Case Name: BERGMAN a. HOWELL
Court: New York Court of Common Pleas
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1856-10
Citations: 3 Abb. Pr. 329
Docket Number: 
Parties: BERGMAN a. HOWELL.
Judges: 
Reporter: Abbott's Practice Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 329–330

Head Matter:
BERGMAN a. HOWELL.
New York Common Pleas;
Special Term, October, 1856.
Defective Answer.—When a Nullity.—Married Women.
An answer served in time, and verified (if necessary), cannot be treated as a nullity simply because the defence which it sets up is defective.
Motion to vacate a judgment for irregularity.
This action was brought by John H. Bergman against Anna M. Howell. Defendant served an answer, duly verified and in due season, setting up that defendant was a married woman and therefore not liable upon the cause of action set forth. Plaintiff thereupon entered judgment, which defendant now moved to set aside.
J. W. & S. Mitchell, for the motion.
C. G. Eckel, opposed.

Opinion:
Ingraham, F. J.
It is averred in the answer, and not contradicted, that the defendant is a married woman. She is prosecuted as a feme sole, and the plaintiff has disregarded the answer and entered up judgment, which the defendant now-moves to set aside.
If the defendant is a married woman she cannot be sued, on the cause of action for which this action is brought, without her husband, and the judgment against her alone would be irregular, even if the plaintiff could disregard the answer.
But I do not concur in the opinion that an answer, verified by the defendant, may be disregarded by the plaintiff, because the defendant sets up as a defence that she is afeme covert. The Code provides for such a state of things, by allowing the party the necessary relief on a motion. If the plaintiff may decide . whether an answer is sufficient or not, and enter up judgment because the answer in some respects may be defective, the resort to a motion would be unnecessary. Such a practice, if sanctioned, would lead to great confusion and irregularity, and should not in my opinion be permitted.
If the defendant is a married woman she should appear by a next friend and not by an attorney, and in such a case the answer may need to be amended. But it does not follow, because such a defence is set up, that it is true. If the plaintiff admits it, his whole proceeding is erroneous. If he denies it, he should take issue with the defendant and proceed to trial. At any rate he should seek to get rid of the answer by motion, and has no right to treat it as a nullity.
Motion to set aside judgment granted, with ten dollars costs, either party to amend pleadings as they may be advised.