Citation Numbers: 35 N.Y.S. 308, 89 Hun 511, 96 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 511, 69 N.Y. St. Rep. 753
Judges: Brien
Filed Date: 10/18/1895
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 1/13/2023
This action was for partition, and under the decree the property involved was sold, and, before the time when the purchaser was to complete had expired, final judgment ivas entered, confirming the sale, and directing distribution of the proceeds. The purchaser refusing to complete, plaintiff moved to compel him to do so, and succeeded at special term, only to be reversed at the general term, and then again to be finally successful in the court of appeals. J.t is shown that the proceedings to compel the purchaser to take
That this is the correct view, we think, becomes clearer if we consider what would be the situation had the plaintiff failed, instead of succeeding, as he did, in the proceedings. Plaintiff’s theory is that, for expenses incurred for the common benefit of all, he should be reimbursed. If this principle is sound, there is no reason why they should not be paid him whether successful or unsuccessful, assuming that the proceeding is taken in good faith. Upon the refusal of a purchaser to complete, it might very well happen, in a given case, that the objections to the title would be regarded as valid by some of the parties, though seeming untenable to the one who concluded to conduct the proceeding to compel the purchaser to take title. In' such a case, if the proceedings were unsuccessful, it would be unjust to the one who concluded that the objections made were valid to compel him unwillingly to contribute to the expenses. Yet, if the plaintiff is right, no good reason can be suggested why in one case one should not be required to pay his proportion more than in the other. The underlying principle is that though one, in endeavoring to enforce his own right, may thereby confer a benefit on others, he cannot, in the absence of some express statute or agreement, compel the latter to share with him the expense. Our conclusion, therefore, is that, as the plaintiff could have no lien on the fund for such claim, and as there was no agreement between the parties, and we have