Wycoff v. Bergen
Wycoff v. Bergen
Opinion of the Court
In the year 1775 the plaintiff obtained a judgment against the defendant in Middlesex County. Shortly after Bergen made an assignment of all his property to certain persons for the benefit of his creditors, many of whom executed releases of their debts. In particular Sergeant, the attorney for the plaintiff on record, signed a discharge for this debt. The plaintiff now brings an action on the judgment, and the question is, whether the acquittance by Sergeant, acting as attorney at law, without any letter constituting him attorney in fact, is a bar to this suit?
I have searched the books on this point with much care. In Roll's Abr. 291, it is said that the power of an attorney at
In Lamb v. Williams
in New-Jersey there cannot exist a doubt with regard to the attorney’s right and power to receive the money and enter satisfaction. Roll says that this was determined by Coke: die practice has always accorded with it, and the consequences of a contrary decision at this day would be highly prejudicial. Indeed in the next case in Roll it is said that an attorney may acknowledge satisfaction or give a receipt, although he does not receive the money. This is adopted also by Comyns in his digest
In Lo ft 320, it is said that where an attorney has given a receipt and discharged a man out of custody, he charges himself with the debt, and he cannot exonerate himself by pleading that a less sum came to his hands. This seems 9o take for granted his power to make an acknowledgment of this nature, even when he had not received the whole,
In this ease however there is enough stated to warrant the presumption that the plaintiff did receive either a part of the debt, or some good consideration for this discharge. His acquiescence during so long a period, amounts to proof of
Judgment for defendant.
Styles 426.
1 Salk. 89.
2 L-l. Ray. 1042.
1 Salk. 86.
Note. See 1 Dall. Somers v. Balabrega accord.
1 Com. Dig. 627, 8. “ Attorney” B. 10.
Note — See Hudson v. Johnson 1 Wash. 10. Reinholdt v. Alberti 1 Binn 469. Jackson Ex-dim, Mc. Crea v. Bartlett 8 Johns. 361. Kellogg v. Gilbert 10 Johns. 220.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.