Case Name: Jackman v. Lord et al.
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1890-03-14
Citations: 9 N.Y.S. 200
Docket Number: 
Parties: Jackman v. Lord et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 9
Pages: 200–201

Head Matter:
Jackman v. Lord et al.
(Supreme Court, General Term, First Department.
March 14, 1890.)
Pleading—Motion to Make Moke Definite and Cektain.
In an action for injuries caused by an explosion of gas in a public street the complaint alleged the incorporation of one of defendants as a gas company; that the other defendant was the owner of certain premises; and that plaintiff was injured “by being hit by some object thrown from the premises at said place by an explosion of gas thereon, which explosion, as the plaintiff is informed and believes, was caused by the negligence of the defendants, ” etc. Held, that a motion to make the complaint more definite and certain, by setting forth the act or neglect claimed to have caused the explosion, was properly denied.
Appeal from special term, New York county.
Action by Patrick Jackman against Franklin B.Lord and the Consolidated Gas Company. Defendant Lord appeals from an order denying his motion to make the complaint more definite and certain.
Argued before Van Brxjnt, P. J., and Brady and Daniels, JJ.
Lucius H. Beers, (G. de F. Lord, of counsel,) for appellant. Hermon H. Shook, for respondent.

Opinion:
Van Brunt, P. J.
This action was brought to recover for injuries caused by an explosion, the plaintiff being at the time in the public streets of the city of New York. The complaint alleges the incorporation of the defendant the Consolidated Gas Company, and that the defendant Lord was at the time of the explosion the owner of the premises No. 409 Grand street; that on the 16th of August, 1889, the plaintiff was lawfully on the public highway in the city of New York known as "Grand Street, " at the corner of Clinton, when he was injured by being hit by some object thrown from said premises by an explosion of gas thereon, which explosion was caused by the negligence of the defendant, without any fault or carelessness on his part, and that in consequence the plaintiff suffered damages for which he prayed judgment. Amotion was made upon the part of the defendant Lord for an order requiring the complaint to be made more definite and certain, by setting forth what act or neglect, if any, on the part of the defendant, is claimed to have caused the explosion of gas alleged in the complaint. This motion was denied, and from the order thereupon entered this appeal is taken. It would appear that the object of the defendant's motion was to compel the plaintiff to Set out the evidence of the negligence which had been alleged by his complaint as against the defendants. It is sought to have him specify in the complaint what actor neglect, if any, on the part of the defendants, is claimed to have caused the explosion alleged in the complaint. It is not claimed that the complaint is deficient in allegations, so as to bedemurrable; but the evidence of negligence alleged in the complaint is sought to be incorporated in the complaint for the avowed purpose of determining as to which of the defendants might be considered responsible therefor, if either. We think that the appellant has mistaken his remedy, and that the complaint is sufficiently definite and certain; and, if a proper case is made out to restrict the general allegations of the complaint, it should be by a bill of particulars, in which the plaintiff might be compelled to state the particular acts of negligence which he would offer to prove on the the trial. "VVe do not understand that, where a general allegation in the complaint is sufficient to make a good cause of action, the court can compel the allegation of specific facts leading to the general conclusions alleged in the complaint. This office is served by a bill of particulars, by which a party, in a proper case, is apprised of the particular facts which the plaintiff will seek to prove, and, being so apprised, cannot be surprised at the trial. We think, therefore, that the order appealed from should be affirmed, with $10 costs and disbursements. All concur.