Court Opinion

ID: 6133511
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-04 21:29:38.810117+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:54:23.998623
License: Public Domain

Boardman, J.:
Tbis is an action for slander in charging tbe plaintiff witb being a tbief. Tbe charge was made to an attorney-at-law, who was acting as an agent and attorney for the executor of an estate. Tbe defendant, as legatee or devisee, had an interest in such estate. He said to Nichols, the attorney, that tbe plaintiff bad stolen eighty dollars in gold belonging to tbe estate, and that be wished him, as attorney of tbe executor, to collect it. Tbis accusation against tbe plaintiff was made by tbe defendant under similar circumstances on three different occasions. Tbe answer is, first, a general denial; second, a denial of knowledge or information as to bis speaking tbe words; third, an allegation on information and belief, that plaintiff took and converted to her own use eighty dollars, tbe property of Peter Altbouse, and on information and belief that plaintiff thereby became and was a tbief. Also specially denies, that be spoke tbe words maliciously or witb intent to injure plaintiff.
On tbe trial Nichols was called to prove tbe speaking of tbe words. Tbe evidence was objected to upon the ground that tbe witness was acting as tbe attorney for the executor of Peter Alt-bouse, in whose estate tbe defendant bad a half interest; that such statement was made to him as such attorney, and that it was a confidential communication. The objection was overruled and an exception taken. This objection and exception is alone urged by appellant.
Tbe facts do not bring tbe case within the provision of section 835 of tbe Code, prohibiting tbe disclosure of a communication made by a client to an attorney in tbe course of bis professional employment. Tbe relation of attorney and client did not exist between defendant and Nichols. It was not, therefore, a privileged communication within that section.
Tbe defendant, however, insists, even in that event, that the communication was confidential and entitled to protection, because tbe *338defendant, in a matter of personal interest to himself, had the right to urge action by the executor or .his agent, and make the statement to such agent. This would be what is styled a conditionally privileged communication, and a cause of action founded upon it, if it is found to have been made in good faith, .in the belief of its truth, and without malice, will fail. Such is the defendant’s position. (Towns, on Slander, §§ 209, 241.)
But this position will not support the exception. It does not go to the admissibillity of the evidence. The evidence was competent-Whether the plaintiff was bound to prove express malice in addition, was another matter which would necessarily come up later. The exception was not, therefore, well taken.
Nor can the defendant take the position upon this appeal that no express malice was afterwards shown, if necessary, to justify the verdict rendered. The evidence is not all returned, and it may be that such evidence was in fact given. There is still another reason. This objection was not taken upon the trial. If a party desires to. take advantage of any defect of proof which could have been supplied, he must move for a nonsuit or a dismissal of the complaint for such defect upon the trial, or he will be debarred from raising the question upon appeal. (Binsse v. Wood, 37 N. Y., 526, and cases cited in 3 Wait’s Pr., 161, and 4 Id., 230, 231.)
It is not intended to express any opinion as to the necessity of proof by plaintiff of express malice, in order to sustain her action. That question is not before us by any ruling or exception, and hence we decline to pass upon it.
The case presents no valid ground for a reversal. The judgment, must be affirmed, with costs.
HajsdiN, P. J., and Follett, J., concurred.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.