125 Misc. 830 | N.Y. App. Term. | 1925
Judgment and order denying motion for a new trial unanimously reversed upon the law, with thirty dollars costs to appellant, and judgment directed for the plaintiff for the amount of the check, with interest and appropriate costs in the court below.
The record shows that the verdict was directed for the defendant
The defense of fraud was not established. The Statute of Frauds, even if pleaded, would not have been a defense. The receipt was not sufficient to satisfy the Statute of Frauds. (Pers. Prop. Law, § 85.) But this action was not brought upon the parol contract of sale. It was merely brought upon the check. This was an agreement made by the defendant and signed by him, and hence the statute would not be a defense. Moreover, the statute did not make the contract void but merely rendered it unenforcible by action. (Maddaloni Olive Oil Co., Inc., v. Aquino, 191 App. Div. 51; Mahar v. Harrington Park Villa Sites, 204 N. Y. 231, 235, 236.) „
While the decisions are not unanimous on the point, we think the better considered cases hold that there is a good consideration for the check, as the plaintiff, the seller, has not refused to carry out the agreement, although it could not be enforced against him as there was no sufficient writing to satisfy the statute. (Abbott v. Draper, 4 Den. 51; Graham v. Healy, 154 App. Div. 76, 82; Fleischman v. Plock, 19 Misc. 649; Jones v. Jones, 6 M. & W. 84; cases in note L. K A., 1916-D, pp. 472-482. See, also, other cases referred to and discussed in the report filed in the case now under decision.) The plaintiff still owns the garage and wishes to sell it. He is not in default and is in a position to carry out the agreement.
Present: Cropsey, Lazansky and MacCrate, JJ.