Opinion
March 12, 1952.
Present — Taylor, P.J., McCurn, Vaughan, Kimball and Piper, JJ.
Order reversed, on the law, with $10 costs and disbursements, and motion denied, with $10 costs. Memorandum: In our view of the record, the defendant-appellant is entitled to a new trial in the County Court. In his notice of appeal from the judgment for $195.10 rendered against him in Justice's Court, he demanded a new trial in the appellate court. He was entitled thereto, provided the plaintiff-respondent demanded judgment for more than $100 in his complaint. (Justice Ct. Act, § 442.) While the return filed by the Justice does not conform to the provisions of section 438, we think that sufficient appears therein to defeat respondent's apparent contention that the case was tried before the Justice and a jury without joinder of issue and without pleadings either written or oral. While the docket book of the Justice is not available — it having been lost or inadventently destroyed — the necessary inferences from the return are that there were oral pleadings, that the plaintiff demanded judgment for damage in the sum of $195.10 to plaintiff's automobile by reason of defendant's negligence which was denied by an oral answer. All concur. (Appeal from an order of Wyoming County Court, CONABLE, J., dismissing defendant's appeal to the County Court for a new trial and transferring the appeal to the law side of the court. The original trial was before Town of Wethersfield Justice's Court, STEVENS, J.P., and a jury, who found for plaintiff in an automobile negligence action.)