Recknagel v. Steinway

| N.Y. App. Div. | Jul 1, 1901

Lead Opinion

Ingraham, J.:

The action was brought to recover upon a contract under seal, ■dated June 24, 1895, by which the defendants’ testator agreed to pay to the defendant Roesler and another, as trustees, annually a sum of money for the support of the plaintiff and her children. The contract recites that the plaintiff is the wife of one George A. ■Steinway, a son of the defendants’ testator ;■ that said George A. .Steinway was unable to support and maintain the plaintiff and to ■support, maintain and educate the children of the said George A. Steinway and the plaintiff, and that the defendants’ testator was desirous of maintaining and supporting the plaintiff, and of supporting, maintaining and educating the said children, and that “ in consideration of the premises and of the covenants hereinafter contained ■and of the sum of one dollar by each party to the other in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged,” the defendants’ testator “ agrees to pay over to August Roesler and Louis von Bernuth, as trustees of and for the use of the party of the second part (the plaintiff), .the sum of six thousand dollars per annum, from the first day of July, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, to. the first day of July, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, in quarterly payments of fifteen hundred dollars each on the first days of July, October, January and April in each of said years, for the support and maintenance of the .said party of the second, part and for the support, maintenance and education of ” the children of the said George A. Stein way and the plaintiff; and thereafter, from the 1st day of July, 1898, until the said Gertrude Marguerite, the. youngest of the said children, or the last survivor of said children, should arrive at the age of twenty-one years, “ to pay unto the said August Roesler and Louis von Bernuth, as trustees as aforesaid, the sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars annually, in quarterly payments of one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five dollars each on the first days of July, October, January and April in each of said years.” The plaintiff covenanted- and. agreed that she would support and maintain herself, and support, maintain and educate the said children and provide a home for them out of the proceeds of the sums agreed to be paid to the said trustees for her benefit, in such manner as should be most advisable for the welfare of herself and the said children; and further agreed that she would not enforce or attempt, to enforce any judgment, order or decree' of any court or judge entitling the plaintiff to recover or collect from the said George A, Steinway any alimony, allowance or other provision for the support and maintenance of herself, or for the support, maintenance and education of the said children. It was also provided that the agreement should be binding upon the heirs, executors and administrators of the defendants’ testator. The two trustees also executed an instrument whereby they agreed to carry out and perform all-' the covenants and conditions pursuant to the terms of the above agreement to be carried out and performed. The defendant executors by their answer admitted the execution of the agreement; that the plaintiff was the wife of. the said George A. Steinway, and that since the death of the defendants’ testator they had neglected to pay the said quarterly payments for the reason that they owed no duty to do so. There was no allegation Of the complaint denied except the' allegation that defendants’ testator, “ for a good and valuable consideration,” entered into the agrees ment. The defendants then set up four separate and distinct offenses, to each of which the plaintiff demurred, and the demurrers being sustained the defendant executors appeal.

To support this appeal the defendants attack the complaint, claiming that it does not set up a cause of action, in that the agreement sued on is without consideration, and, therefore, cannot be enforced. The agreement is under seal. There is no allegation in the answer that the agreement was without consideration, the defendants attacking the sufficiency of the cause of action alleged upon the ground that the consideration expressed in the agreement is not a sufficient consideration to support the covenants to pay. It seems to me that' the learned counsel for the appellants fails to properly appreciate the legal presumptions that apply to a covenant Under seal. At common law the consideration of a sealed instrument could not be inquired into. The seal imports a consideration. (Johnson v. Miln, 14 Wend. 198,) This rule; however, was changed by the Revised Statutes, wherein it was provided that in every action upon a sealed instrument the seal thereof shall only be presumptive evidence of a sufficient consideration, which may be rebutted in the same manner and • to the same extent as if such instrument were not sealed, (2 R. S. 406, § 77.) The effect of that provision “ undoubtedly is to put the defence to actions upon bonds and other sealed instruments, so far as relates to a partial or a total want of consideration, on the same footing as if the suit was brought upon a ’ promissory note or other instrument not under seal and which purported to have been founded, upon a good or valuable consideration, except so far as relates to the form of pleading or of setting up such defence. * * * If there is a total want of consideration, the defendant may either plead that defence .in bar of the action, or give it in evidence under a notice upon a plea denying the execution of the instrument declared on. A partial failure of consideration, however, cannot be pleaded in bar under these statutory provisions, for the presumption of a sufficient consideration can only be rebutted in the same manner, and to the same éxtent as if the instrument declared on was not sealed.” (Tallmadge v. Wallis, 25 Wend. 114.) For this provision of the Revised Statutes was substituted section 840 of the Code, which provides that “. A seal upon an executory instrument, hereafter executed, is only presumptive evidence of a sufficient consideration, which may be rebutted as if the instrument was not sealed.” ■'

