Tuthill v. Schinasi — 141 A.D. 520

Majority

p. 520

William B. Tuthill, Respondent, v. Morris Schinasi, Appellant.

First Department,

December 30, 1910.

Headnote

Discovéry—examination of defendant before trial as to affirmative defenses — action for services — payment.

The power of .the court to permit an examination of a defendant before trial, as to affirmative defenses, should be exercised with discretion.

Where the answer in an action-for services sets up the defenses of payment and satisfaction, the plaintiff should not be permitted to examine the defendant before trial to prove that the services alleged in the complaint were not those admitted in the answer; that no payments had been made for the services alleged in the complaint, and that there had never been any compromise or adjustment of the claim. ' ' .

Ingbaham, P. J., and Dowling, J.', dissented.

Appeal by the defendant, Morris Schinasi, from an order of the Supreme Court, made at the Mew York Special Term and entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Mew York on the 7th day of November, 1910, denying the defendant’s motion to vacate; an order for his examination before trial. ■

Otto Horwitz of counsel \Horwitz & Wiener, attorneys], for the appellant.

Frederick G. Simons of counsel \_Simons, Dowsey dr Stoll, attorneys], for the respondent.

The complaint is for work, labor and services as an architect between the 1st day of March, 1908, and the 1st day of July, 1909, alleged to have been reasonably worth $5,655.65, of which no part has been paid.

The answer first denies each and every allegation of the 2d and 3d paragraphs of the complaint and then for a first and separate defense alleges that prior to the 1st day of June, 1909, defendant employed plaintiff as an architect and that in pursuance of such employment plaintiff rendered certain services which included the services' referred to in paragraph 1 of the complaint and alleges

p. 521

payment in full therefor. The second and separate defense sets up an accord and satisfaction.

The moving affidavit alleges that “ Your petitioner desires to examine the defendant herein before trial, and- is advised by his counsel * * * that it is necessary that said defendant be examined in this case before trial, and your petitioner desires in good faith to use the testimony of the defendant so obtained upon the trial of this action, and expects to prove by said' defendant that the services rendered and alleged in the complaint were not included as a part of the services admitted and alleged in the answer., that there were no payments whatsoever for the services alleged to have been rendered in the complaint, that there never has been any dispute as to the rendering of these services nor as to the amount due on account of the services mentioned in paragraph ‘ First ’ of the complaint, nor that there has ever been adjustment or compromise, and that these services were not included in the itemized bill referred to in paragraph VI of the'answer.”

It will be seen that the matters in regard to which an examination has been ordered were the two affirmative defenses of payment and accord and satisfaction. While it is true that the court has power to permit an examination at the instance ,of the plaintiff of the defendant as to an affirmative defense (Herbage v. City of Utica, 109 N. Y. 81 ; Schweinburg v. Altman, 131 App. Div. 795 ) that power is to be exercised with discretion. It must be made to appear that the evidence sought is material and necessary to the moving party and that he intends to use it upon the trial. We have pointed out in numerous cases that unless the examination as to affirmative defenses is carefully guarded it would result in turning this proceeding, which has for its object the ascertainment and preservation of material evidence, into a mere inquisition of fishing excursion into the evidence of the other side, and that, therefore, such orders should be granted only in peculiar and extraordinary cases. We do not think the case at bar comes within- that class.

Plaintiff’s case will be made when he proves the employment, the services rendered and the value thereof. Evidently, what he desires is not evidence to sustain his cause of action, but merely to know in advance how the defendant intends to prove payment.

The order appealed from should be reversed, with ten dollars costs

p. 522

and disbursements, and the motion to vacate the orderdor examination granted, with ten dollars costs. '

Scott and Miller, JJ., concurred; • Ingraham, P. j., and Dowling, J., dissented. ,

■ Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion granted, with ten dollars costs.

Cases cited

Herbage v. City of Utica 109 N. Y. 81 N.Y. 1888-04-10 p. 521