Case ID: ad_158/html/0498-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "McLaughlin, J. :", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Manuela N. Einstein, Appellant, v. Monroe Einstein, Respondent.
    First Department,
    October 24, 1913.
    Pleading — answer — alienation of affections — affirmative defenses containing new matter — denials of allegations of complaint stricken out.
    Where a separate defense consists of a statement of new matter, a denial therein of the allegations of the complaint should be stricken out. The defense of new matter is based upon the theory of confession and avoidance.
    Thus, where in an action for alienation of affections the defendant alleges as a separate defense that the plaintiff’s husband was of unsound mind at the time of the marriage and was subsequently committed to an insane asylum, a denial of the allegations of the complaint should be stricken out.
    A denial has no place in the affirmative defense except when it becomes necessary to deny the existence of some fact alleged in the complaint in order to perfect the answer as a complete affirmative defense.
    Appeal by the plaintiff, Manuela IST. Einstein, 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 9th day of September, 1913, denying plaintiff’s motion to strike from the separate defense contained in the answer certain denials of allegations of the complaint on the ground that the same were irrelevant and redundant.
    
      Jacob H. Corn, for the appellant.
    
      James B. Kilburn, for the respondent.
   McLaughlin, J. :

Action to recover damages for alleged alienation of the affections of Arthur Einstein, plaintiff’s husband.

The answer alleges: “I. On information and belief defendant denies the allegations contained in paragraph Fourth of said complaint that he at all times or at any times exercised and exerted an influence and control over the mind of Arthur Einstein.

“ II. On information and belief defendant denies the allegations contained in paragraphs Fifth, Sixth and Seventh of said complaint. ”

For a Separate defense the “defendant repeats the allegations of paragraphs I and II of this answer as though herein again alleged,” and then sets forth certain facts to the effect that at or about the time defendant first learned of the marriage between plaintiff and Arthur Einstein the latter was and for some time prior thereto had been, and had since continued to be, of unsound mind, in consequence of which he was, by order of the court, committed to an institution for the care and treatment of the insane.

The plaintiff moved to strike from the separate defense the denials of the paragraphs of the complaint above quoted. The motion was denied and she appeals.

Section 500 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that an answer mugt contain (1) a general or specific denial of each material allegation of the complaint controverted by the defendant; and (2) a statement of any new matter constituting a defense or counterclaim.

The separate defense here set up is the statement of new matter and a denial of the allegations of the complaint has no place therein. A defense of new matter as contemplated in the section is based on the theory of confession and avoidance; i. e., that even conceding the truth of the allegations of the complaint, the establishment of the new matter set forth prevents a recovery. The new matter pleaded must be such as could not be proved under the denials. If it could, then it is not new matter, but belongs under a denial which is negative. The denials contained in the answer enable defendant to controvert the facts upon which the plaintiff bases her right to recover. The only effect of incorporating such denials in the affirmative defense is to prevent the plaintiff, in advance of the trial, testing the sufficiency thereof. A denial has no place in an affirmative defense except when it becomes necessary to deny the existence of some fact alleged in the complaint in order to perfect the answer as a complete affirmative defense. (Stroock Plush Co. v. Talcott, 129 App. Div. 14; Rochkind v. Perlman, 123 id. 808; Stern v. Marcuse, 119 id. 478; Frank v. Miller, 116 id. 855; Waltham Mfg. Co. v. Brady, 67 id. 102; Stieffel v. Tolhurst, 55 id. 532; Mendelson v. Margulies, 157 id. 666.)

The order appealed from should, therefore, be reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion granted, with ten dollars costs.

Ingraham, P. J., Laughlin, Clarke and Scott, JJ., concurred.

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