52 N.Y. 73, Pulver v. Harris

• Citation: 52 N.Y. 73
• Party Name: EDWARD PULVER, Appellant, v. JOHN C. HARRIS, Respondent.
• Case Date: January 28, 1873
• Court: New York Court of Appeals

Page 73

52 N.Y. 73

EDWARD PULVER, Appellant,

v.

JOHN C. HARRIS, Respondent.

New York Court of Appeal

January 28, 1873

Submitted Dec. 24, 1872.

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COUNSEL

J. P. Butler for the appellant. Plaintiff's attorney had a lien upon the judgment for the costs and damages of the action, which his client could not compromise without his consent. (Voorhees' Code, § 480; 21 How., 293; 12 Abb., 324; 28 N.Y. 365; 18 How., 156; 11 Id., 100; 4 Bosw., 670.) The Code has not affected the lien of the attorney for his costs. (1 E. D. S., 598; 18 N.Y. 368; 12 How., 136; Code, 480, 481.) The liability of the defendant is fixed on the order for a new trial. (Code, § 267; 3 Abb., 35; 1 Cow., 174; 18 How., 157; 16 Wend., 446; 4 T. R., 123; 9 Abb., 370; 15 Id., 342; 7 Id., 210, note; 8 Abb. Dig., 84, § 31; Code, § 177.) Defendant was guilty of gross laches. (10 Wend., 500; 3 Dowl. P., 696; Gr. P., 704.) The attorney's lien extends to a sum agreed upon between attorney and client in addition to taxable costs. (15 Abb., 343, and note; 11 Id., 256; 18 N.Y. 368; 24 How., 321, 480; Voorhees' Code, 481.) After notice the parties have no right to settle the attorney's costs with a view to defraud him. (1 Doug., 238; 4 Bosw., 670; 18 How., 56; 6 Bing., 568; 1 Cow., 174; 3 Abb., 35; 7 Id., 210, and note; 8 J. R., 335; 6 T. R., 362, 363; 1 H. Black., 122; 15 J. R., 497.)

A. Pond for the respondent. The right of action was for an alleged personal tort, and not assignable at law or in equity. (2 R. S., 447, 448, § § 1, 2; People v. Tioga Com. Pls., 19 Wend., 73; McKee v. Judd, 2 Kern., 622; Zabriskie v. Smith, 3 Id., 322; Meech v. Stover, 19 N.Y. 20;

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Haight v. Hoyt, Id., 464; Brooks v. Hanford, 15 Abb., 342; Hodgman v. West. R. R. Co., 7 How., 492; Hoyt v. Thompson, 1 Seld., 320, 347; Purple v. H. R. R. R. Co., 4 Duer, 84; Butler v. N.Y. and E. R. R. Co., 22 Barb., 110; Norton v. Wiswall, 14 How., 42.) Plaintiff's attorney had no lien, and the parties had a right to settle the action. ( Shank v. Shoemaker, 18 N.Y. 489; Brown v. Comstock, 10 Barb., 67; Kirby v. Kirby, 1 Paige, 565; McDonnell v. Appleby, 1 How., 229; Sweet v. Bartlett, 4 Sandf., 661, 663; Benedict v. Harlow, 5 How., 347.) The verdict by default taken on the part of plaintiff was irregular and in violation of his stipulation. (S. C., Rule 13...