Gilbert v. Rothschild

Johnston, J.

The action is to recover $50,000 for personal injuries sustained by plaintiff on January 9, 1935, when he was a passenger in a motor vehicle owned by defendant. The answer, in addition to a general denial, sets up a separate defense alleging that on March 15, 1935, plaintiff, for a good and valuable consideration, executed and delivered to defendant a general release which is pleaded as a bar to the action. Plaintiff in his reply alleges that the release was procured by fraud and misrepresentation of defendant’s agent, who assured him his injuries were minor and inconsequential when, in fact, they were grave and permanent. On December 26, 1936, an order was made directing that the issue raised by the separate defense be tried separately prior to the other issues. At the trial of the issue concerning the validity of the release, plaintiff’s counsel, in his opening and in the colloquy following the opening, admitted the release was executed and delivered by plaintiff and at that time he received seventy-five dollars, which he retained. The court then stated unless the seventy-five dollars was returned the complaint would be dismissed. Plaintiff refused to return the seventy-five dollars, and the complaint was dismissed. Plaintiff appeals.

Plaintiff urges that when he delivered the release he was not aware of the serious nature of his injuries, including a fracture of the skull, and, therefore, when he accepted the seventy-five dollars it was for the minor injuries he suffered, and that he may prosecute his action and recover for the more serious injury then known to defendant but unknown to him. It is not denied that when plaintiff executed and delivered the release and accepted the consideration therefor he knew the nature and purpose of the instrument. The release, which is general in terms and a comprehensive discharge of every liability of defendant, may not be avoided unless it was based on mutual mistake, or mistake on plaintiff’s part and fraud on the part of defendant. Accepting plaintiff’s statement as true, the release, not being tainted with fraud in the factum but fraud in the treaty, is not void but voidable, and until set aside is a complete bar to plaintiff’s cause of action. He may not have the release canceled without returning or tendering what he received at the time he executed and delivered it. If it appeared that plaintiff, in addition to the cause of action pleaded, had another cause of action, and that, contrary to his intent and through mistake on his part and fraud on the part of the defendant, the release included the cause of action pleaded, then the instrument would not bar his right to recover in this action, nor would he be required to return or tender the consideration he received. The reason is obvious. Under such circumstances he would affirm the release but object to its application to his present cause of action. (Kirchner v. N. H. S. M. Co., 135 N. Y. 182.) Here, however, plaintiff had only a single cause of action for personal injuries, and his release is conclusive until canceled. Therefore, as he disaffirms the release and seeks to have it set aside, he must restore or tender to defendant the consideration he obtained by virtue of the contract. (Gould v. Cayuga County National Bank, 86 N. Y. 75, 79.) “ He may not litigate his claim for damages while clinging to the fruits of the contract which he affects to disaffirm.” (Brassel v. Electric Welding Co., 239 N. Y. 78, 81.)

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

Lazansky, P. J., and Adel, J., concur; Davis, J., with whom Taylor, J., concurs, dissents and writes for reversal and a new trial.