People Ex Rel. Goring v. . Wappingers Falls , 151 N.Y. 386 ( 1897 )

The relator was elected a police justice at the village election held in Wappingers Falls on the third Tuesday of March, 1894.

The trustees of the village refused to recognize the relator, whereupon he applied for a peremptory writ of mandamus to compel them to act in the premises as required by law.

The Special Term granted the writ and this court affirmed the order of the General Term, which slightly modified and affirmed the original order. (144 N.Y. 616.)

The relator noticed a motion for April 19th, 1895, on the remittitur of this court for the usual order in the court below and also that he would require his damages to be assessed herein.

On the return day of this motion the attorneys for the respective parties entered into a written stipulation, upon which an order was entered appointing a referee to take proof for the purpose of enabling the court to assess the damages of the relator.

The referee was directed to return the testimony, and upon the filing of this report the motion on the remittitur was to be brought to hearing on a three days' notice.

The relator took his proofs, the motion was brought on for final hearing at Special Term August 9th, 1895, and the court refused to consider the question of damages on the proofs for the reason that, as a peremptory writ of mandamus was granted in the first instance, there was no "final order," as defined by the Code of Civil Procedure (§ 2082), and that no cause of action to recover damages for a false return existed (§ 2088) which permitted relator to elect to have his damages awarded to him in this proceeding.

It was also held that if the order of the Special Term granting the peremptory writ could be deemed a "final order," it was too late to assess the damages in this proceeding, as the relator should have indicated his election to have this done upon the making and entry of that order.

It is true that the sections of the Code of Civil Procedure referred to (2082, 2088) contemplate the issuing of an alternative writ of mandamus in the first instance and due proceedings thereunder which result in an order for the peremptory writ, but it would be a narrow and unreasonable construction of these provisions to hold that the order granting the peremptory writ after a litigation in the nature of an action under section 2082 carries with it greater advantages or rights than a similar order entered upon motion.

It is the evident intent of the legislature that a relator who has secured his final order for the peremptory writ ought not to be driven to his action for damages and subjected to the delays incident to a second litigation, but if he so elects the court must award him his damages in the pending proceeding.

The relator, under this construction of section 2088, was entitled, had he so elected at the time he entered his final order at Special Term for the peremptory writ on the second day of June, 1894, to an award of his damages against the defendants. It is admitted that the relator failed to avail himself of this provision in his favor and did not seek to exercise his right of election until he moved for an order on the remittitur of this court.

We would be inclined to agree with the learned court below, that it was then too late for the relator to insist upon an assessment of his damages in this proceeding, and that he should resort to his action, were it not for the stipulation already referred to which permitted the taking of proofs as to damages.

The Supreme Court did not refer to this stipulation, and evidently failed to consider it or give it any weight.

The relator, relying upon the stipulation, postponed the hearing of his motion upon the remittitur of this court for nearly four months, and in the interval incurred the expense of taking his proofs as to damages.

We think this stipulation and the action thereon must be regarded as a waiver on the part of defendants of any right to object to the relator's failure to elect in due season to have his damages awarded in this proceeding.

We agree with the counsel for the defendants that the stipulation ought not to be construed as an admission of the existence of a valid claim for damages. It is, however, an admission that the relator is entitled to have his damages, if any exist, assessed and awarded in this proceeding, and it is the duty of the Special Term to consider the proofs submitted.

The question as to the proper items constituting the damages which relator is entitled to recover in this proceeding, although discussed in the briefs, is not before us on this appeal.

The order appealed from should be reversed, with costs, and this proceeding remitted to the Special Term to assess and award to the relator such damages, if any, as his proofs may warrant.

All concur.

Ordered accordingly.