Case ID: ad_75/html/0460-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Ingraham, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

William Peyton Mason, Appellant, v. Charles W. Clark, Respondent.
    
      Slander — Mil of particulars as to the time and place and the persons before whom the slander was spolcen—effect of others than those specified being present—the plaintiff should not be precluded from giving testimony if the bill of particulars be not served.
    
    Where the complaint in- an action of slander alleges that the slanderous words were spoken in the presence of “divers persons,” and the answer contains a-denial that the defendant spoke the words complained of, the. defendant, upon submitting an affidavit alleging that he is ignorant of the name or names of the person or persons in whose presence the plaintiff expects to prove that the defendant uttered the slanderous words, is entitled to a bill of particulars stating the exact time when and the place where and the persons in whose presence the slanderous words were spoken.
    The order for the bill of particulars should contain a provision that it should not be construed to prevent the plaintiff from proving his cause of action, if it should appear that others than those specified in the bill of particulars were present at. the time the words complained'of were uttered.
    A provision in the order that, in default of service of the bill of particulars, the plaintiff should be precluded from giving evidence upon the trial in support of the complaint is improper, as it is only in an action upon an account that such a provision can be inserted in a bill of particulars.
    Appeal by the plaintiff, William Peyton Mason, from an order of the Supreme Court, made at the New York Special Term, bearing date the 1st day of November, 1901, and entered in the office of the clerk of the county of New York, requiring the plaintiff to serve a bill of particulars.
    
      William, King Hall, for the appellant.
    
      Henry B. GuVuer, for the respondent.
   Ingraham, J.:

The action was for slander, and after issue the defendant made a motion requiring the plaintiff to furnish a bill of particulars specifying the name or names of the person or persons in whose presence he expects or intends to prove the defendant uttered the alleged slanderous words as set forth in the complaint herein. The answer denies that the defendant spoke the words complained of, and the affidavit of the defendant upon which the motion was granted alleges that he is ignorant of the name or names of the person or persons in whose presence the plaintiff expects or intends to prove that the defendant uttered the alleged slanderous words set forth in paragraph 3 of the complaint.

We think the court below upon these papers was justified in granting the application. To prevent surprise at the trial, it is necessary that the defendant should have notice of the exact time and place and the persons in whose presence the slanderous words were spoken. The allegation of the complaint is quite general, alleging that the words were spoken in the presence of divers persons.” There is nothing in the order which would prevent the plaintiff from proving his cause of action if it should appear that there were others than those mentioned in the bill of particulars present at the occurrence. It would be well, however, to modify the order so that it could not he construed as justifying the court in rejecting the testimony if it' appeared that others than those named by the plaintiff in the bill of particulars were present at the time referred to in the bill of particulars.

The order contains a provision that in default of service of the bill of particulars, the plaintiff he precluded from giving evidence upon the trial in support of his complaint. That provision is unauthorized in an order requiring a party to furnish a bill of particulars. It is only where an action is upon an account and the plaintiff is directed to furnish a copy of the account sued on that the order should contain a provision precluding the plaintiff from giving evidence of the account in the event of his failing to serve a copy as required. The order should be modified by striking out the clause “or in default thereof that the said plaintiff be precluded from giving evidence at the trial in support of said complaint,” and insei’ting in lieu thereof the following words: “Nothing in this order contained to prevent the plaintiff from proving the cause of action alleged in the complaint, because it should appear that others than those specified in the hill of particulars were present at the time the words complained of were uttered; ” and as thus modified, affirmed, without costs.

Yak Brunt, P. J., O’Brien, McLaughlin and Hatch, JJ., concurred.

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