Case Name: Reynolds v. Craus
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1891-12-14
Citations: 16 N.Y.S. 792
Docket Number: 
Parties: Reynolds v. Craus.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 16
Pages: 792–792

Head Matter:
Reynolds v. Craus.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department.
December 14, 1891.)
Pleading—General Denial—When Stricken Out as Sham.
A plea of general denial cannot be stricken out as sham, unless its falsity is admitted on examination before trial. Wa/yland v. Tysen, 45 N. Y. 381, and Thompson v. Raikvay Go., Id. 471, followed.
Appeal from special term, Dutchess county.
Action by James L. Reynolds against Henry S. Craus upon a promissory note. From an order striking out his answer as frivolous, false, and sham, and directing a judgment for plaintiff, defendant appeals.
Reversed.
Argued before Dykman and Pratt, JJ.
Norman A. Lawlor, for appellant.
Pelham L. McClellan, for respondent, cited Hull v. Smith, 8 How. Pr. 149; Kelly v. Barnett, 16 How. Pr. 135; Lefferts v. Snediker, 1 Abb. Pr. 41; Nichols v. Jones, 6 How. Pr. 335; People v. Hospital, 7 Dans. 304; Shearman v. New York Cent. Mills, 1 Abb. Pr. 187; Thorn v. New York Cent. Mills, 10 How. Pr. 20; Leach v. Boynton, 3 Abb. Pr. 1; Littlejohn v. Greeley, 22 How. Pr. 345; Kreitz v. Frost, 5 Abb. Pr. (N. S.) 277; Browm v. Jenison, 3 Sandf. 732; Hull v. Smith, 8 How. Pr. 149; Walker v. Hewitt, 11 How. Pr. 395; People v. McCumber, 18 N. Y. 315, 15 How. Pr. 186; Kiefer v. Thomass, 6 Abb. Pr. (N. S.) 42; Kay v. Whittaker, 44 N. Y. 565.

Opinion:
Pratt, J.
Under the authority of Wayland v. Tysen, 45 N. Y. 281, and Thompson v. Railway Co., Id. 471, this order must be reversed, The cases cited by respondent were all decided before the two eases above cited,' and, so far as they hold that a general denial can be stricken out as sham, are overruled. The only variation from the rule as laid down in these cases has been where a party has been examined before trial, and has admitted the falsity of the answer. Order reversed, with costs to abide event.