Opinion
October Term, 1897.
H.J. Swift, for the plaintiff, appellant.
H.B. Butterfield, for James L. Baldwin, respondent.
Laughlin, Ewell Houpt, for Edward J. Green, respondent.
This action was begun February 20, 1895, to recover of the defendants $2,782.99, alleged to have been paid by the plaintiff for the benefit of the defendants, upon their request, and the sum of $1,184.44, a liability alleged to have been incurred by the plaintiff for the benefit of the defendants, upon their request; total, $3,967.43. It is alleged in the complaint that, August 15, 1893, Edward J. Green entered into a written contract with the city of Buffalo to construct a sewer for $19,683, and that on the same day Edward J. Green, as principal, and Alfred Lyth and James L. Baldwin, as sureties, executed a joint and several bond to the city in the penalty of $9,842, conditioned that Edward J. Green should perform the contract and pay the wages of laborers employed on the work and for all material used in the performance of the contract. It is further alleged that after the execution of the contract Green and Baldwin became partners, and as such entered upon the performance of the contract, and continued therein until about January 19, 1894, when the contract was abandoned. It is further alleged in the complaint that the plaintiff, as bondsman, upon the request of Green and Baldwin, paid $2,782.99, and at their request became liable to pay $1,184.44, for which sums, aggregating $3,967.43, the plaintiff demands judgment against the defendants. The defendants served separate answers. The answer of Green contains four subdivisions, numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4. The following are copies of the 1st, 2d and 3d subdivisions:
"I. This defendant admits all of the allegations contained in the first folio of said complaint; also admits the allegations contained in folio 6 and the first two lines of folio 7 in said complaint contained; also admits the first two lines of folio 9 in said complaint contained.
"II. This defendant denies that he has any knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to any of the allegations set forth in folios 2, 3, 4 and 5 in said complaint contained.
"III. This defendant denies each and every allegation in said complaint contained, not hereinbefore specifically admitted or denied."
The folios in the record do not correspond with those of the original complaint.
Under the well-settled rules for the construction of pleadings this court must determine this appeal upon the theory that none of the allegations in the complaint, referred to in the subdivisions of the answer quoted, are denied by the defendant Green, and upon this record the plaintiff is entitled to a reversal of the judgment in favor of Green. ( Williams v. Lindblom, 68 Hun, 173; affd., 142 N.Y. 682.) The only part of the answer of defendant Green, which can be considered by this court, is the 4th subdivision thereof, in which it is alleged that the plaintiff and defendant James L. Baldwin, in January, 1894, undertook and agreed to complete the contract and assume all liabilities incurred, or to be incurred, in the execution thereof. This important issue was not determined by the referee.
It was proved on the trial and not disputed that the plaintiff had paid, and become liable to pay, on account of his suretyship, the sums alleged in the complaint; but the referee refused to take these sums into consideration in making up his report, as between the plaintiff and Green, and as between the plaintiff and Baldwin, his co-surety (assuming that he was not in fact a principal); and for this error the judgment should be reversed as against both respondents.
The defendant Baldwin, by his answer, admitted the execution of the contract and of the bond, as alleged in the complaint, but denied that he and Green were jointly interested in the performance of the contract as alleged in the complaint. He further alleged that, when the bond was executed, the plaintiff agreed to save him (Baldwin) harmless from all liability thereon. It is further alleged in this answer that about January 14, 1894, Green abandoned his contract, and that it was thereupon agreed between the plaintiff and Baldwin that they should go on and complete the contract; that Baldwin should superintend the work and have $175 per month for his services, payable out of the profits of the contract, and that each should share equally the profits and losses arising out of the completion of the contract; and in this answer an accounting is demanded between Baldwin and the plaintiff of all moneys received and paid out in the performance of the contract, and for a judgment against the plaintiff for $1,014.70. The plaintiff served a reply controverting the counterclaim.
Baldwin testified that the plaintiff orally agreed to save him harmless from all liability on the bond, which was denied by the plaintiff. This important issue of fact was not determined by the referee.
It is not material whether the persons who worked on this sewer and those who furnished materials therefor could have maintained actions on the bond against the sureties for the recovery of their claims, provided the plaintiff paid the claims, pursuant to the request of the defendants, or of either of them; and in case he paid the claims for Green, or for Green and Baldwin, if they were partners, in good faith, and because of his supposed liability on the bond, he has the right to be subrogated in the place of the creditors and recover the sums paid of Green, or of Green and Baldwin, if they were partners.
In determining this action the referee should have ascertained and stated the amount paid or incurred by the plaintiff for the benefit of the defendants, or of either of them, on account of the bond, before the plaintiff and Baldwin undertook the completion of the contract, which sum should have been charged against Green and Baldwin as principal debtors, if they were partners, and if not, then against Green alone; and if the plaintiff paid and incurred these sums, on the request or with the knowledge and consent of Baldwin (he not being a partner with Green), he, as between himself and the plaintiff, should be charged as a co-surety with one-half of such sums. An account of the profits made or the losses incurred by Lyth and Baldwin in the completion of the contract should have been ascertained, and a judgment directed determining the rights of these litigants arising out of the bond and the completion of the contract. This is essentially an equitable action for the adjustment of the rights arising between a principal and his sureties, also between the sureties; and the transactions are so connected that the rights of the parties should be determined in this action.
The plaintiff by appropriate exceptions taken to the referee's report and to his refusal to pass upon the important issues arising between the parties, raised the questions herein discussed.
The judgment should be reversed, and a new trial granted before another referee to be appointed by this court, with costs to abide the event.
All concurred, except GREEN, J., not voting.
Judgment reversed and a new trial ordered before another referee to be appointed by this court, with costs to abide the event.