Case Name: Dubois against Philips, Executor of Dubois
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1809-11
Citations: 5 Johns. 235
Docket Number: 
Parties: Dubois against Philips, Executor of Dubois.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 235–236

Head Matter:
Dubois against Philips, Executor of Dubois.
Special picas t™rounsci°nia tided, for b/the coin, tLpraclowee$"'
GROSVENOR, for the defendant,
moved to set aside the default entered in this cause for want of a plea, on the ground of irregularity. It appeared that the deffendant had pleaded non assumpsit, and plena administravit, copies of which pleas, signed by the defendant’s attorney, had been duly served on the plaintiff’s attorney.
Emmet, contra,
said, that the plea was á double plea, sfnd was not signed by counsel, find therefore the plaintiff was authorised to enter the default, according to the practice of the English court of K. B.
Grosvenor, in reply,
observed, that the plea of plene administravit was tantamount to the general issue; and was not therefore within the rule of the English practice ; but he did not understand that such a rule had been established by this court.
1 Sellon, 316
1 Sellon, (B.) 326.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
In all cases not provided for by the rules of this court, we follow the practice of the court of K. B. in England. Special pleas must be signed by counsel. Where the attorney who signs the plea is also of the degree of counsellor, that will be sufficient; but he must sign as counsel, as well as attorney. If there be no addition to the name, it is enough; otherwise, if he only adds attorney to his name, it will not be considered. as signed by counsel.