Case Name: Clark against Phelps and others
Court: New York Court of Chancery
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1822-08-01
Citations: 6 Johns. Ch. 214
Docket Number: 
Parties: Clark against Phelps and others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Chancery Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 214–214

Head Matter:
Clark against Phelps and others.
A defendant cannot plead or answer, and demur both to the whole bill, or the same part of a bill.
CASE submitted upon the bill and answer, and demurrer, on the points presented by the demurrer.
S. Wood, for plaintiff.
B. Johnson, for defendants.

Opinion:
The Chancellor said, that the answer and the demurrer each went to the whole bill; and it is a settled rule in pleading, that a defendant cannot plead or answer, and demur to the same matter; the former will overrule the latter. It is inconsistent for a defendant to say, he ought not to answer to a bill; and yet to answer it fully. The rule appears in all the books that treat on the subject. (3 P. Wms. 80, 81. 2 Atk. 284. Cooler's Tr. of Pl. 113. Beames' Plead. 40.) The demurrer was consequently overruled, and^the question of costs reserved.
Order accordingly. -