Zenner v. Blessing — 25 N.Y. St. Rep. 822

Majority

p. 822

Barbara Zenner, Pl’ff and Resp’t, v. Thomas J. Blessing, Def’t and App’lt.

(City Court of New York, General Term,

Filed May 6, 1889.)

Headnote

1. Oity Marshal—Escape—Liability op marshal—District court judge —PoWFR TO GRANT STAY.

Where a district court judge of the city of New York granted an order on a city marshal who held a debtor in his custody under a ca sa, to show cause why the judgment should not he opened, with a temporary stay of proceedings; and the marshal took his prisoner to the court room of the judge, who had, in the meantime, departed, having adjourned the hearing of the motion; and the marshal thereupon voluntarily allowed the prisoner to go at large, Held (1), that this was a clear case of escape, for which the marshal is liable; (2) the fact that he acted in good faith, and under a misapprehension of his duty, will not excuse his act; the liability to err is a risk every ministerial officer takes, and Trust make good when called upon to answer; (3) that the district court judge had no power to grant the stay, as the power to grant a stay is not expressly conferred upon district court judges, and they cannot take it by implication.

2. Same—Measure op damages.

The measure of damages in an action for an escape is the amount of the judgment, and proof of the debtor's insolvency cannot he received in mitigation.

Appeal from judgment on verdict directed in favor of the plaintiff.

Nathan Lewis, for appl’t; E. R. Root, for resp’t.

The defendant, a city marshal, received an execution issued on a judgment recovered in an action in the eighth judicial district court against one Melvin.

The execution commanded the marshal to satisfy the judgmént out of the personal property of the defendant

p. 823

Melvin, and if sufficient personal property could not be found, "to arrest the said Melvin, and commit him to the jail of the county, there to remain until he paid the judgment, or was discharged according to law. Under this execution, the defendant, as city marshal, arrested the judgment debtor, April 29, 1887, and while in his custody under the execution, the marshal was served with an order to show cause why the judgment should not be opened with a temporary stay. He thereupon took his prisoner to the court house of the district judge, who had in the meantime departed. The hearing of the motion was adjourned, and the defendant voluntarily allowed his prisoner to go at large. It is hardly necessary to say that this constituted a clear case of escape, for which the defendant is liable.

The stay granted by the district court judge, even if he had power to grant one after final judgment, did not authorize the discharge of the execution debtor. By analogy, see 2 E. D. Smith, 259; 6 Hill, 597 . We think the judge had no power to grant the stay, and that the marshal should have disregarded it. The power to grant such stay is not expressly conferred by law upon district court judges, and they cannot take it by implication.

The measure of damages in an action for an escape is the amount of the judgment, and proof of the debtor’s insolvency cannot be received in mitigation. Bensel v. Lynch, 44 N. Y., 162 ; Dunford v. Weaver, 84 id., 448; Metcalf v. Stryker, 31 id., 255. There was nothing to go to the jury. The facts were undisputed, and the verdict in favor of the plaintiff was properly directed.

The defendant probably acted in good faith, and under a misconception of his duty in the premises, which was plain, but the liability to err is a risk every ministerial officer takes, and must make good when called upon to answer.

The penalty in this case is the payment of the judgment he undertook to collect by taking the judgment debtor to jail. He should have obeyed the command of the writ and left the debtor there to remain until discharged by payment or legal process.

We find no error in the record, and the judgment appealed from must be affirmed, with costs.