Court Opinion

ID: 8065383
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 04:44:53.460579+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:38:11.379143
License: Public Domain

Per CuRiAM.
The purpose of the .rule is to require the plaintiff to show •cause why he should not be adjudged guilty of a contempt fof this court, for refusing to answer certain questions propounded to him by the defendant’s attorney, before a Supreme Court commissioner, under the provisions of section 144 of the Practice act as amended by Pamph. L. 1914, p. 151.
The amendment is intended to enable any party to an action to examine the adverse party before trial after issue joined without procuring an order for the purpose, upon service of the usual form of subpoena and the payment of the necessary fee.
In this instance the plaintiff appeared in pursuance of the service, but refused upon direction of his counsel to answer any questions “upon the ground of the alleged unconstitutionality of the act in requiring such examination without the order of the court.” In these circumstances the rule to show cause was granted. We think the act is constitutional, and that it was within the power of the legislature to require the plaintiff to submit to examination before trial upon the mere service of a subpcena ad testificandum. The practical difficulty in the case is presented by the plaintiff’s failure to answer questions, and the application for his punishment for such refusal. This situation presents a lapsus or ■omissus in the method of procedure, for concededly none is prescribed. To subject a recalcitrant witness to the charge of a contempt it must be shown that he has violated some order or direction of the court, and in this case no' such order exists. So far as obedience to the mandate of the subpoena is concerned, he has appeared as required. The obvious difficulty of enforcing compliance with the legislative intent in thei situation is due to the absence of a court order, in the first instance, or the propounding by examining counsel of certain specific *393questions, which upon the witness’ refusal to answer may be submitted to the court, and after argument pro and con, as to the legal relevancy of the same, an order may be made, which, if contemned, may present the basis for a rule to show cause. Without such an order an application in this case is premature, and must be denied.
The rule to show cause will therefore be discharged.