Case Name: PEOPLE ex rel. BEHARKA v. NATIONAL SLAVONIC SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA et al.
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1912-11-08
Citations: 137 N.Y.S. 1057
Docket Number: 
Parties: PEOPLE ex rel. BEHARKA v. NATIONAL SLAVONIC SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 137
Pages: 1057–1057

Head Matter:
PEOPLE ex rel. BEHARKA v. NATIONAL SLAVONIC SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA et al.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.
November 8, 1912.)
Mandamus (§ 125*)—Members—Expulsion.
The courts of New York will not exercise jurisdiction by mandamus . to compel a beneficial association, which is a foreign corporation, to reinstate an expelled member as a member of a nonresident lodge, though the association was authorized to do business in New York.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Mandamus, Cent Dig. §§ 259, 260; Dec. Dig. § 125.*]
♦For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes
Appeal from Special Term, New York County.
Application by the People, on the relation of Mathias Beharka, against the National Slavonic Society of the United States of America and others. From an order granting relator an alternative writ, respondents appeal.
Reversed, and motion denied.
Argued before INGRAHAM, P. J„ and CLARKE, SCOTT, MILLER, and DOWLING, JJ.
Joseph H. Kohan, of New York City, for appellants.
Alfred B. Jaworower, of New York City, for respondent.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
This case differs from the case of People ex rel. Ruman v. Natl. Slavonic Society, 144 App. Div. 574, 129 N. Y. Supp, 603, in that it appears in this case that the parent society, a membership corporation organized under the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, has been authorized to do business in this state. But it is none the less a foreign corporation. The relator is a nonresident, and the subordinate lodge from which he was expelled is not a resident lodge of the state of New York. Under such circumstances, the courts of this state should decline jurisdiction, even if they have it.
The order should be reversed, with $10 costs and disbursements, and the motion denied, with $10 costs.