Case Name: John M. Batterman, Plaintiff, v. The Journal Company, Defendant
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1899-07
Citations: 28 Misc. 375
Docket Number: 
Parties: John M. Batterman, Plaintiff, v. The Journal Company, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 28
Pages: 375–376

Head Matter:
John M. Batterman, Plaintiff, v. The Journal Company, Defendant.
(Supreme Court, Albany Special Term,
July, 1899.)
Libel — Unverified answer of corporation, denying knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief.
An unverified answer, interposed by a corporation to a verified complaint for libel, alleging that it has no knowledge or information as to any of the matters contained in the complaint sufficient to form a belief, raises an issue; and such an answer need not be verified, even by a corporation, in an action for libel.
Motion to compel plaintiff to receive defendant’s answer.
John M. Batterman, in person, for plaintiff.
Scherer & Downs (Neile F. Towner, of counsel), for defendant.

Opinion:
Betts, J.
This is an action claiming damages for the publication of an alleged libel. Plaintiff duly served a verified complaint. Defendant on June 8, 1899, served an unverified answer thereto. On June 10, 1899, the plaintiff returned the answer with this statement: " I herewith return to you the defendant's answer in the above-entitled action on the ground that it is not verified," signed by plaintiff and dated " May 9th, 1899," which must have been an error for June 9, 1899.
Motion is now made to compel the plaintiff to receive the defendant's answer or that such answer may stand as the answer in the case as duly served on June 8, 1899.
The answer is short and peculiar. It is simply as follows: " The defendant, for answer to the complaint herein, alleges that it has no knowledge or information as to any of the matters therein contained sufficient to form a belief.
" Wherefore, defendant prays judgment, etc."
The answer raises an issue, although no specific words of denial are used. Meehan v. Harlem Savings Bank, 5 Hun, 439; Grocers' Bank v. O'Rorke, 6 id. 18; Flood v. Reynolds, 13 How. Pr. 112.
An answer to a verified complaint in a libel suit containing a general denial need not be verified. Wilson v. Bennett, 2 Civ. Pro. 34.
And this is so where the defendant is a corporation, although the verification in such case would be by an officer. Goff v. Star Printing Company, 21 Abb. N. C. 211.
Motion granted. No costs.