Case Name: William J. Kindgen, as Receiver of the Property of Letitia M. Craig, a Judgment Debtor, Appellant, v. Letitia M. Craig and Nancy W. Carrick, Defendants, Impleaded with Laura E. J. Craig, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1914-05-15
Citations: 162 A.D. 508
Docket Number: 
Parties: William J. Kindgen, as Receiver of the Property of Letitia M. Craig, a Judgment Debtor, Appellant, v. Letitia M. Craig and Nancy W. Carrick, Defendants, Impleaded with Laura E. J. Craig, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 162
Pages: 508–510

Head Matter:
William J. Kindgen, as Receiver of the Property of Letitia M. Craig, a Judgment Debtor, Appellant, v. Letitia M. Craig and Nancy W. Carrick, Defendants, Impleaded with Laura E. J. Craig, Respondent.
First Department,
May 15, 1914.
Practice — pleading — default by infant defendant in serving answer — answer submitting rights of infant to court does not raise general issue —motion by plaintiff for judgment on pleadings.
An infant defendant who by her guardian ad litem, serves an answer denying none of the allegations of the complaint, but simply submitting the rights of the infant to the court, does not raise the general issue.
Where an infant defendant and other defendants are in default in serving an answer, and a notice of motion for judgment on the pleadings or for an order of reference to take proof of the allegations of the complaint has been served on the guardian ad litem more than twenty days after his appointment, it is error to deny the motion on the ground that an answer subsequently served by such guardian, simply submitting the infant’s right to the court, raises the general issue.
Appeal by the plaintiff, William J. Kindgen, as receiver, etc., 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 22d day of December, 1913, denying his motion for judgment for the relief demanded in the complaint, or in the alternative for an order of reference to take proof of the facts and circumstances set forth in the complaint, or for such other and further relief as may he just.
John C. Gulick, for the appellant.
William Klein, guardian ad litem for Laura E. J. Craig, respondent.

Opinion:
Ingraham, P. J.:
Plaintiff, as receiver of the property of the defendant Letitia M. Craig, judgment debtor, brought this action to set aside certain transfers of personal property to Laura E. J. Craig, an infant, and by said Laura E. J. Craig to Nancy Garrick. The summons and complaint were served upon each of them as defendants. William Klein was appointed guardian ad litem for the infant defendant Laura E. J. Craig, but was in default in serving an answer. Whereupon the plaintiff, on December 6, 1913, served on the guardian ad litem, but not on the attorney for other defendants, a notice of motion for judgment or for order of reference to take proof of the facts and circumstances set forth in the complaint. On December 8,1913, after the notice of motion for judgment had been served on the guardian ad liiem, the guardian ad litem interposed a general answer by the infant defendant, simply submitting the rights of said infant defendant to the court. Thereupon the court denied the motion for judgment on the ground that the answer for the infant defendant raised the general issue.
In this ruling I think the court was wrong. An infant defendant must appear by guardian ad litem. Section 1218 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides: " A judgment by default shall not be taken against an infant defendant, until twenty days have expired, since the appointment of a guardian ad litem for him." The twenty days having elapsed after the appointment of the guardian ad litem, the plaintiff was entitled to move for judgment on the pleadings, the other defendants being in default in serving answer. The answer of the infant defendant, denying none of the allegations of the complaint and simply submitting her rights to the court, required the court to take proof of the facts and circumstances alleged in the complaint before granting judgment, but such proof could be taken by the court itself or by referee appointed for that purpose. The answer raised no issue which required the trial of an issue of fact, as in an action in which issues had been raised by the service of an answer denying the allegations of fact contained in the complaint. In Fairweather v. Burling (181 N. Y. 117) it was held that when no adult defendant has answered and an infant defendant has served an answer merely submitting his right to the court, it raises no issue and is a practical default, and only an investigation of the facts alleged in the complaint is required by the court.
I think, therefore, the order appealed from should be reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion remitted to Special Term for such further proceeding as is proper in accordance with the views herein expressed.
Clarke, Scott, Dowling and Hotchkiss, JJ., concurred.
Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion remitted to Special Term for further proceeding in accordance with opinion. Order to be settled on notice.