Dwyer v. Corrugated Paper Products Co.

Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York

Dwyer v. Corrugated Paper Products Co.

80 Misc. 412, 141 N.Y.S. 240

CourtAppellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York

DecidedApril 15, 1913

StatusPublished

This text of 80 Misc. 412 (Dwyer v. Corrugated Paper Products Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Dwyer v. Corrugated Paper Products Co., 80 Misc. 412, 141 N.Y.S. 240 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1913).

Pincite

Opinion

Guy, J.

Plaintiff, an infant, sues, to recover damages for personal injuries. The action was commenced on November 8, 1912.

The answer pleaded as a separate defense that on September 9, 1912, the infant, through his mother and guardian, pursuant to chapter 175 of the Laws of 1893, for a valuable consideration, executed and delivered a release of the claim in suit. Chapter 175, Laws of 1893, is repealed by the Domestic Relations Law; but its substance is now codified in section 81 of the Domestic Relations Law. Both chapter 175, Laws of 1893, and section 81 of the Domestic Relations Law relate, among other things, to testamentary guardians. A plea is not avoided because a statute referred to therein is codified, without material change, into a later general law. At common law a testamentary or general guardian has power to settle and compromise claims on behalf of his ward. Chapman v. Tibbits, 33 N. Y. 289, 290; Torrey v. Black, 58 id. 185, 189, 190; Clare v. Mutual Life Insurance Co., 201 id. 492, 497, 498; 21 Cyc. 74; 14 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d Ed.), 55.

The respondent’s brief suggests that the guardian who executed the release was only a natural guardian, [414]*414and as such would have no power to release his ward’s claim without the sanction of some tribunal. Naeglin v. DeCordoba, 171 U. S. 638, 641. The answer does not so allege,'and, if such is the fact, plaintiff’s remedy was a,motion to make the plea more definite and certain. A demurrer is not a substitute for a motion to make more definite and certain. The allegations of a pleading must be liberally construed (Code Civ. Pro. § 519), and lack of precision and certainty in a plea is no ground for holding it insufficient. Lewis v. Barton, 106 N. Y. 70, 72. Failure to move to make an answer more definite and certain results in its being construed most strongly as against plaintiff. Electrical Accessories Co. v. Mittenthal, 194 N. Y. 473, 477.

Order reversed with ten dollars costs and disbursements and demurrer overruled with ten dollars costs.

Gerard and Page, JJ., concur.

Order reversed with ten dollars costs and disbursements.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Guy, J.

Plaintiff, an infant, sues, to recover damages for personal injuries. The action was commenced on November 8, 1912.

The answer pleaded as a separate defense that on September 9, 1912, the infant, through his mother and guardian, pursuant to chapter 175 of the Laws of 1893, for a valuable consideration, executed and delivered a release of the claim in suit. Chapter 175, Laws of 1893, is repealed by the Domestic Relations Law; but its substance is now codified in section 81 of the Domestic Relations Law. Both chapter 175, Laws of 1893, and section 81 of the Domestic Relations Law relate, among other things, to testamentary guardians. A plea is not avoided because a statute referred to therein is codified, without material change, into a later general law. At common law a testamentary or general guardian has power to settle and compromise claims on behalf of his ward. Chapman v. Tibbits, 33 N. Y. 289, 290; Torrey v. Black, 58 id. 185, 189, 190; Clare v. Mutual Life Insurance Co., 201 id. 492, 497, 498; 21 Cyc. 74; 14 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d Ed.), 55.

The respondent’s brief suggests that the guardian who executed the release was only a natural guardian, [414]*414and as such would have no power to release his ward’s claim without the sanction of some tribunal. Naeglin v. DeCordoba, 171 U. S. 638, 641. The answer does not so allege,'and, if such is the fact, plaintiff’s remedy was a,motion to make the plea more definite and certain. A demurrer is not a substitute for a motion to make more definite and certain. The allegations of a pleading must be liberally construed (Code Civ. Pro. § 519), and lack of precision and certainty in a plea is no ground for holding it insufficient. Lewis v. Barton, 106 N. Y. 70, 72. Failure to move to make an answer more definite and certain results in its being construed most strongly as against plaintiff. Electrical Accessories Co. v. Mittenthal, 194 N. Y. 473, 477.

Order reversed with ten dollars costs and disbursements and demurrer overruled with ten dollars costs.

Gerard and Page, JJ., concur.

Order reversed with ten dollars costs and disbursements.

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)

80 Misc. 412, 141 N.Y.S. 240, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dwyer-v-corrugated-paper-products-co-nyappterm-1913.

Opinion

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack