Behlen v. Behlen — 73 A.D. 143

Majority

p. 143

Hermann Behlen, Respondent, v. Anna Theresa Lang Behlen, Defendant. Solomon D. Rosenthal, Guardian ad Litem, Appellant.

Headnote

Guardian ad litem—he is not a party to the action — his rights defined.

Where, after an adult defendant has interposed an answer, a guardian ad litem is appointed to represent her on the ground that she is insane, such guardian ad litem is not a party to the action and he is not entitled to he made a party, nor to interpose an answer. He is, however, entitled, under the provisions of sections 437 and 438 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to notice of all further proceedings in the action and, to the extent that it may he advisable and proper, to intervene therein and “conduct the defense for the incompetent defendant.”

Appeal by Solomon D. Rosenthal, guardian ad litem for the defendant, from an order of the Supreme Court, made at the New York Special Term and entered in the office of the clerk of the county of New York on the 24th day of February, 1902, denying his motion to be made a party to the action.

The defendant is an adult, and the order appointing a guardian ad litem, for her was made upon the ground that she is insane.

Abram Levy, for the appellant.

Francis W. Russell, for the respondent.

The appeal is taken by the defendant’s guardian ad litem from an order denying his motion to be made a party to this action and that

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a supplemental summons and complaint be served upon the said guardian ad litem and that he have leave to answer the same and, further, that all future proceedings in the action be amended so as to read Hermann Behlen, Plaintiff, v. Solomon D. Rosenthal, Guardian ad Litem for Anna T. L. Behlen, Defendant, and for other relief.

The learned judge at Special Term in his memorandum correctly said: “ A guardian ad Utem is not a party to an action; he simply represents the party. The defendant herein has answered and another answer is unnecessary. The guardian ad litem is entitled to have notice of any further proceedings in the action, but he is not entitled to the relief demanded in the notice of motion.” Although, as thus appears, the learned justice was disposed to accord some relief, when it came to the making of the order, the motion was in all respects denied. Had he in conformity with his suggestion, denied that portion which asked that the guardian ad litem be made a party to the action and granted relief to the extent of requiring that notice of all further proceedings should be served on the guardian and that he should have the right to intervene and protect the interests of the defendant as he might be advised, there would be no necessity for interfering with his action. The order as entered, however, denied any relief.

That some competent person should be apprised of all matters in the litigation affecting the interests of the defendant and that such interests should be protected, was the very purpose of appointing the guardian ad litem. The order, therefore, should be modified so as to give the guardian the right to which he is entitled under sections 427 and 428 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to look after the interests of the alleged incompetent defendant. This does not require that he should be made a party; but he should have been accorded the right conferred by the sections of the Code mentioned to intervene and, to the extent that it may be advisable and proper, “ conduct the defence for the incompetent defendant.”

As so modified, the order should be affirmed, without costs.

Present — Patterson, O’Brien, Ingraham, McLaughlin and Hatch, JJ.

Order modified as directed in opinion and as modified affirmed, without costs.