Case ID: nys_8/html/0014-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Learned, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Sheehan v. Albany & B. Turnpike Co.
    
      (Supreme Court, General Term, Third Department.
    
    December 11, 1889.)
    Practice in Civil Cases—Examination of Party before Trial.
    In an action for personal in]uries caused by driving off of defendant’s turnpike road, by reason of defendant’s alleged negligence in not having its road guarded, defendant should not be allowed to examine plaintiff before trial, where the complaint distinctly specifies the place of the accident, and it appears that one of defendant’s witnesses was present, and that others were well acquainted with the condition of the road at that place, and defendant has stated that it expects to prove by two other witnesses that plaintiff’s companion was unfit to drive, and by two designated physicians the extent of plaintiff’s injuries.
    Appeal from special term, Albany county.
    Action by Alice M. Sheehan against the president, directors, and company of the Albany & Bethlehem Turnpike Road for personal injuries to plaintiff caused by driving off of an embankment on defendant’s road, by reason of defendant’s alleged negligence in not maintaining a barrier along such embankment. Defendant obtained an order to examine plaintiff before trial, and from an order denying her motion to vacate such order, plaintiff appeals.
    Argued before Learned, P. J., and Landon and Fish, JJ.
    
      Alden & King, (Henry A. King and Henry J. Speck, of counsel,) for appellant. Marcus T. Hun, for respondent.
   Learned, P. J.

The practice of examining a party before trial, at the instance of the opposite party, should be carefully guarded by the court, so that it may not be productive of evil. When it is evident that the party asking for the examination is sufficiently acquainted with the facts of the case to obtain the proof which he needs, and that in fact he desires the examination only to discover to what his opponent will testify, then the order should not be granted, or, if it has been granted, should be set aside. The provisions for such examination are not intended to enable a party to discover what his opponent’s testimony will be, so that he may obtain witnesses to contradict it. Experience shows that if a party discovers what his opponent’s testimony will be, and has time enough, he is often successful in discovering, also, witnesses for contradiction. 2Tow, in the present case it is plain that the defendant knows all the circumstances which it needs to prepare its defense. The place where the accident took place is distinctly specified in the complaint. Furthermore, one of the defendant’s witnesses (named in the affidavit to, change the place of trial) was present at the accident. Another saw the marks of the wagon-wheels, and the horse lying at the side of the road. Four others were at the house to which plaintiff immediately went, and are well acquainted with the condition of the road at the place where the accident occurred. All of these persons, also, must know the condition of the weather and atmosphere at the time. As to the age of the person driving with plaintiff, and the condition of both of them, the defendant has stated that by two other witnesses he expects to prove that plaintiff’s companion (naming him) had been drinking, and was unfit to drive. As to the extent of the injuries, the defendant has already stated that it expects to prove this* by two physicians, whom it named. We are unable to understand, after reading the affidavit used to obtain a change of the place of trial, how the affiant could make a subsequent affidavit that no witness could be found who was acquainted with the facts as to which the examination was denied, although diligent inquiry had been made. We think that this application is strikingly of the kind called “a fishing excursion,” and which is condemned in many cases; among them, that of Golin v. Mooers, ante, 12, (decided at this present term.) Order reversed, with $10 costs, and printing disbursements; and order of examination vacated, with $10 costs. All concur.