Case Name: Louis V. Bell, Plaintiff, v. Evelyn M. Clarke, Otherwise Known as Evelyn M. Bell and Evelyn M. Clarke Bell, Defendant
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1904-11
Citations: 45 Misc. 275
Docket Number: 
Parties: Louis V. Bell, Plaintiff, v. Evelyn M. Clarke, Otherwise Known as Evelyn M. Bell and Evelyn M. Clarke Bell, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 45
Pages: 275–277

Head Matter:
Louis V. Bell, Plaintiff, v. Evelyn M. Clarke, Otherwise Known as Evelyn M. Bell and Evelyn M. Clarke Bell, Defendant.
(Supreme Court, New York Special Term,
November, 1904.)
Pleading — What are irrelevant allegations therein — Scandalous allegations, not stricken out if relevant — Allegations as to the relation between a plaintiff and defendant having been meretricious in their origin — That the" man was married to another woman — Greater latitude allowed in pleading evidence in an equity case.
An irrelevant- allegation in a complaint is one which has no substantial relation to the controversy between the parties to the suit, and. one which cannot affect the decision of the court because it has no bearing upon the subject-matter of the controversy.
Allegations in a pleading which are scandalous in character but are relevant to the issue, cannot be stricken out on motion.
In an action brought to restrain the defendant from holding herself out as the wife of the plaintiff, in which the issue involved is whether any marriage, ceremonial or otherwise, took place between the parties, it is proper and relevant for the plaintiff to allege in his complaint that the relations between the parties were meretricious in their origin, as, if this was the fact, it would be presumed that their relations continued to be of that character.
It is also proper and relevant for the plaintiff to allege in his complaint, for the purpose of showing the meretricious character of the relations between the parties at their inception, that the plaintiff was then married to another woman.
In an equity action, greater latitude is given to pleaders in relation to alleging matters of evidence than is allowable in actions of law.
Motion to strike out certain portions of the complaint.
Boardman, Platt & Soley, for plaintiff.
Bitch, Woodford, Bovee & Butcher (O. 2L Bovee, of counsel), for defendant.

Opinion:
Clarke, J.
Motion to strike out certain portions of the complaint in an equity action to have it adjudged that defendant is not plaintiff's wife and to restrain the defendant from holding herself out as the wife of the plaintiff as redundant, irrelevant and scandalous. An irrelevant allegation Is one which has no substantial relation to the controversy between the parties to the suit and which cannot affect the decision of the court, because it has no bearing upon the subject-matter of the controversy. Park & Sons Co. v. National Druggists' Assn., 30 App. Div. 508. The main controversy between the parties to the suit is whether or not plaintiff and defendant are man and wife. The complaint alleges that no ceremonial or other marriage ever took place. It alleges that, in April, 1895, the defendant became plaintiff's mistress and generally lived with him in said relation until about the month of May, 1903. It is settled law that where it is established that the relations between a man and a woman were meretricious at the commencement thereof such relations are presumed to so continue!. It seems to me relevant, therefore, to the issue that at the time of the commencement of the relations between plaintiff and defendant he was 'married to another woman and thus to establish the meretricious character of the connection at the outset. As to the portion of paragraph 4, as to which the motion is addressed, the matter therein complained of, if untrue, is certainly scandalous in character, but if relevant to the issue I do not see how it can be stricken out on motion as scandalous. It seems to me it must be irrelevant as well as scandalous before it can be attacked in this way. Hilton v. Carr, 40 App. Div. 493. Certainly its truth .cannot now be inquired into. As already decided by me in the memorandum handed down to-day on the motion in this case to set aside an order for the examination of a witness de bene esse on the matters herein set forth, I think they are relevant to the issue- They are perhaps to be criticized as a statement of evidence which tends to sustain the fact pleaded in the fifth paragraph, wherein plaintiff alleges: " Plaintiff and defendant were never married to each other by any ceremonial or other marriage, or in any way whatsoever, and never made any agreement to be or to become man and wife and never at any time were married or became man and wife." In my opinion, without being pleaded, those matters could be proved as involved in that issue and relevant proof to sus tain it. But must all statements of evidence be stricken from a pleading on motion as redundant? Bor I cannot now hold them as scandalous or irrelevant. This is an action in equity and it seems always to have been the practice of the profession in drafting the bill to make it much fuller, to give a more detailed picture, to elaborate and to amplify in a way not followed in drawing the complaint or declaration at common law. As said in the Park & Sons case, supra: " Ordinarily such a complaint (for a money judgment) may well be made plain and concise, but when equitable relief is sought there must be from the necessity of the case greater latitude in the allegations of the complaint. The nature of the relief itself frequently requires, not only that the ultimate facts from which the right to relief arises should be stated, but that facts which are somewhat collateral should be laid before the court so that the precise relief required to give to the party what he is entitled to and the way in which that relief shall be granted may be understood. For that reason in actions of that nature greater latitude and liberality are allowed in the preparation of pleading than in other actions, and the power to strike out matter which -is claimed to be irrelevant should be used with reluctance and caution." In Uggla v. Brokaw, 77 App. Div. 314, the court defined irrelevant in a pleading as follows: " It may be observed that matter which can have no bearing on the issues, either on account of its manifest irrelevancy or because the law declares that it cannot be introduced, would seem to be irrelevant." This matter does not fall within that definition. T have reached the conclusion, after such examination as the limited time at my disposal permitted, as counsel urge an immediate decision, that in this equity suit the power to strike out, which " should be used with reluctance and caution," ought not to be availed of. Plaintiff has given defendant a full statement of his view of the situation. It is in such shape as to be readily answered. While perhaps fuller than necessary, defendant has the advantage of being apprised now of the character of his contention and the nature of the facts alleged to sustain it.
Motion denied, ten dollars costs.