61 N.Y. St. Rptr. 88

Louis Biel, Resp’t, v. Edward H. Horner, App’lt.

(New York Common Pleas, General Term,

Filed August 1, 1894.)

Conversion—When does not lie.

Where merely the fact that an exchange of bonds for the certificate took place and that a return of the bonds was subsequently demanded and refused, is shown, an action for conversion does not lie, in the absence of any claim of misrepresentation inducing the exchange.

Appeal from a judgment of the district court in the city of' New York for the fourth judicial district, rendered by the justice without a jury, in favor of the plaintiff. Action for conversion of certain bonds.

John L. Lindsay, for app’lt; August P. Wagener, for resp’t.

Bischoff, J.

It appears that the plaintiff’s assignor surrendered the bonds in suit to an agent of defendant, receiving in return a certificate by the terms of which certain securities were to be delivered to the former upon payment of instalments aggregating $300. It is to be gathered from the testimony of the plaintiff’s assignor that the bonds so surrendered were understood to be received in part payment of the total number of instalments, and it is admitted that no further payments were made by the said assignor upon the certificate. This action was brought for the conversion of the bonds surrendered as above, and judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff. While it would appear from the evidence relative to the nature of these instruments that they came within the rule of Kohn v. Koehler, 96 N. Y. 862, and therefore were not to be viewed as lottery tickets, yet it is unnecessary to decide the point since the judgment cannot be sustained upon the pleadings and proof. G-ranting that the individual to whom the bonds were delivered was the agent of defendant, the evidence fails to establish the fact that the possession, retention or disposal of the chattels, thus attributable, w»as in any way tortious. Plaintiff’s assignor voluntarily parted with the bonds, receiving in return the certificate as above noted. No evidence is given as to any attempt upon her part to obtain the benefits contemplated by the transaction, with a resulting failure, there is no claim that misrepresentations in any way led to the exchange of her securities for the certificate received, and we have merely the fact that the transaction took place, and that a return of the bonds was subsequently demanded and refused. No remedy lies upon such a state of *89facts in an action for conversion. Errors appear in rulings on the trial, but in view of the conclusion reached by us upon the facts, it is unnecessary to discuss them. Judgment reversed and new trial ordered with costs to appellant to abide the event. Bookstaver, J., concurs.

Biel v. Horner
61 N.Y. St. Rptr. 88

Case Details

Name
Biel v. Horner
Decision Date
Aug 1, 1894
Citations

61 N.Y. St. Rptr. 88

Jurisdiction
New York

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