Dain v. . Wycoff

It is abundantly settled by authority that in order to sustain an action of this description it must appear that the relation of master and servant existed at the time the injury complained of was committed. The action is founded on the loss of service, and in order to maintain it the relation must be actual or constructive. If the plaintiff is not receiving the services of his daughter at the time he must be in a situation and have the legal right to *Page 195 command them at pleasure. In this case the plaintiff's daughter was not at the time she was seduced and got with child his servant but was the servant of the defendant, who had the legal right to and was actually receiving her services. In the late case of Bartley v. Richtmyer (4 Coms. 38), Bronson, Ch. J., has given the whole subject of the principles of this action a full examination, and it is unnecessary to repeat the views which are there so well stated. The case is in point and in effect decides this. According to the principles held by this court in the case referred to it is impossible for the plaintiff in the present case to sustain an action upon the proof which was given at the trial.

Judgment reversed and new trial ordered.