Case ID: ad_73/html/0069-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Williams, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Warren M. Billings, Respondent, v. Ella M. Billings and Frank Albright, Appellants.
    
      Action for divorce — costs may be awarded against a co-respondent who appea/rs.
    
    Where the co-respondent in an action for an absolute divorce is served with a copy of the summons and complaint, pursuant to section 1757 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as amended by chapter 661 of the Laws of 1899, and elects to appear, serves an answer and defends the action, the court may, in its discretion, if he fails in such defense, allow costs against him from the time of the service of his answer.
    Appeal by the defendants, Ella M. Billings and another, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the plaintiff, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Monroe on the 30th day of July, 1901, upon the decision of the court rendered after a trial at the Monroe Special Term.
    
      J. W. Barrett, for the appellants.
    
      Clarence W. McKay, for the respondent.
   Williams, J.:

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs against the appellant Albright.

The action was for a divorce on the ground of adultery. The alleged co-respondent, Albright, was served by the plaintiff with a copy of the summons and complaint, pursuant to section 1757 of the Code of Civil Procedure. He thereupon appeared, served an answer, and defended thé action, so far as the issues affected him. He took part in the trial, and gave evidence thereon, was heard by counsel and has taken this appeal. We have carefully examined the evidence, and are satisfied the trial court properly found the adultery between the defendant Mrs. Billings and the co-respondent, Albright, and that the judgment decreeing a divorce between the plaintiff and his wife should be affirmed.

The trial court awarded costs against the co-respondent, Albright, from the time of the service of his answer, and it is claimed this was unauthorized and improper. The provision allowing the co-respond-dent to be brought in, and permitting him to defend the action, was added to section 1757 of the Code by an amendment in 1899 (Laws of 1899, chap. 661). We are aware of no decision under this section as amended. The co-respondent is not, by the terms of the statute, called a defendant, but he is allowed to appear and defend the action, and may very properly be regarded as a party defendant from the time he appears and serves an answer to the complaint. He is not obliged to defend, and cannot be compelled to do so. His appearance is voluntary, but if he elects to come into the action, he ought to be regarded and treated as a party defendant from that time. Being a defendant, he is subject to the general provisions of the Code as to costs in such an action, except so far as they are modified by the amendment in question. By section 1769 and sections 3228 to 3230 of the Code costs in an action for an absolute divorce are in the discretion of the court. Section 1757 modifies this general rule by providing that the co-respondent, if he succeeds in his defense, shall be entitled to a bill of costs against the person naming him as co-respondent. To this extent only is the discretion taken away from the court. When the co-respondent fails in his defense, the court has a discretion as to the allowance of costs against him. The trial court here exercised the discretion by awarding «costs. We think the power existed and was properly exercised.

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs of this appeal against the co-respondent, but not against the defendant Mrs. Billings.

McLennan, Spring, Hiscock and Davy, JJ., concurred.

Judgment affirmed, witli costs of this appeal against the co-respondent Albright, but not against the defendant Mrs. Billings.