Reynolds v. Craus — 16 N.Y.S. 792

Majority

p. 792

Reynolds v. Craus.

(Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department.

December 14, 1891.)

Headnote

Pleading—General Denial—When Stricken Out as Sham.

A plea of general denial cannot be stricken out as sham, unless its falsity is admitted on examination before trial. Wa/yland v. Tysen, 45 N. Y. 381 , and Thompson v. Raikvay Go., Id. 471 , followed.

Appeal from special term, Dutchess county.

Action by James L. Reynolds against Henry S. Craus upon a promissory note. From an order striking out his answer as frivolous, false, and sham, and directing a judgment for plaintiff, defendant appeals.

Reversed.

Argued before Dykman and Pratt, JJ.

Norman A. Lawlor, for appellant.

Pelham L. McClellan, for respondent, cited Hull v. Smith, 8 How. Pr. 149 ; Kelly v. Barnett, 16 How. Pr. 135 ; Lefferts v. Snediker, 1 Abb. Pr. 41 ; Nichols v. Jones, 6 How. Pr. 335 ; People v. Hospital, 7 Dans. 304; Shearman v. New York Cent. Mills, 1 Abb. Pr. 187 ; Thorn v. New York Cent. Mills, 10 How. Pr. 20 ; Leach v. Boynton, 3 Abb. Pr. 1 ; Littlejohn v. Greeley, 22 How. Pr. 345 ; Kreitz v. Frost, 5 Abb. Pr. (N. S.) 277; Browm v. Jenison, 3 Sandf. 732 ; Hull v. Smith, 8 How. Pr. 149 ; Walker v. Hewitt, 11 How. Pr. 395 ; People v. McCumber, 18 N. Y. 315 , 15 How. Pr. 186 ; Kiefer v. Thomass, 6 Abb. Pr. (N. S.) 42; Kay v. Whittaker, 44 N. Y. 565 .

Under the authority of Wayland v. Tysen, 45 N. Y. 281 , and Thompson v. Railway Co., Id. 471, this order must be reversed, The cases cited by respondent were all decided before the two eases above cited,' and, so far as they hold that a general denial can be stricken out as sham, are overruled. The only variation from the rule as laid down in these cases has been where a party has been examined before trial, and has admitted the falsity of the answer. Order reversed, with costs to abide event.

Cases cited

Hull v. Smith 8 How. Pr. 149 N.Y. Super. Ct. p. 792
Kelly v. Barnett 16 How. Pr. 135 N.Y. Sup. Ct. p. 792
Lefferts v. Snediker 1 Abb. Pr. 41 N.Y. Gen. Term p. 792
Shearman v. New York Central Mills 1 Abb. Pr. 187 N.Y. Gen. Term p. 792
Littlejohn v. Greeley 22 How. Pr. 345 N.Y. Sup. Ct. p. 792
Brown v. Jenison 3 Sandf. 732 N.Y. Super. Ct. 1851-04-12 p. 792
Thomas Walker President of the Bank of Utica v. Hewitt 11 How. Pr. 395 N.Y. Sup. Ct. p. 792
People v. McCumber 18 N. Y. 315 N.Y. p. 792
People v. McCumber 15 How. Pr. 186 N.Y. Sup. Ct. p. 792
Kay v. Whittaker 44 N. Y. 565 N.Y. Comm'n App. 1871-09-12 p. 792
Wayland v. Tysen 45 N. Y. 281 N.Y. 1871-04-04 p. 792