Brightson v. H. B. Claflin Co. — 108 A.D. 284

Majority

p. 284

Susan D. Brightson, Respondent, v. The H. B. Claflin Company, Appellant.

Headnote

Action for ■ conversion—a demand for an accounting does not make it an action in ‘ ' equity. i

Where the complaint in an action alleges the conversion by the defendant of 200 shares of the stock of a corporation, which the plaintiff’s assignor had deposited with the defendant as collateral security for the payment of certain promissory notes, and demands judgment for the difference between the amount due on the promissory notes and the value of ■ the stock plus the accrued dividends thereon, without asking for a redemption of the stock or for a transfer thereof, the action is one to recover damages -for conversion, triable by a jury, and the fact that the complaint in the prayer for relief demands an accounting as a method of ascertaining the damages, does not make it one in equity.'

Appeal by the defendant, The II. B. "Claflin Company, from an order of the Supreme Court, made at the Mew York Special Term and entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Mew York on . the 21st day of June, 1905, denying the defendant’s motion to strike the action from the equity calendar.

p. 285

John L. Wilkie, for the appellant.

Sidney R. Stuart, for the respondent.

This is an appeal from an order denying defendant’s motion to strike the action from the equity calendar. The plaintiff alleges that'her assignor, George E. Brightson, was indebted to the defendant in the sum of $20,000 upon certain promissory notes and that, as collateral security therefor, lie deposited with the defendant 200 shar'es of the capital stock of the H. B. Claflin Company; that on the 20th of December, 1900, plaintiff’s assignor notified defendant of his inability to pay the indebtedness and requested the defendant to sell the stock and pay such indebtedness out of the proceeds; that the defendant declined to sell the stock and wrongfully converted the same, together with the dividends thereon, and the plaintiff demands judgment that the defendant be charged with 200 shares of stock at a certain price and that the amount of the dividends on such stock be determined and that the amounts due on the notes be also determined and that the plaintiff have judgment for the difference. The answer, among other things, alleges that the plaintiff has a full, adequate and complete remedy at law. The appellant contends that the plaintiff, notwithstanding the accounting asked for, only seeks a money judgment, namely the difference between the value of the stock, plus the accrued dividends, and the face of the notes for which the stock was pledged. She does not ask for a redemption of the stock or a transfer thereof.

- It is quite clear that there is no necessity for an accounting. The demand for an accounting inserted in the complaint does not change the real nature of the action. It is one for damages for conversion, and in the prayer for relief the method of ascertaining the damages is pointed out. The case on the pleadings is one for a jury.

The order should be reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion granted, with ten dollars costs.

O’Brien, P. J., Ingraham, McLaughlin and Laughlin, JJ., concurred.

Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion, granted, with ten dollars costs.