Case ID: ad_85/html/0575-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hatch, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

J. Edward Boeck, Respondent, v. Alfred H. Smith and Harrison B. Smith, Appellants.
    
      Examination of a defendant to enable a plaintiff to state in his complaint the sum due, when allowed—an application for that purpose cannot be united with one for an inspection of boohs or to perpetuate testimony.
    
    A plaintiff’s ignorance of the exact amount which he claims to be. entitled to recover is not, where he is able to state such amount with approximate accuracy, a sufficient ground for the examination of the defendants in order to enable him to frame his complaint.
    
      Semble, however, that where the amount which the plaintiff is entitled to recover is to be determined from a complicated series of accounts, and the plaintiff is unable to state such amount even approximately, an examination of the defendants may be allowed in order to permit the plaintiff to ascertain such amount.
    An application for an examination of individual defendants, in order to enable the plaintiff to frame his complaint, cannot be united with an application for an inspection of the books and papers of such defendants, or with one for the examination of witnesses not parties to the action, for the purpose of perpetuating their testimony.
    Appeal by the defendants, Alfred H. Smith and another, from so much of 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 3d day of June, 19,03, as denies said defendants’ motion to vacate an order for their examination to enable the plaintiff to frame his complaint.
    
      Josiah Counter, for the appellants.
    
      Jacob Marx, for the respondent.
   Hatch, J.:

The plaintiff has united in his application three specific things: First, an examination of the defendants to enable him to properly frame his complaint; second, an inspection of the books and papers of the defendants; third, an examination of witnesses not parties to the action, for the purpose of perpetuating their testimony. The plaintiff in his affidavit sets up facts showing his knowledge of a perfect cause of action against the defendants. The only thing of which he is ignorant is the exact amount which he is entitled to recover. As, however, there is. no rule of pleading which requires, him to state the specific amount which he deems himself entitled to recover with accuracy, an examination is evidently not needed where such is the sole purpose. (Tayler v. American Ribbon Co., .38 App. Div: 144; Stanton v. Friedman, 47 id. 621.) The subject-matter of the action, may present a. com plicated series .of accounts, from which is to be derived the amount to. which the plaintiff is entitled, and where the dealings between the parties are of such- a character that the amount which the plaintiff is entitled to recover may not be even approximately stated, under such circumstances, dependent upon the facts of the particular case, an examination ■ may be had. Such is the case of Matter of Erie Malleable Iron Go: (90 Hun, 62), but where the amount of plaintiff’s demand may be stated with approximate accuracy, and such demand is not complicated with other matters, an examination will not be ordered. The proceeding for the inspection of books'and papers is required to be commenced by petition (Code Civ. Proc. § 805), and it cannot be joined with an order for the examination of a party before trial. (Bloodgood v. Slayback, 62 App. Div. 315.) In the case of a corporation, the inspection may be had with the examination, pursuant to the provisions of section 872, subdivision 7, of the Code of Civil Procedure. Such was the decision of this court in Horst v. Yuengling Brewing Co. (1 App. Div. 629). It has no application to an individual. The order in the present case directs the production of books arid papers, and the affidavit states that the plaintiff desires an inspection of the same. This is quite independent of use of the same in connection with the examination, which may "riot be combined- with the order for the examination. It is evident .that these three matters are each quite separate proceedings and- contemplate independent applications therefor. It was irregular, therefore, to unite them all in one" order.

If is claimed that the order as to the defendant Smith should be permitted to stand, as he deliberately violated the same by leaving, the jurisdiction of this court before an application was made to reverse the order.- It appears from the affidavits that the party was. advised as to the irregularity, that the proceedings could not be sustained, and it is evident that he took immediate steps to procure the vacation of the order. The attorney’s affidavit shows that .-the order to show cause was obtained within a few days after the order was granted. ' There is nothing herein showing or. which leads to the conclusion that Smith left the jurisdiction of this court for the . purpose of evading the examination; -.onsequently, he is not brought within such conditions as existed in Dudley v. Press Pub. Co. (58 Hun, 181), and as there is no reason to suppose that he intended willfully to disobey any order of the court, he should not be precluded from testing the sufficiency of this order upon appeal.

It follows that the order should be reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion to vacate granted, with ten dollars costs.

Van Brunt, P. J., Patterson, Ingraham and Laughlin, JJ., concurred.

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