Engel v. Shubert Theatrical Co.

151 N.Y.S. 593 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1915

Hotchkiss, J.:

The complaint alleges and the answer expressly admits that the plaintiffs and the defendant entered into a contract' in the German language, a copy of which in that language is attached to the complaint. What the complaint alleges to be “ an English translation ” of that contract is also attached to the complaint. Although the correctness of this translation is not admitted by the answer, its correctness as a translation is not disputed on this appeal and was not, so far as the record discloses, disputed below. The German copy does not purport to bear any seal, nor in its text is any reference made to a seal. In the “translation,” opposite the signature of “Dr. 0. F. Eirich,” who, in fact, as the document recites, acted in plaintiffs’ behalf as agent, appears the word “seal.” In this state of the record we do not think it is open to defendant to argue that the original contract is, as to plaintiffs, a sealed instrument, and that, hence, plaintiffs may not sue thereon or claim any benefit arising therefrom. We treat the contract as unsealed. By the contract plaintiffs sold to defendant certain exclusive rights to produce a play called “.The Blue House,” for which defendant was to pay royalties. Thereafter, by means of representations which are alleged to have been fraudulent, defendant is alleged to have induced plaintiffs, for an inconsiderable sum, to release to defendant their rights to all such royalties, and this action is to recover the damages suffered by plaintiffs because of the alleged fraud. Among the provisions of the contract is the following: “ In case of a dispute, both contracting parties agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Vienna courts.” The counsel for the appellant in a very interesting and instructive brief urges us to hold that this clause of the contract not only applies to the present action, but that it is valid and enforcible, and that because of it his client is immune from pursuit with respect of any matter connected with the contract in any jurisdiction save that of the city of Vienna in the Kingdom of Austria. It is not necessary for us to pass upon the question whether an agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of the Viennese courts exclusively would or would not under the circumstances be enforcible in this State. For two reasons we think this record does not present the question. First. We construe the words ‘ ‘ in case of a dispute ” to refer to disputes arising upon or out of the contract. This action does not so arise. As before stated, it is an action for damages for the fraud alleged to have been committed upon the plaintiffs in inducing them to release their rights under the contract. The relation the contract holds to the action is to afford evidence of the rights of the parties and to measure the damages plaintiffs may have suffered. The foundation of the action is the alleged fraud. (Rich v. N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. Co., 87 N. Y. 382.)

Second. By the clause in question the parties do not agree to submit their disputes to the jurisdiction of the Viennese courts and to those courts only. There is nothing exclusive in the language used. They do agree to submit to the Viennese jurisdiction, but they say not a word in restriction of the jurisdiction of courts elsewhere, and whatever may be said on the subject of the legality of contracts to submit controversies to courts of certain jurisdictions exclusively, it is entirely plain that such agreements should be strictly construed and should not be extended by implication.

For these reasons the order appealed from should be affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.

Ingraham, P. J., McLaughlin, Scott and Dowling, JJ., concurred.

Order affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.