Court Opinion

ID: 5467802
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-09 20:05:44.569024+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:11.077482
License: Public Domain

Pratt, Justice.
The Code provides that either party, giving notice of trial, may proceed with the cause in its order upon the calendar, and in the absence of the adverse party> take a dismissal of the complaint, or a verdict or judgment as the case may require. I think this provision could not have been in view, when the 23d rule of court was adopted. At all events, it would be unreasonable, after the defendant has himself noticed the cause and placed it upon the calendar, and put the plaintiff to the expense of attending the circuit with his witnesses, to permit him to turn round and take a dismissal of the complaint, on motion at a special term.
He may have neglected to move at the circuit, because the plaintiff was ready for trial. In this case, the plaintiff' having obtained all the relief sought by his complaint, has good reason for not noticing the cause and bringing it to trial, as well as for supposing the defendants did not desire him to. Besides, he has a manifest interest in saving the fund already in the hands of a receiver, from the expense of further litigation.
The motion must be denied. I do not think the' 23d rule was intended to embrace a case where the defendant might have moved the cause at the circuit, on his own motion, and availed himself of the relief sought by this motion. But as the rule will bear that construction,' no costs are imposed upon the defendants.