courts. Indeed, it appears from the testimony that the plaintiff’s business is transacted in Wisconsin, from which state the goods are shipped, and in which payments are received.

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