Case ID: nys_106/html/0896-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "MILLER, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

HERMAN v. NEW YORK CITY RY. CO.
    (Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department.
    November 22, 1907.)
    Attorney and Client—Discontinuance by Parties.
    Where a case was commenced without the authority of an infant and for whom no guardian ad litem was appointed, her motion to dismiss should be granted, though opposed by the attorney of record.
    Appeal from Special Term, Kings County.
    Action by Lottie Herman against the New York City Railway Company. From an order denying a discontinuance, defendant appeals. Order reversed.
    Argued before WOODWARD, JENKS, HOOKER, RICH, and MILLER, JJ.
    Bayard H. Ames (Walter Henry Wood, on the brief), for appellant.
    Joseph Cans, for respondent. ,
   MILLER, J.

This case is like the case of Kelly v. New York City Railway Company, 106 N. Y. Supp. 894 (decided herewith), except that the plaintiff is an infant and. that the clerk of the attorney of record for the plaintiff procured her to sign a writing authorizing said attorney to bring suit. She says that she did not understand the contents of the paper signed by her, and that she wishes the action discontinued. . Said clerk states that he was informed by the plaintiff that she was over 21 years of age. Her reason for deceiving her attorney, if she understood that she was employing one, is not apparent. But,irrespective of that," we think the court should not compel an infant, for whom no guardian ad litem has been appointed, to prosecute an action which she wishes to discontinue.

The motion should be granted.

Order reversed, with $10 costs and disbursements, and motion granted, with $10 costs, payable by the attorney for the respondent All concur.