Gutman v. Wolfsohn

107 N.Y.S. 546 | N.Y. App. Term. | 1907

GUY, J.

Appeal from judgment rendered in favor of plaintiff. Complaint alleges an account stated amounting to $1,523.16 for goods sold and delivered and moneys loaned, payments thereon to the extent of and a balance due of

On the trial of the action no evidence was introduced by plaintiff as to the stating of the account, which is denied by the defendant. Plaintiff’s. counsel stated to the court: “There are only two items in dispute now; $75 and $30, money loaned. The only thing disputed is that the money was loaned. They admit they didn’t repay it, but they say they never received it.” ' This statement appears to have been uncontradicted.. Plaintiff offered in evidence two checks for the above amounts, which he said he gave to the defendant on the days of their respective dates," and that he was never repaid the amounts. Defendant on the other hand testified that plaintiff came to him and borrowed money to-pay his employés, .in each instance two days before the date of plaintiff’s checks;..that defendant drew his own checks and sent his bookkeeper to the bank, obtained the money, and gave the same to the plaintiff, taking in return therefor the checks of plaintiff dated ahead; and that he never borrowed any money from plaintiff as represented by said checks. He was corroborated by his bookkeeper as to going to the bank, obtaining the money, and handing the same to the plaintiff.

The presumption of law would be that the giving of a check, without evidence as to the circumstances, would be in payment of a debt and not. the making of a loan. Nay v. Curley, 113 N. Y. 577, 21 N. E. 698. While this, presumption of law might be overcome by evidence as to the circumstances under which the checks were given, there is an entire absence of such evidence in this case. The plaintiff does not state that he loaned the defendant.the respective amounts represented by the checks, except so far as the statement is made in his bill of particulars, and the evidence shows clearly that in coming to such conclusion he relies upon his books which are admittedly inaccurate. On the other hand, the defendant absolutely denies the loan, and his testimony is corroborated by that of his bookkeeper and the surrounding circumstances.

The plaintiff has failed to make out his case by a preponderance of evidence, and the court clearly erred in directing judgment in plaintiff’s favor.

Judgment reversed, and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide the event. All concur.