8 N.Y.S. 821 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1890
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 December, 18881 why the injunction should not be continued during the pendency of the action. 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 $10 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 ease, however, shows that the ground upon which the court held that no damages 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 Steam-Ship 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