The instrument being under seal, consideration was presumed. •The fact that there was a consideration must be presumed upon demurrer. That presumption, however, may be rebutted as if the instrument was not sealed. It seems to have been the rule that in order to attack the'consideration to an instrument not under seal, purporting to have been executed upon a good consideration, it is incumbent on the defendant previous to the trial to give distinct notice to the plaintiff’s attorney to prove the consideration; that notice must be given within a reasonable time before the trial. (Saund. PI. 305.) Under the. provisions of the Code, where the instrument is under seal, , it seems to have been held that the defendant, in order to attack the consideration, must allege that the instrument was without consideration; or, in other words, a want of consideration is an affirmative defense which must he alleged and proved by the defendant. (Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Yates Co. Nat. Bank, 35 A.D. 218" court="N.Y. App. Div." date_filed="1898-07-01" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/mutual-life-insurance-v-yates-county-national-bank-5185118?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="5185118">35 App. Div. 218 ; Hazleton v. Webster, 20 id. 186 ; Torry v. Black, 58 N. Y. 188.) The complaint, therefore, alleges a good cause of action, and upon demurrer to the several separate defenses it must be determined whether each of them as alleged is sufficient in law upon the face thereof. (Code Civ. Proc. § 494.)

• 'It is well settled that each separate defense must' be complete in itself, and that such a defense will be adjudged bad on demurrer unless the fact alleged constitute a defense to the cause of action, or some part thereof; The pleader in this case has prefaced each separate defense with a statement that, for a separate and distinct defense, “ They repeat, reiterate and insist upon'each and every of-the denials heretofore, set forth -in this amended answer, and repeat, reiterate and insist upon each and.every of the allegations contained in the second, third and fourth-defenses of this amended answer, and make the said denials and the said allegations, and each • of them, apart of this first defense, with the same force and effect as if the same were herein specifically' set forth; ” thus by a general allegation attempting to import into each sejiarate defense all of the allegations óf the answer which are denials of the facts alleged in the complaint, of allegations of fact constituting separate defenses. Such an attempt to import into a separate defense the other allegations of tlie answer constituting denials or other specific defenses violates the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure (§ 507); that each defense or counterclaim must be separately stated and numbered, and is distinctively bad pleading. "While it is. not always necessary to repeat in a separate defense an allegation of fact or denial else where expressly alleged in the answer, yet where it is sought to make as a part of a separate defense a specific denial or an allegation of a specific fact otherwise alleged, the particular denial or fact thus sought to be incorporated must be specified.. As, however, no material fact required to be alleged in the complaint-was denied by the answer, and as we think these four defenses, whether taken separately or together, are “ insufficient in law upon the face-thereof,” the.question as to the form of the defenses is not material.

The first defense alleged in substance that there never was any judgment, order or decree of any court or judge entitling the plaintiff to recover or collect from her husband, George A. S'teinway, any alimony, allowance or other provision for the support and maintenance of herself, or for the support, maintenance and education of the children of the said George A. Steinway. As'a consideration for the contract was presumed, it is no defense to an action upon the contract that the plaintiff never obtained a judgment against George A. Steinway compelling him to support herself and her children. If in this action the consideration of the contract could be inquired into and the plaintiff relied upon her relinquishment of the right to enforce a judgment or decree against George A. Steinway as a consideration- for the agreement, the allegation that there was no such judgment or decree would present for determination the question as to whether, in the absence of such a decree, the agreement of the plaintiff not to enforce such a decree furnished a cqnsideration. But-as the question of consideration cannot under the pleadings be inquired into, it is entirely immaterial whether or not there was such a, decree; and. the fact that there was not such a decree was, therefore, no defense to the action, it oidy being material upon the question of consideration, and upon the pleadings as they stand a consideration is presumed.

