Evens v. Hall

It is difficult to determine, whether the counterclaim set up in the answer, was intended to be pleaded as a set-off to the plaintiff’s demand, or as a counterclaim, in the proper sense of the word. Viewed in either aspect, however, it seems improperly presented in the present case.

1. As a set-off it presents a claim for unliquidated damages, which is contrary to all received ideas of a set-off' as such. Whether the Code intended to use the word “ set-off” in its original and accepted sense, as applicable only to cases of certain and liquidated demands, or to enlarge its meaning so as to embrace all cases of claim for damages arising upon contract, is not perhaps certainly apparent. It furnishes no definition of the term, but simply provides, § 98: “ that the defendant may set forth “as many grounds of defence, counterclaim, and set-off, “as he may have, whether legal or equitable, or both;” with this limitation, § 97, that “a set-off can only be “pleaded in an action founded on contract, and must be “a cause of action arising upon contract, or ascertained “by the decision of the Court.” The language of this latter section standing alone, certainly admits of an interpretation which would justify a set-off of any claim, whatever, arising upon contract, in any action whatever founded on contract, whether the damages in either case were liquidated or unliquidated. But it by no means follows, that such was the intention of the Code. On the contrary, it is a cardinal rule of construction, that words in common use are to be taken in their ordinary acceptation ; and terms of art, or of precise legal signification, according to their usual technical or legal import. The word “set-off,” in legislation, has been in long and con*436stant use, and has acquired as precise and fixed meaning as any other legal term in vogue. And that is one, which limits its application to cases of liquidated demand.

That this application of the term was not intended to be changed, is apparent from the fact that the word is used in the prior section of the Code, without qualification or explanation, except, that in the true spirit of the Code, it applies to equitable, as well as legal claims. But it is still more apparent from the § 95 of the Code, which provides, that “if the defendant omit to set up his counterclaim or set-off, he cannot recover cost against the plaintiff, in any subsequent action thereon. Now it is exceedingly difficult to believe, that it was intended to refuse costs to a plaintiff in an action for a breach of marriage promise, who has failed to set up such a breach by way of set-off to an action against him, or her, on a promissory note, or for the non-performance of a contract for the conveyance of land. Before yielding to such a consequence, and to an innovation which would produce almost irremediable confusion in the blending together in one common trial of the most inconsistent and diverse issues, I must be compelled by language so clear and unequivocal, as to have no reason for hesitation. Such is not the purport of the language used in the present instance; for whilst it declares, that a set-off can only be pleaded in an action founded on a contract, &c., (the original idea of set-off,) it does not declare that it shall or may be pleaded, in all such actions, nor in any other, than those in which it was theretofore proper.

2. As a counterclaim, in the proper sense of that word, it is very clear that this- defence has been improperly pleaded. The 94th Sec. of the Code defines a counter*437claim to be one which “arises out of the contract or transaction set forth in the petition, as the foundation of thé “plaintiff’s claim, or connected with the subject of the ac- ■ “tion.” To be allowed, therefore, it must have some direct connection with the cause of action, set forth in the plaintiff’s petition. In the present case, the contract upon which the petition is founded, is one, whereby the plaintiff undertook to manufacture, upon' certain terms, for the defendant, “percussion seal presses.” The subject of the action is the recovery of the money due from the defendant, as a compensation for the manufacturing of the presses, in pursuance of the contract. With this contract, or subject matter of the action, the claim set up in the answer is wholly unconnected. It demands damages for an alleged breach of contract by the plaintiff, in not assigning to defendant an interest in a certain patent right to manufacture said “presses; ” — a contract entered into at a different time; depending upon a different consideration; relating to a different subject, and requiring wholly different proof from the former.

The plaintiff, however, instead of demurring, has replied over to this defence, and thereby waived any objection which might have been taken by him against its consideration. And as the testimony has all been heard, the Court will not now, of its own motion, refuse to consider it.

The Court thereupon proceeded to examine the case; and the defendant, with the plaintiff’s assent, having amended the answer, so as to demand a judgment of specific performance, instead of damages, a specific performance was finally awarded him; the Court remarking, that such an amendment would not be allowed as a matter of *438course, since if might change the whole condition of the defence.