19 Wend. 285 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1838
By the Court,
The replication is bad for duplicity, and the demurrer is special. The pleader has attempted to put several things in issue : first, that the demands mentioned in the declaration were not in fact submitted ; second, that the parties did not intend to submit those matters; third, that the arbitrators did not award up on those matters; and fourth, that the arbitrators did not direct a release as mentioned in the plea, nor any release of the cause of actions mentioned in the declaration.
The replication is also objectionable on other grounds. It alleges that the demands mentioned in the declaration were not intended to be submitted. What the parties intended to do, depends on the true construction of the submission ; and what they have done, cannot be controlled by any averment in pleading. Again : the plaintiff says, the arbitrators did not award any release whereby the causes of action mentioned in the declaration were released. This is an attempt to put in issue matter of law for the decision of a jury.
If the plaintiff wished to deny the submission, he should have tendered a direct issue upon that fact alone; and so of the award. If the question which he wished to present, was upon the legal effect of the submission, he should have demurred after setting it out; and if he wished to try the legal effect of the award, he should have craved oyer, set it out and demurred.
It is probable, judging from the argument, that the pleader intended to say, that whatever may be the construction of the submission, although it may be broad enough to in elude the promises mentioned in the declaration, yet those matters were not in fact laid before the arbitrators, and they made no award concerning them. An award properly made in pursuance of the authority conferred on the arbitrators, is conclusive as to all matters to which the submission extends, whether any particular matter included in the submission was laid before the arbitrators or not. Wheeler
■ No objection has been taken to the form of the plea; and after what has been said, it is only necessary to inquire whether the submission was broad enough to include the demands for which the action is brought. The submission
A leading object in submissions to arbitration, is to make peace and put an end to legal controversies; and the agreement of the parties ought to be liberally construed in furtherance of that object. In the case at bar, the submission is almost as comprehensive as words could make it. There is nothing indicating the intention of confining the arbitrators to joint demands of the plaintiff and Ryckman against the defendant. If the parties intended any such limitation, it is reasonable to suppose that they would have inserted some qualifying words in the submission.
The replication being bad, must be laid out of view. The case then stands on the plea. That sets up a submission broad enough to include the demands for which this action is brought; and the legal intendment is, that they were actually adjusted by the arbitrators. For the reasons already assigned, I think the plaintiff is not at liberty to allege that those demands were not in fact laid before the arbitrators and passed upon by them. But the plaintiff, if .he shall be so advised, may amend and put that question on the record.
Since issue was joined on the demurrer, the plaintiff has proceeded to trial and obtained a verdict on the issue in fact; and it is therefore objected that he cannot have leave to amend.' When judgment is given against the defendant on demurrer after a verdict for the plaintiff on an issue of fact, it is settled that the defendant shall not have leave to amend. Hallet v. Holmes, 18 Johns. R. 28. And in England, it seems that this rule is applicable to the plaintiff where judgment is given against him on demurrer. 2 Saund. 300, note 3. 1 Saund. 80, note 1. But the question of amendment is, in general, addressed to the discretion of the court, and the plaintiff has been allowed to amend under smilar circumstances. Booth v. Smith, 5 Wendell,
Ordered accordingly.