In an action to recover $1,750 paid pursuant to an oral contract, the appeal is from a judgment of the City Court of Mount Vernon in favor of respondent, entered on the verdict of a jury for $1,750, less $47.32 eoneededly due to appellant. It was alleged in the complaint that respondent orally agreed to lend $1,750 to appellant for the purpose of constructing office space in premises owned by appellant and to be occupied by respondent as a tenant, the money loaned to be repaid by allowing respondent to occupy such space as a tenant at a rental of $125 a month, to be credited by respondent against the money loaned until the loan should be fully repaid. By his first and third counterclaims, appellant sought to recover damages for breach of an oral agreement to the effect that respondent and his former partners should pay $3,500 to appellant as advance rent to be used to construct the office space for which respondent and his partners should pay $100 a month rent, of which $50 should be credited against the advance rent, and respondent and his partners would pay, in addition to the sum advanced as rent, all additional expenses incurred by appellant in the performance of the alteration work necessary to construct the office space. Appellant concedes that the agreement contemplated an oral lease for a term of 70 months. The second counterclaim sought damages for the alleged failure of respondent to procure for appellant a workmen’s compensation insurance policy, for which purpose appellant had advanced $148.28 to respondent. On the trial, appellant was credited with $47.32 on account of a refund of a portion of this premium, which respondent conceded to be due appellant. Appellant contends that the Trial Judge erred in dismissing the three counterclaims and in permitting argument on the motions to dismiss and ruling thereon in the presence of the jury. Judgment, insofar as it dismisses the second counterclaim to the extent of $100.96, reversed, action severed with respect to the issues raised by such counterclaim and the reply thereto, and a
