Wirgman v. Hicks

Headnote

Pleadings on Rote.—Sham Answer.—Requisites of Affidavits on Motion.

An answer to a complaint on a promissory note setting up matter,—e. g. fraud in the inception of the note, which, if proved, will call upon the plaintiff to show himself to be a bona fide indorsee for value, before maturity,—is not to be stricken out as sham, because the defendant’s affidavits do not fully deny the allegations of the plaintiff’s affidavits setting out his title.

That the plaintiff is such a holder, the defendant has a right to require shall be established by a jury.

On a motion to strike out a pleading as sham, the pleader is not obliged to disprove the allegations of the affidavits of the moving party respecting matters not presumed to be within the pleader’s knowledge, even though the matters are such as, if proved, will avoid the defence set up in the pleading.

Motion that defendant’s answer be stricken out as sham.

The action was against the defendant as maker of a promissory note. The complaint, after showing the making of the note, payable to the defendant’s own order, averred “ that the said defendant, the payee of the said note, in writing indorsed the same in blank, and that the same was transferred and delivered to the plaintiffs, who are now the lawful owners and holders thereof.” The answer of the defendant stated “ that he never received any value for the making and indorsing of the promissory note mentioned in the complaint, and that the same was so made and indorsed without any consideration whatever; and he says that his signature was obtained thereto as maker and indorser, by false and fraudulent pretences, by” A., B., and 0., naming third parties, and setting forth the false representations by which the note was obtained. And defendant further says, “ upon information and belief, that the said plaintiffs never gave any value for said note, and that they are not tona fide holders thereof, and gave no consideration whatever therefor.”

The moving affidavits stated “ that the plaintiffs were the tona fide holders of the note for a valuable consideration paid by them therefor in cash; that they purchased the same before

maturity, and that they became such holders and owners thereof without notice of any of the matters set up in the defendant’s answer.” Admissions of the defendant, and promises to pay the note, made in conversation with the plaintiffs at the time of the plaintiffs’ purchase of it, and before and after suit brought, were also alleged.

The affidavits on the part of the defendant were to the effect, that in the conversation which took place after the commencement of the action, he distinctly spoke of the fraud committed on him, by which the note was obtained, and that he had not discovered it until after suit brought; and that the parties who committed the fraud would, he presumed, settle the matter, if an extension was given, and if not, in the mean time he would determine what course he would pursue; and denied that he then made any promise to pay the note.