Rosenblatt v. Villamena, 107 N.Y.S. 91

Rosenblatt v. Villamena

107 N.Y.S. 91 | N.Y. App. Term. | 1907

PER CURIAM.

The action was brought for the sum of $57.50, with interest from April 1, 1907, being for rent claimed to be due *92from defendants to the plaintiff. The defendants interposed a denial,, and a counterclaim for $15 for repairs alleged to have been properly chargeable to the landlords. After suit was commenced the defendants paid into court the sum of $42.50, but with no costs or interest. Upon the trial defendants conceded the plaintiff’s claim and succeeded in establishing their counterclaim, and the jury so found. The-judgment, however, was entered as being in favor of the defendants against the plaintiff for the sum of $12 costs.

The plaintiff appeals from the judgment thus rendered, and very properly. The Municipal Court act makes no special provision for a tender, but provides that a defendant may either make a written offer of judgment, with costs, or deposit the amount of his offer, if a sum of money, with the clerk, with like effect as a written offer. Section 148, Municipal Court Act (Laws 1902, p. 1537, c. 580). When such an offer, or a deposit of money, is made, if the plaintiff fails to obtain a more favorable judgment, he cannot recover costs from the time-of making the offer, and must pay the defendant’s costs from that time. It follows, therefore, that unless the deposit is equal to the plaintiff’s claim, with costs, the defendant is not entitled to costs. In the case at bar the plaintiff’s claim was $57.50, conceded to be due. The defendant’s deposit was not equal, together with the amount of his counterclaim, established at $15.50, to the plaintiff’s claim, "with costs” up to the time of such deposit, and the judgment should therefore have been, in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of $42 and costs.

Judgment modified, by directing judgment for the plaintiff for the sum of $42 and appropriate costs in the court below, and, as modified,, affirmed, without costs in this court.

ERLANGER, J., concurs. LEVENTRITT, J., concurs in the result.