Case ID: ad_179/html/0652-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Dowling, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Eliphalet W. Tyler, Respondent, v. Twin City Power Company, Appellant.
    First Department,
    October 26, 1917.
    Deposition — examination of defendant before trial — scope of order.
    An order for an examination of a defendant before trial should not direct an examination concerning the matters which are relevant to the issues in the action and are stated in the plaintiff’s affidavit. The examination should be confined to the issues upon which the plaintiff has the affirmative.
    Appeal by the defendant, Twin City Power Company, 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 4th day of June, 1917, denying its motion to vacate or modify an order for its examination before trial.
    
      John L. Wells, for the appellant.
    
      Henry G. Moses, for the respondent.
   Dowling, J.:

While plaintiff was entitled to an order for the examination of defendant, the form of the order granted is objectionable, in that it directs an examination concerning the matters which are relevant to the issues in this action and are stated in said affidavit.” The first part of this direction is too broad, as the examination should be confined to the' issues upon which plaintiff has the affirmative. (Goodwin v. Mirror Films, Inc., 175 App. Div. 432.) As to the second part, the impropriety of a provision for an examination concerning the matters which are relevant to the issues in this action ” was pointed in Verdi v. Nocenti Co. (177 App. Div. 489). Not only would such a direction permit the adverse party to be examined as to his defense, but the indefiniteness of the subject-matter of the examination as thus defined is bound to lead to confusion, involving continual reference to the affidavit and controversy as to what it sets forth that is actually relevant to the issues presented by the pleadings. With the constantly growing tendency to make affidavits argumentative in character, instead of plain statements of facts, the scope of the question raised thereby would be wide indeed. In the case at bar the matters set forth as the subject of examination cover nearly three printed pages. The order appealed from will, therefore, be reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion to modify the order for examination granted, without costs, to the extent of confining the examination to the issues upon which plaintiff has the burden of proof in the first instance.

Clarke, P. J,, Scott, Smith and Page, JJ., concurred.

Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion granted to extent indicated in opinion. Order to be settled on notice.