Amberg v. Kramer

In November, 1888, the plaintiff commenced an action against the defendant for the purpose of procuring an injunction to restrain the defendant from causing to be executed a warrant issued by one of the justices of the district court of the city of New York, commanding the removal of all persons and the plaintiff from the occupation of the premises known as Nos. 46 and 48 Bowery in the city of New York. He obtained a preliminary injunction, and an order to show cause returnable on the 6th

At the time of the obtaining of the preliminary injunction, an undertaking to secure the defendants enjoined for such damages as they might sustain by the injunction was presented to and approved by the court.

Upon the motion .coming on to be heard for the continuance of the injunction, on motion of counsel for the defendants, counsel for the plaintiff appearing and consenting thereto, such injunction order was vacated and set aside, and the motion to continue the same denied, with ten dollars costs. Subsequently the plaintiff made a motion for leave to discontinue the action, which motion was opposed by the defendants, but was granted by the court on payment by the plaintiff of all the costs of the action to be taxed by the clerk. These costs were taxed and paid and the action discontinued. An application was thereupon made for a reference to ascertain the damages sustained by the defendant by reason of the injunction, and an order was made referring it to a referee to ascertain such damages, and from such order this appeal is taken.

The appellant seems to rely upon the case of Palmer v. Foley, 71 N. Y., 106 . where it was held that under the facts appearing in that case the order was improper, because there had been no final judgment given upon the merits of the action, or of the right of the plaintiff to the injunction at the time it was made.

An examination of that case, however, shows that the ground upon which the court held that no damage could be recovered was because the action had been settled and discontinued by amicable and voluntary agreement of the parties, and that they virtually fixed their own damages, and the sole action of the court was to ratify that agreement by entering the order carrying it into effect, and that the action thus came to an end.

There was, therefore, no determination whatever that the plaintiff was not entitled to the injunction granted.

The case of The Pacific Mail S. S. Co. v. Toel, 85 N. Y., 646 , is an express authority, showing that under circumstances like those in the case at bar the court had the power to make the order of reference. In that case the plaintiff, who had obtained a preliminary injunction, after it was served, entered an order vacating it, and subsequently, without the consent of the defendant, entered an order ex parte discontinuing the action.

It was held that this ex parte order was equivalent to a determination that the plaintiff was not entitled to the injunction, and that the defendant was entitled to an order of reference to ascertain the damages by reason thereof.

In the case at bar, it is true the order of discontinuance was not entered ex parte; but it was entered notwithstanding the opposition of the defendants; and the court adjudged, therefore, upon the confession of the plaintiff that the plaintiff was not entitled to the injunction in allowing him to discontinue the action.

We are of opinion, therefore, that the order should be affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.

Barrett and Bartlett, JJ., concur.