Case ID: njl_122/html/0234-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GREENSPAN BROS. CO., A CORPORATION, PLAINTIFF, v. ROBERT COLLINS AND DOROTHY L. BROWN, DEFENDANTS. ADELINE DeFELICE, PLAINTIFF, v. ROBERT COLLINS AND DOROTHY L. BROWN, DEFENDANTS.
    Submitted January 17, 1939
    Decided March 10, 1939.
    Before Justices Trenchard, Parker and Perskie.
    For the plaintiffs, David T. Wilentz.
    
    For the defendants, George L. Burton.
    
   Per Curiam.

The venue of this suit was laid by the plaintiffs in Middle-sex county, and the application is for a change to Monmouth county.

The suit arises out of an automobile collision. The automobile was owned by the plaintiff corporation, whose principal office is in Perth Amboy, in the county of Middlesex, and the suit of that corporation is for damages to the automobile. The other plaintiff, Miss DePelice, is a resident of ClifEwood, in the county of Monmouth. The two plaintiffs have joined in the one action under the provisions of the Practice act of 1912; the first count is that of Greenspan Bros. Co., and the second count that of Adeline DePelice. This count recites that she resides in ClifEwood, in the county of Middlesex, but ClifEwood is in the county of Monmouth. The collision occurred, according to the pleadings and the stipulation of counsel, at Eatontown, in the county of Monmouth.

The case of the corporation is on a slightly different footing. As in the other case, the cause of action arose in Monmouth and the defendants are residents of Monmouth, but the corporation may properly be regarded as a “resident” of Middlesex. As regards this particular cause of action, if it stood alone, the court might be justified, in its discretion, in allowing the venue to stand as laid; but the action does not stand alone; it is combined with another cause of action arising at the same time and at the same place, against the same defendants, and embraced in the same record. In all reasonable probability both cases will be tried together; and on this assumption, and in view of the fact that the DeFeliee case must be tried in Monmouth, the natural and reasonable course is to have the Greenspan Bros. Co. case tried in Monmouth. FTo depositions have been taken under the rule, but there is a stipulation of facts. That stipulation does not make any statements of fact in regard to the residence of such witnesses as will be necessary at the trial; but as the accident occurred at Eatontown, which is on the road to Long Branch, the probability is that most of the witnesses are residents of Monmouth county.

It is argued for the plaintiff that the change of venue will result in delay, but we fail to see that there will be any material delay. The ease seems to he now at issue, and notice of trial may be given for the opening of Monmouth Circuit on the third Tuesday of April. If the venue remained in Middlesex, the trial would be noticed for the first Tuesday in April, a difference of only two weeks.

We conclude, therefore, that as a matter of law, the DePelice case must be transferred to Monmouth, and that as a matter of exercise of judicial discretion, the Greenspan case, resting on the same facts and to be proved by substantially the same witnesses, should follow it.

Let a rule be entered changing the venue as to both plaintiffs from Middlesex to Monmouth.