Budd v. Morning Telegraph, Inc.

Glennon, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment at Trial Term entered upon a dismissal of the complaint at the close of plaintiff’s case. The action was instituted by the plaintiff to recover $7,650 for the breach by defendant of a contract of employment.

Plaintiff entered into a contract in writing with a corporation, known as Daily Racing Form Publishing Company, on February 16, 1928. The contract was to run for three years. Under its terms plaintiff was to receive $200 per weeET for the period commencing March 1, 1928, and ending February 28, 1929, and a salary of $225 per week for the period of two years commencing March 1, 1929, and terminating February 28, 1931.

Plaintiff was what is known as a handicapper of race horses. It was part of his duty to make selections of probable winners of races at different tracks. He received a list of the entries twenty-four hours in advance, the distance of the races, the weights the horses were to carry, post positions and probable jockeys. Based upon these facts, together with a knowledge of the breeding of the various horses, their owners and trainers, he would forecast an opinion as to the manner in which the horses would finish.

After the contract was entered into, plaintiff was directed by the Daily Racing Form publication to take up his duties in California, although it was executed in New York. The contract was silent as to the place of performance. Much against his will, however, he complied with the directions of his employers. He was very much dissatisfied with the arrangement, since his family resided here, and he felt that, inasmuch as he was kept off “ the streets of the East,” his “ name would just sort of evaporate.”

On April 27, 1929, an article was published by the defendant corporation wherein reference was made to the fact that patrons of the turf were asking “ the whereabouts of Harry Budd, prominent selector and handicapper for various racing publications.” Shortly thereafter one Ralph Kahn, a friend of the plaintiff, communicated with the defendant, informing it of the fact that plaintiff was on the coast. On May thirty-first, Henry Schneider, turf editor of the defendant, telegraphed Kahn at San Francisco, requesting him to phone to him at defendant’s New York number. As a result thereof, the plaintiff communicated with Mr. Schneider. Schneider asked him if he was open to negotiate with the Morning Telegraph. Budd said that he had a contract with Racing Form. A Mr. Jeans, the general manager of the defendant, “ got on the phone” and informed Budd that “ We will assume all responsibilities for any contract.” Pursuant to request, a copy of the Racing Form contract was forwarded to the defendant. On June fourth the following “ extra rush ” telegram was concededly sent to Kahn:

“ Ralph Kahn, 225 Hyde St.

“ Nathan Burkan advises Budd contract not binding stop Telegraph will assume remainder of contract at same terms and legal expense if any stop Advise when Budd can report here.

“ PAUL G. JEANS,

“ General Manager.”

After the receipt of that message, on June fifth, pursuant to another telegram, the plaintiff talked on the telephone first to Mr. Schneider and then to Mr. Jeans. He was informed by the latter, “ You have nothing to fear or nothing to worry about. The Telegraph will protect you in every which shape, manner and form.” Plaintiff said that he would like to have transportation money before he would come on. The reply was, “ We are wiring you $300 immediately.” The money was received and plaintiff came to Ne,w York. . » -

in company with Mrs. Budd and Mr. Kahn, he visited the office of the Morning Telegraph and there met Mr. Schneider, Mr. Jeans and Mr. Moore, the owner and president of the company. It was suggested by Budd after he agreed to enter the employ of the defendant that the contract between him and the defendant should be reduced to writing. At Mr. Moore’s direction, Mr. Jeans accompanied the plaintiff, his wife and friend to Mr. Burkan’s office. The latter on being informed of the purpose of the visit said, referring specifically to the telegram set forth at length herein, “ This is your contract right here * * *. There is nothing else necessary. There is absolutely nothing to worry about.” A letter was prepared by Mr. Burkan, and signed by the plaintiff, addressed to the Daily Racing Form, wherein Budd informed the latter in substance that he had made up his mind to accept other employment on account of his “ unhappiness and dissatisfaction ” due to the treatment he received from Racing Form, j

Plaintiff entered the employ of the defendant company and carried out bis contract for a period of about thirteen months. At the end of that time one Mr. M. L. Annenberg became the president of the defendant corporation in place of Mr. Moore. He was president of the Daily Racing Form Publishing Company at the time plaintiff entered into the contract with it in February, 1928, and also acted in that capacity when the notice on plaintiff’s ¡part that he did not intend to carry out the contract was received (by it in June, 1929.