The second defense alleged that at the time of making the agreement sued on it “ was collusively and fraudulently arranged and agreed by and between the plaintiff herein and her husband, the said George A. Steinway., that she should proceed to .the city of Fargo, in the State of North Dakota, and procure an absolute divorce from the said George A. Steinway on grounds which are not allowed by, and are in violation of, the laws of .the State of New York ; ” that in pursuance of this agreement the plaintiff did go to the State of North Dakota and commence, an action for divorce ; that George A. Steinway appeared by attorney and filed an answer; that subsequently the court of North Dakota granted a decree of divorce, and that said decree was collusively and fraudulently obtained, and all the proceedings in said action were carried, out. with the intent to violate the laws of the State of New York and of the State of North Dakota, and to commit a fraud upon said court; that at the time the plaintiff entered into the agreement alleged in the complaint she was engaged to be married to one Carl Recknagel of the city of New York and was thereafter married, to him in the month of December, 1895 ; and that the fact of such' engagement and' intended marriage was ■ concealed from the said. William Stein way at the time the said alleged agreement was entered into. We cannot see that these facts have any possible relation to the right of the plaintiff to recover upon the agreement set forth in the complaint. There is nothing to justify a finding that this agreement was induced by fraud. Whether-or. not George A. -Steinway and the plaintiff had agreed that á collusive suit should be brought in the State of North Dakota by which the plaintiff was to obtain a divorce, and whether or mot such an agreement was .in violation of the laws of the State of New York, or carried out with intent to violate these laws, has certainly no relation to the enforcement of this agreement, An agreement formally and intelligently executed, under seal, is certainly not voided by the mere allegation that a fact which might have influenced one of the parties to the agree ment, if it had been known,, was concealed from him. To avoid a contract for such a reason there must be an allegation which would justify a finding that the contract was void for fraud. There is certainly nothing here alleged that would justify such a finding.

The third defense is that before the making of the agreement the defendants’ testator - procured to be issued by a life insurance company a policy of insurance in the sum of $30,000 upon the life of the said George A. Steinway and paid all premiums upon the said policy to the time of his death, and that by reason thereof the executors of the said George A. Steinway collected and received the proceeds of the said policy. But we cannot perceive that this fact has any possible relation to the enforcement by the plaintiff of this agreement sued on. There is nothing in the pleadings to show that the plaintiff will receive any benefit from such policy; the executors of George A. Steinway are not parties to this action, and there is no connection shown between the execution of the agreement and the procurement or issuance of the policy described. The policy is alleged to have been issued prior to the making of the agreement in suit. The defendants’ testator must have known of the fact .hat he had obtained such a policy when he made the agreement, and as there is no mention of the policy in this agreement, how its existence could in any way affect the enforcement of the agreement it is impossible to see. W,e think, therefore, that this third defense is clearly bad.

What is said as to the third defense applies to the fourth. It is there alleged that the defendants’ testator intended to make a gift to his son George A. Steinway of 500 shares of stock of the corporation of Steinway & Sons ; but that such intention was never carried out, and that William Stein way retained the said shares of stock to enable him by reason of the dividends lie- would receive thereon to make the various payments under the alleged agreement, and that the defendants are informed and believe that the plaintiff on behalf of herself and her children claims the said stock or some interest therein, if it should be adjudged that, the gift of the said stock was perfected. The intention to make a gift of this stock has absolutely no relation to the execution of the agreement, but' if it had, the allegation that the intention to give was never carried out, makes the intention to give the stock entirely immaterial. We think, therefore, that the judgment sustaining the separate defenses to these demurrers should be affirmed.

The interlocutory judgment contains no leave for the defendants to serve an amended answer, and while it is difficult to see how either of these specified defenses could be amended so as to be a good defense, yet as the defendants wish to raise the question of the consideration of the agreement, but because of a failure to allege that the agreement was without consideration that question is not at issue, and as these appellants; * are defending the. action in a representative capacity, we think they should have the right to serve an amended answer, so as to allow them to raise the question as to the existence of a consideration for the covenant of the defendant’s testator. We think the interlocutory judgment should be modified by allowing the defendant executors within twenty- days -to serve an amended answer upon payment of costs in tlie court below,' and as-so. modified -the judgment should be affirmed, with costs to the-respondents to abide the event.

Rümsey, Pattersó’n and Hatch, JJ., concurred.

