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Townshend v. Frommer

2 N.Y.S. 703 Court N.Y. Super. Ct. Decision date 1888-07-03 English

Delivered by Truax, J.

Contents

Majority

p. 703
Townshend et al. v. Frommer et al.
(Superior Court of New York City, Special Term.
July 3, 1888.)

Headnote

Attorney and Client—Purchase of Chose in Action — Land in Another’s Possession.
Code Civil Proc. N. Y. § 73, which declares that an attorney or counselor shall not buy a bond, note, bill of exchange, book-debt, or other thing in action for the purpose of bringing suit thereon, does not prohibit an ■ attorney from buying land in the possession of a third person for the purpose of obtaining possession by suit-.
At chambers. Motion in ejectment by John Townshend and others against Edward Frommer and others, to strike out the fourteenth paragraph of the, answer.
John Townshend, for plaintiffs. John F. Dillon, for defendants.

It was stated in the brief submitted by the defendants on the argument that the fourteenth paragraph of the answer (the paragraph to which. ■one of the plaintiffs objects) “is based on section 73 of the Code of Civil Procedure. ” That section declares that “an attorney or counselor shall not * * *. buy or be in any manner interested in buying a bond, promissory note, bill of. exchange, book-debt, or other thing in action with the intent and for the purpose of bringing an action thereon.” The paragraph of the answer of which one of the plaintiffs complains is to the effect that said plaintiff “bought and became interested in the premises mentioned in the complaint, and in the alleged cause of action set forth in the complaint, and did instigate, promote,. and become interested in the controversy herein, * * * for the purpose and with the intent of bringing this action, * * * contrary to the statute.

p. 704
in'such'case made and provided,” i. e., in view of the said statement in the-brief, contrary to section 73-of the Code of Civil Procedure. The cause of action set forth in the complaint is that the plaintiffs are the owners, as tenants, in common, and are entitled to the immediate possession, of the premises mentioned and described in the complaint, and that the defendants wrongfully withhold from the plaintiffs the possession of said premises; and the relief' demanded is that the court adjudge that the plaintiffs are seized in fee as tenants in common of said premises, and are entitled to the immediate possession thereof, and that they recover such possession from the defendants.

Thus it appears that the question that arises on this motion is: Is an attorney prohibited by section 73 of the Code of Civil Procedure from buying land, or an interest in land, where such land is in the possession of another, for the purpose and with the intent of getting possession of such land by mean» of an action? The counsel for the defendants conceded that plaintiff was not-within the prohibition of said section of the Code unless he bought some “ other thing in action,” and contended that the plaintiff when he purchased the fee bought merely a" right of action, and, therefore, a thing in action, and cites as, authorities for this proposition the cases of Moses v. McDivitt, 88 N. Y. 62 ; Wetmore v. Hegeman, Id. 69 ; Browning v. Marvin, 100 N. Y. 144 , 2 N. E. Rep. 635 ; Fowler v. Callan, 102 N. Y. 395 , 7 N. E. Rep. 169 . These cases are not-authorities for the defendants’ proposition. Moses v. McDivitt was an action, brought by an attorney upon a bond; Wetmore v. Hegeman and Browning v. Marvin were actions on contract; while Fowler v. Callan is an authority to. some extent for the plaintiff. I do not see how it can be said that the plaintiff bought a thing in action, in view of the allegation in the answer that the-plaintiff “ bought * * * the premises mentioned in the complaint. ” It is true that .the defendants also say that the plaintiff “bought and became interested in the premises, * * * and in the alleged cause of action set forth in the complaint;” but the proceedings show that what the plaintiff purchased was the fee of the land, and not a thing in action. The motion is granted», with $ 10 costs to abide the event.

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