Case Name: Adelia C. Fitzpatrick agt. Jenkins Van Schaick et al.
Court: New York Marine Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1880-09
Citations: 59 How. Pr. 472
Docket Number: 
Parties: Adelia C. Fitzpatrick agt. Jenkins Van Schaick et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Howard's Practice Reports
Volume: 59
Pages: 472–473

Head Matter:
• N. Y. MARINE COURT.
Adelia C. Fitzpatrick agt. Jenkins Van Schaick et al.
' Mcamination of adverse party before trial — Code of Oivil Procedure, section 873.
An order for the examination of an adverse party before trial will not he granted where the applicant only seeks to "find out what the opposite party will swear to, so as to enable him to prepare to meet and overcome it.
Special Term, September, 1880.

Opinion:
McAdam, J. —
The defendants justify the sale of the 200 shares of Delaware and Lackawanna stock (alleged by the plaintiff to have been converted) under an order given by one Maria L. Hubbard, whom the defendants claim was the plaintiff's agent. The plaintiff seeks to examine the defendants for the purpose of discovering whether Mrs. Hubbard was the plaintiffs or defendants' agent. The plaintiff, in the nature of things, ought to know as much about this as the defendants. If she was not the plaintiff's agent, the main defense fails. As the defendants have the affirmative of the defense, the plaintiff, under the rule laid down in Chapin agt. Thompson (16 Hun, 53), will have to wait until the trial before she can oblige the defendants to tell her what they will swear to concerning it.
Order vacated.