New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Geneva) Reports of Referees

Rough chronological order by filing date.

This series consists of reports of referees who were appointed by rule of the court to report the amount of damages (if any) due to a plaintiff in an action which involved complex money accounts. Each report gives the title of the cause, the amount of damages awarded, the signatures of the three referees, and the date of the award. Occasionally the reports are accompanied by a stipulation by the parties that the case be referred, in lieu of a rule of the court; or else by a certified copy of a rule of the court appointing the referees. Attached to a few reports is the signed oath of the referees, by which they swear to "make a just and true report according to the best of our understanding." Referral of complex questions of money accounts, authorized by a law of 1781, was intended to replace, if possible,

actions of assumpsit which had to be brought before a trial jury. Referral of causes was subsequently authorized by legislation of 1813 and 1829.

J1165Series J1165 (Albany)

J2165Series J2165 (Utica) and

J2167Series J2167 (Geneva) Common Rule Books contain court rules to refer causes.

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