145 N.Y.S. 969 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1913
Plaintiffs have brought a taxpayers’ action under section 51 of the General Municipal Law against the above named defendants to compel restitution of the sum of $2,500 paid pursuant to a certain resolution of the board of supervisors of Suffolk county, December 30, 1907, said resolution being as follows:
“Resolved, That the County Judge of Suffolk County be allowed five hundred dollars per annum as salary for a Clerk from the first day of January, 1908, the same to be paid by the County Treasurer out of any money he may have on hand not otherwise appropriated.”
There seems to be no doubt that the board of supervisors were without authority to allow said sum, and under the County Law, section 12, the said resolution was void, and payments thereunder were illegal. See People ex rel. Masterson v. Gallup, 30 Hun, 501; affd., 96 N. Y. 628; Sheldon v. MacArthur, 73 Misc. Rep. 575; affd., 148 App. Div. 908; Shiebler v. Ireland, Special Term, Supreme Court, Suffolk County, Jaycox, J., May 10, 1913.
It seems clear that under section 51 of the General Municipal Law an action to require restitution may be brought in form of a taxpayer’s action, and the point that is seriously disputed by the defendants is whether the action is properly brought against them. At the time of the passage of said resolution by the board of
Under a fair construction of the statute and decisions it seems clear that the above defendants are included within the meaning thereof. See Wakefield v. Brophy, 67 Misc. Rep. 298; Board of Supervisors v. Ellis, supra.
The evidence in this case discloses the following facts: That the defendant Timothy M. Griffing, the then county judge of Suffolk county, at the time of the passing of said resolution by the board of supervisors, was counsel to said board, and also during the times the payments were made under said resolution, and that the defendant Robert P. Griffing is the son
The moneys for the first two years it is admitted were paid direct to the defendant Timothy M. Griffing, and for the following three years they were paid on his certificate or by his order; that is, he certified for them and disposed of them. Both defendants admit that due demand had been made upon them for the return of the moneys which it is claimed were illegally received pursuant to said resolution of the board of supervisors, and that the demand has not been complied with.
The defendant Robert P. Griffing admits the receipt of the moneys, and that the same were paid for services actually rendered to his father, the defendant Timothy M. Griffing. If it be found that the payments under said resolution were illegal, then the defendant Robert P. Griffing, as the recipient or receiver of said fund, is in no position to escape an accounting under the authorities, and at the same time it is obvious that the defendant Timothy M. Griffing, if he received the money, or disposed of it for services rendered to him, received its value in services rendered, or the benefit of said payments, and is likewise liable with the defendant Robert P. Griffing to make restitution.
Counsel for the defendant Timothy M. Griffing insists that the plaintiffs have made strenuous efforts to fasten the .transaction complained of on the wrong
Judgment ordered in favor of plaintiffs and against • the defendants requiring the said defendants to pay the sum of $2,500 into the county funds of Suffolk county, with costs of the action to the plaintiffs.
Judgment accordingly.