Case Name: MEURER et al. v. BRINKMAN
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1898-10
Citations: 53 N.Y.S. 770
Docket Number: 
Parties: MEURER et al. v. BRINKMAN.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 53
Pages: 770–771

Head Matter:
(25 Misc. Rep. 12.)
MEURER et al. v. BRINKMAN.
(Supreme Court, Special Term, Kings County.
October, 1898.)
Bills and'Notes—Pleading—Sham Answer—Denials—Defenses.
Under Code Civ. Proc. § 538, authorizing the striking out of a sham answer or defense, an answer to a complaint on a note which denies a making and delivery for value cannot be stricken out as sham, since it is only “defenses” that may be stricken out as sham, and a “defense” is not a denial, but a plea of new matter.
Action by Jacob Meurer and others against Sebastian G-. Brink-man. Heard on motion to strike defendant’s answer as sham. Denied.
George H. Fisher, for the motion.
Robert Goeller, opposed.

Opinion:
GAYHOR, J.
The action is upon two promissory notes by the payee against the maker. The answer denies the allegation of the complaint that the notes were made and delivered for value. This denial raises the issue of want of consideration, it not being necessary to plead lack of consideration as a "defense." Evans v. Williams, 60 Barb. 346. The motion is upon affidavits to strike the answer out as sham. Code Civ. Proc. § 538. A general or special denial cannot be struck out as sham. Only "defenses" may be struck out as sham. Wayland v. Tysen, 45 N. Y. 281. Ho issue raised by a denial is a "defense." A "defense" is a plea of new matter, viz., matter outside of any issue which may be raised by a general or special denial. Matter which can be proved under a denial is not a "defense." Code Civ. Proc. § 500, 507; Flack v. O'Brien, 19 Misc. Rep. 399, 43 N. Y. Supp. 854; Green v. Brown, 22 Misc. Rep. 279, 49 N. Y. Supp. 163; Von Hagen v.'Manufacturing Co., 22 Misc. Rep. 580, 49 N. Y. Supp. 465. It has become quite common to plead denials under the head "For a defense"; and I admit there are like inadvertences in opinions of judges; but an educated bar should not be the followers but the correctors of such things.
The motion is denied.