Case Name: Andrew Ditmar, Appellant, v. The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1942-02-27
Citations: 263 A.D. 945
Docket Number: 
Parties: Andrew Ditmar, Appellant, v. The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 263
Pages: 945–945

Head Matter:
(February 27, 1942.)
Andrew Ditmar, Appellant, v. The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, Respondent.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The allegations of the complaint concerning the effect of the decree of the Soviet government are allegations of fact which necessitate a trial of those issues. This is not inconsistent with the decisions in Appel v. New York Life Ins. Co. (285 N. Y. 629) and Dougherty v. Equitable Life Assurance Society (266 id. 71) where the same decree was considered and interpreted on the record then before the court. We are further of opinion that the causes of action which were stricken out by Special Term are governed by the Statute of Limitations applicable to sealed instruments. Those instruments are the foundation of the plaintiff's claim, which entitle him to recover by operation of law if we assume the facts alleged to be true. (Compare Herter v. Mullen, 159 N. Y. 28; Dolan v. Rodgers, 149 id. 489; Houston & Texas Central Ry. Co. v. Southern Architectural Cement Co., 112 Tex. 139; 245 S. W. 644.)
The order should be reversed, with twenty dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion denied.
Present — Martin, P. J., O'Malley, Townley, Glennon and Untermyer, JJ.
Order unanimously reversed, with twenty dollars costs and disbursements, and motion denied.