Case Name: Charles Wolff, Plaintiff, v. The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, Defendant; The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, Plaintiff, v. Charles Wolff, Defendant
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1934-02-08
Citations: 154 Misc. 431
Docket Number: 
Parties: Charles Wolff, Plaintiff, v. The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, Defendant. The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, Plaintiff, v. Charles Wolff, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 154
Pages: 431–432

Head Matter:
Charles Wolff, Plaintiff, v. The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, Defendant. The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, Plaintiff, v. Charles Wolff, Defendant.
Supreme Court, New York County,
February 8, 1934.
F. L. Allen, for the plaintiff.
H. N. Wessel, for thé defendant.
Affd., 241 App. Div. 869.

Opinion:
Valente, J.
In this action plaintiff moves to dismiss defendant's counterclaim for rescission of a life insurance policy. Defendant counters with a cross-motion to consolidate the action with its earlier action as plaintiff against the plaintiff herein for rescission of the policy. To grant the main motion would seriously prejudice defendant because the action by the beneficiary, by reason of its preferential character, would be reached first, and in the absence of the rescission counterclaim would probably result in a judgment for the plaintiff. This motion must, therefore, be denied. The cross-motion for consolidation is also denied, but, as the rescission action is the earlier one, it should be tried first, and the law action will be stayed pending the disposition of the equity action. This stay shall be without prejudice to a motion by either party for preference, with the proviso, however, that the equity action shall proceed to trial without undue delay.
Settle order.