Case ID: misc_61/html/0220-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hendrick, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Louis Steinman and Mary Mandelstein, Respondents, v. “Mary” Blumenfeld, first name fictitious, etc., Appellant.
    (Supreme Court, Appellate Term,
    December, 1908.)
    Municipal Courts — Procedure — Relief from default — Denial of motion terminates power.
    The Municipal Court of the city of New York, having once entertained a motion by a defendant to open her default and denied the motion upon the merits, has exhausted its powers and can entertain no further motions for the same relief.
    
      Appeal by the defendant from an order denying a motion to open a default, entered in the Municipal Court of the city of New York, second district, borough of Manhattan.
    Herman Weiss, for appellant.
    Benjamin Steinman, for respondents.
   Hendrick, J.

This action was brought to recover for one month’s rent of premises occupied by the defendant. The defendant defaulted in appearing, and an inquest was taken, and plaintiff had a judgment. Subsequently, one Bertha Blumenfeld obtained an order to show cause why her default should not be opened and, this motion coming on to be heard, it was denied. Whether or not this “ Bertha ” Blumenfeld is the person sued as “ Mary ” does not appear. Thereafter, Bertha Blumenfeld obtained a second order to show cause why she should not be granted the same relief as asked for in the first motion, and the second motion was denied. From the order entered denying the second motion, this appeal comes up. The practice adopted herein cannot be sanctioned. It is doubtful whether the Municipal Court had jurisdiction to hear the last motion. Having once heard a motion under section 253 of the Municipal Court Act, and having considered and decided such a motion upon the merits, it has evidently exhausted its powers under the statute and can entertain no further motions for the same relief. Colwell v. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co., 57 Misc. Rep. 623. A court of record, by reason of its inherent powers, can grant a party leave to renew a motion and grant a rehearing but a court of statutory creation has no such powers. The first motion in the case under consideration was, so far as appears by the record, heard and decided upon the merits. Ho leave to renew was asked, even if it could be granted. The affidavits used upon the second motion were more voluminous than those used, on the prior motion; and, if defendant’s practice is correct, she might still malee a third motion, and continue to make motions as long as she could procure additional affidavits or find some justice who would eventually grant her the relief sought. A defendant’s remedy, under the circumstances mentioned herein, is to appeal from the first order made denying the motion. If we assume that Bertha Blumenfeld is the person who was served and whom the plaintiff intended to make a defendant herein, and that she had a right to make a second motion, the papers submitted on her part in support of the motion are defective, in that no form of proposed answer is set forth therein. We hold, however, that, the first motion having been denied upon the merits and not for some mere irregularity, so far as appears by the record, the court had no power to entertain a second motion, and such motion should have been dismissed.

Order denying motion modified, by directing that the motion be dismissed and, as modified, affirmed, with ten dollars costs on this appeal.

Giegerich and Ford, JJ., concur.

Order modified and as modified affirmed with ten dollars costs on this appeal.