Case ID: ad2d_3/html/0997-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Kurt P. Hellmuth, Appellant-Respondent, v. Charles I. Brandin, Respondent-Appellant.
   Having decided to affirm the order denying plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment in the companion ease between the same parties (3 A D 2d 997) in which the same counterclaim was interposed, we turn to the consistency of that order with the order now before us which granted a conditioned summary judgment. This order strikes out the counterclaim and answer with leave to replead; and it grants judgment for the amount sought in the complaint, but defers entry of the judgment until after determination of whatever issues are to be presented by the amended answer which the court permitted to be served. It is inferrable that the Special Term was of opinion that, although the decision on the first motion for summary judgment was a binding determination to the effect that triable issues were raised by the counterclaim and defendant’s affidavits in its support, it was still open to determine on the present motion that the counterclaim should be dismissed as insufficient as a matter of law. Although the motion now before us was also made by plaintiff in pursuance of rules 113 and 114 of the Rules of Civil Practice, and the court was of opinion the defendant’s affidavits themselves disclosed a legally sufficient counterclaim and a triable issue, it decided the affidavits would not save the legally insufficient counterclaim as pleaded. The test on summary judgment is whether the affidavits show a good defense (Curry v. MacKenzie, 239 N. Y. 267) and where, as here, the counterclaim as sustained by affidavits exceeds the demand in the complaint, the preferred practice is to deny the motion based on the complaint rather than grant it and defer entry (Plant v. Plant, 255 App. Div. 375). Order, so far as appealed from, unanimously reversed, with $20 costs and disbursements to the defendant-appellant-respondent, and the motion for summary judgment is, in all respects, denied. Concur — Botein, J. P., Rabin, Frank, McNally and Bergan, JJ.