Case ID: misc_18/html/0661-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hiscock, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

John H. Van Dyke, Plaintiff, v. The New York State Banking Co. et al., Defendants.
    (Supreme Court, Onondaga Special Term,
    December, 1896.)
    1. Replevin — Notice of motion to vacate must specify irregularities.
    A defect in replevin proceedings which is not specified in the notice of motion to vacate is not available on the motion.
    2. Same — Affidavit — Description of chattel.
    The "description in the affidavit in replevin of the chattels to be replevied should be plain enough so that the sheriff to whom it is delivered will be able to determine from it with some degree of accuracy and intelligence what he is required to replevy.
    Motion by. an order to show cause why an order should not be made “ vacating and setting aside the proceedings in replevin in this action and the affidavit, requisition and undertaking therein on the ground that said proceedings are void; that there is no sufficient affidavit or proof to confer jurisdiction, etc., and on the further ground that no chattels are described in said affidavit or schedule annexed with sufficient accuracy to enable the sheriff or any other person to take any goods from the possession ” of the defendants.
    Charles G. Baldwin, for motion.
    Thomas Hogan, opposed.
   Hiscock, J.

The specific defects relied upon by defendants upon the argument of this motion were the alleged failure of plaintiff’s affidavit in replevin to comply with the requirements of sections 1695 and 1712, Code, by, first, disclosing whether the agent and attorney making the same did so upon personal knowledge or upon information and belief, and in the latter event in not stating the sources of information and belief; and, second, by containing a proper and adequate description of the chattels to be taken by the sheriff.

It is insisted by plaintiff that the first defect is not available to defendant upon the motion, even if it exists by reason of the omission of the order to show cause, here taking the place of a' notice of motion, to particularly specify and point out for attack such alleged weakness in the affidavit.

This claim of plaintiff seems to be well founded. There is nothing in the order to show cause definitely so calling attention to the alleged fault as seems to be necessary. Paddock v. Guyder, 29 N. Y. St. Repr. 773; Stevens v. Middleton, 14 Week. Dig. 126; Kloh v. N. Y. Fertilizer Co., 86 Hun, 266; Oliver v. French, 82 id. 436.

The second defect claimed in the affidavit was concededly pointed out in the motion papers with sufficient accuracy, the only question raised by plaintiff being whether said affidavit did comply with the section- of the Code referred to and “ particularly describe the chattel to be replevied.”

It does not seem to me so to do. The words and character used for that purpose are utterly unintelligible at least to a person not an expert. Counsel for plaintiff was himself unable, upon the argument, to say what they meant. While it is possible,, as suggested in- his belief, that' somebody would be found who, would understand them, I do not think that is enough or a compliance with the Code. The intent of that must have been- that the description of the chattels should be plain enough, so that, amongst other things, the sheriff to whom it was delivered would be able to determine from it, with some degree of accuracy and intelligence, whát he was required to replevy.

In the event that the affidavit should be" found defective, plaintiff, upon the argument of the motion, asked for leave to amend it.

. I do not see that any substantial rights of defendants can be impaired by allowing such relief in respect to the defect found to exist as above stated. The granting of it seems to be well within the law and precedents established in analogous cases .and is allowed upon payment of $10 costs. Code, § 723; Ethridge v. Orcutt, 12 N. Y. St. Repr. 372; Stone v. Pratt, 90 Hun, 39; McAdam v. Walbrau, 8 Civ. Pro. 451; Depew v. Leal, 2 Abb. Pr. 131; Babcock v. Kuntzsch, 85 Hun, 33.

Ordered accordingly.