Green v. Patchin

By the Court, Savage, Ch. J.

The only question discussed by the counsel is, whether the reference operated as a discontinuance of the suit ? and to that I shall confine my remarks. That a bare submission to arbitrators is a discontinuance is not disputed, but it is contended that the stipulation provides for the continuance of the cause in court. A reference to some of the cases determined in this court will enable us to decide the qfiestion correctly. In Miller v. Vaughan,1 Johns. R. 315, the cause had been referred by consent, without any rule of court. The court said they would not listen to a motion to set aside the report, only where the cause was referred by rule of court pursuant to the statute; that the court had no control over the referees in such case, and the remedy of the parties was the same as in case of submission to arbitrators. In this case no rule had been entered; but it appears in the case of Camp v. Root, 18 Johns. R. 22, that the entry of a rule did not give the court jurisdiction over the referees and their *295 report, unless the other proceedings directed, by the statute had been observed. That was an action of replevin, and was referred by a rule, by consent, to one referee, and that he report to the court. This court said it was plainly a ease of arbitration ; that the entry of the submission in the minutes of the court, and the direction to malte report to the court, did not authorize the court to give judgment immediately upon the award; that the submission was a discontinuance of the suit. In Johnson v. Parmely, 17 Johns. R. 129, the action was trover, and referred by consent, by rule, in the common rule book, but the court said they would not exercise any summary control over the proceedings ; it was a mere arbitration, and the entry of the rule made no difference. All these cases were not referable under the statute. The case of Yates v. Russell, 17 Johns. R. 461, was not referable; but in that case the stipulation contained more than a mere reference : it provided for the entry of judgment upon the report of the referees, and a rule for judgment upon the report was entered. The court for the correction of errors refused to set aside this judgment; not because the judgment was according to the statute. It was admitted by Chancellor Kent, who delivered the unanimous opinion of the court, that it was a reference at common law. But the plaintiff in error was not permitted to allege for error, a rule for reference and judgment on the report, where the reference and the judgment were in pursuance of his own consent in writing. So in the case of Camp v. Root, above cited, this court refer particularly to the stipulation authorizing the entry of judgment, and consider it equivalent to a plea of confession for that amount. Also, in Ex parte Wright, 6 Cowen, 399,ajudgment was to be entered on the report; the cause was to be continued in court by the stipulation, and therefore it should not operate as a discontinuance. It is argued in the present case that the cause was to be continued, as the parties had provided for the making a case, with a view to set aside the report. The answer to which is, that the cause being one in which a reference could not be made under the statute, the court have no jurisdiction over the referees or their report, any more than they have over arbitrators and their award, independent of any statute provis *296 ion. Where a judgment has been entered according to the written agreement of the parties, without fraud, the court will permit the parties to enforce it, and will not interfere to set it a^e, or examine its merits. 8 Cowen, 136, 2 Wendell, 595 , 9 id. 480, contain principles applicable to this case. The result is this : that in all actions not referable under the statute, if the parties refer the cause to referees, by stipulation or rule, or both, and merely provide that the referees report, such reference is an arbitration, and operates as a discontinuance. But if the stipulation of the parties provides that a judgment shall be entered upon the report or award, and judgment is entered accordingly, the parties are concluded by their agreement, and cannot be heard to allege that the reference and judgment were not warranted by law.

According to this rule, the reference in the case now before us was a discontinuance of the suit. This court has no control over the report; but had the stipulation authorized the entry of a judgment, such judgment might have been entered and enforced. The plea is good in substance, and the defendant is entitled to judgment upon the demurrer.