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Concurrence Opinion

Van Brunt, P. J. (concurring):

The agreement which forms the basis of this action seems to have been intended as a substitute for a decree awarding to the wife of George A. Stein way a certain sum to be paid by the husband'- for the support of herself and her children, and its consideration was apparently the relinquishmentUpon- the part of the wife, for herself' and her children, of the right to enforce, from time to time, this-obligation. It appears to have been the intention to substitute the-.liability of William Stein way under the- "agreement for the obligation of the husband. The agreement was, therefore, a continuing agreement, dependent for its vitality upon the continuance of the-obligation of George A; Stein way, the release of which formed' its consideration. • • ¡.

I do not think that it could- for a moment be contended that if' George A. Stein way had procured a decree of-divorce in this State against the plaintiff and had the custody of the children awarded to him, the plaintiff could have continued to- enforce the payments under this agreement, because the obligation-of George A. Steinway to support the plaintiff, which was the consideration for the agreement, would then have ceased. And so, when that obligation is-ended by death, it may be a serious question whether, the continuing-consideration which supports the agreement having failed, the obligations of the agreement have not also ceased. This agreement-being apparently a substitute -for a decree awarding alimony to the plaintiff for the support of herself and her children, and such a decree ending with the death of George A. Steinwáy, it might be argued that the consideration fell in the same way.

If this is not the true construction of the relation of the parties* then the plaintiff and her children, upon the death of George A. Steinway, would have the benefit of the enjoyment of his estate and also of the income derived from this agreement, which was given to them because they did not enjoy the support, etc., which they were' entitled' to from George A. Stein way or his estate, he being alive.

It may also be a question whether, by the Dakota divorce, the obligations of the agreement were not ended because of the failure of the consideration. Certainly after that time she could not call upon George A. Steinway for support, although his children might do so. As far as the relations between the plaintiff and George A. Steinway were concerned, they were severed by that decree as effectually as they would have been by death. (Kinnier v. Kinnier, 45 N.Y. 535" court="NY" date_filed="1871-05-05" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/kinnier-v--kinnier-3628246?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3628246">45 N. Y. 535.) And this consideration emphasizes another view which might be taken in respect to this agreement, and that is, it may be' doubtful as to whether the plaintiff could barter away the rights of her children for an adequate support from their father. It is undoubtedly true that in decrees for alimony the award is usually made to the wife, in case she is the successful party, and the custody-of the children given to her, the award being made for her support and for the care, custody and maintenance of the children. But such allowances are always subject to the supervision of the court, and if there is a change in the Circumstances of the husband, making a more liberal allowance their just right, the court has the power so to give it. Could -the plaintiff, therefore, bar her children, in case they were entitled to 'a more liberal support than that provided for in this agreement, from asserting this right and insisting upon maintenance upon the part of their father ? Manifestly not. The agreement if valid, therefore, would seem to be of such a character that in case the circumstances of the husband grew worse, so that he could not be called upon to give a support equivalent to that furnished by the agreement, the agreement could be maintained; but if there were such a betterment in his circumstances as entitled his children to a more liberal allowance for their support, education and maintenance, then the agreement would be. no protection. This view is emphasized by the fact that the decree of divorce in the State of Dakota which relieved George A. Stein-way from the obligation to his wife, did not relieve him from his obligation to his children. It seems to me that these suggestions raise questions as to the sufficiency of. the consideration for this agreement which the defendants ought to be allowed to present to the court for adjudication. -

. Under the pleadings as they stand, the question of the sufficiency of the consideration of the agreement cannot be presented. Section 840 of the Code of Civil Procedure reads as follows: “ A seal upon-an executory instrument, hereafter executed, is only ■ presumptive evidence of a sufficient consideration, which may be rebutted, as if the instrument was not sealed.”

In view of the previous history of legislation upon this subject, it would seem that this question of want of consideration, where the instrument sued upon is a sealed instrumentáis a matter of affirmative defense and must be alleged. It is certainly more of an affirmative defense than that of the Statute of Frauds, which must be pleaded, as has recently been held by our courts.

I, therefore, concur in the opinion of Mr. Justice Ingraham.

Judgment modified by allowing the defendant executors within twenty days to serve an amended answer upon payment of costs in the court below, and as so modified affirmed* * with costs, to respondents to- abide event..