On or about July 5, 1930, Mr. Jeans, the defendant’s manager, informed plaintiff that Mr. Annenberg had purchased the Morning Telegraph and, as a consequence, that his services were no longer required. A check in the sum of $675 was tendered to plaintiff, which covered the amount of salary due for one week and two additional weeks in advance. Plaintiff refused to accept it since he noted that it had a statement on it “ pay in full.” Subsequently he obtained a check in the sum of $225 which was the amount actually due on that day. His contention was that he was ready, willing and able to perform the contract.The complaint was dismissed on the theory that the contract in suit “ was. based on fraudjn that it is based upqn_the inducement of the breach of another contract.”

We believe that the plaintiff proved facts sufficient to establish at least a prima facie cause of action. Plaintiff had a legal right to repudiate his contract with the Daily Racing Form publication. The latter, it is true, might have had a cause of action against plaintiff. It might well be, in view of the circumstances out of which the dissatisfaction of Budd grew, that he would ha^e been permitted to explain that it was not within the contemplation of the parties at the time the contract was entered into, to have plaintiff render his services at a place distant some 3,000 miles from bis home and defendant’s main place of business. That may have been the reason why this defendant corporation informed plaintiff, on the advice of counsel, that the contract was not binding upon him. In any event he would have the right to present his version of the facts in a suit based upon a breach of the Racing Form contract to a court, in order to have determined the question as to whether or not he would be held answerable in damages. He could, if he saw fit, have held himself in readiness to. pay to the Racing Form Publishing Company any amount as damages which might be assessed against him, if it were found that he had no justification for breaking his contract. The fact remains that, while the original contract had a provision in it which might have entitled the Daily Racing Form to an injunction restraining Budd from the performance of his contract with the defendant, nevertheless, no action was instituted against him by bis former employer either in equity or at law. We cannot say on this record that the plaintiff and this defendant were in pari delicto in so far as the Racing Form contract was concerned. The defendant corporation may have been guilty of a wrong for inducing plaintiff to repudiate his agreement. However, it does not follow therefrom that this plaintiff was guilty of any wrongful or fraudulent conduct on his part.

It is unnecessary to review at length the four excellent opinions which were written in Reiner v. North American Newspaper Alliance (259 N. Y. 250). The respondent relies on that case as an authority to sustain this judgment. We do not read it that way. In that case Reiner, unquestionably, was guilty of misconduct in violating the terms of his contract of passage, which were imposed as a condition precedent to his right to take a trip on the Graf Zeppelin He promised that he would give no interviews and send no reports of the passage while en route and for eight days after the completion of the flight. With that arrangement in mind he contracted with the defendant to furnish it with information while en route in violation of his contract with the owners of the Graf. The reasons why he was not permitted to succeed are concisely summed up by Judge Crane (at p. 259) as follows: “ The Graf Zeppelin was about to make a record flight from Germany to America and the events happening from start to finish would be of extreme interest to the news reading public. To obtain this news it was necessary to travel in the ship. While in transit the news was a secret, known only to those making the flight. The owners of the ship, therefore, had the right to keep this news to themselves the same as they had the right to possess any other property, at least, until the landing of the ship. Those in authority could impose as a condition for taking passage the promise and agreement not to reveal, by radio or otherwise, these secrets, these matters of news interest. The plaintiff obtained permission to go aboard the ship and to fly across the Atlantic upon his promise and agreement that he would not give out any accounts of the journey or the happenings on the passage. He was trusted; he was believed; he obtained the confidence and the secrets of the Graf Zeppelin people. And this he did, it is alleged, for the very purpose of betraying that confidence, defrauding the owners and violating his trust. He now comes into court and asks the judiciary of this State to help him recover money from the defendant for his fraudulent and deceitful conduct. The defendant, he says, promised to pay him for his betrayal.”

In the case now under consideration, however, we have on the part of plaintiff a mere repudiation of contract, something which he_aould not have contemplated at the time he entered into the agreement with Racing Form in February, 1928. He did . no “ wrong ” in breaching it. If_.„wrong there was, it was solely on the part of the defendant corporation, which is attempting to take advantage of it.

For the reasons assigned herein, we believe the judgment should be reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the event..

Finch, P. J., and Townley, J., concur; Merrell and Untermyer, JJ., dissent and vote for affirmance.