Eckhaus v. Eckhaus

15 Misc. 2d 686, 181 N.Y.S.2d 570, 1958 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2263
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 2, 1958
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 15 Misc. 2d 686 (Eckhaus v. Eckhaus) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Eckhaus v. Eckhaus, 15 Misc. 2d 686, 181 N.Y.S.2d 570, 1958 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2263 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1958).

Opinion

Frederick Backer, J.

Plaintiff moves to appoint a receiver of the chose in action and claim of the defendant arising out of a personal injury action he has instituted and is now pending; and why such receiver should not take possession of any settlement sums to be paid in said litigation to defendant when and as same be paid and apply same to the payment of the amount due plaintiff as alimony herein. On April 22, 1955 she obtained [687]*687a separation decree against defendant. He is in arrears of the payment of alimony thereunder. Plaintiff seeks relief by way of the instant application.

The motion papers simply request the appointment of a receiver. Since not made specifically for relief by way of sequestration under section 1171 of the Civil Practice Act, the motion can be construed only under section 974 of the Civil Practice Act.- The word ‘ ‘ property ’ ’ as used in this statute contemplates specific property which is the subject of the action (Central Union Trust Co. v. Northern Ins. Co., 217 App. Div. 482). Where the action is at law for damages only (as here for personal injuries) and does not involve a claim for any specific property, the court has no authority to appoint a receiver (O'Mahoney v. Belmont, 62 N. Y. 133; Royce v. Ziegfeld, 222 App. Div. 694; Brody v. Mills, 278 App. Div. 771; Tripp, Guide to Motion Practice [Rev. ed.], p. 352). There is no principle which sanctions the appointment of a receiver in a case such as the defendant has pending for it is not a legal claim for any specific money, property or fund which belonged to him but is an ordinary action to recover money damages in negligence (Central Union Trust Co. v. Northern Ins. Co., 217 App. Div. 482, 486, supra).

The case of Ferguson v. Ferguson (247 App. Div. 24) relied upon by plaintiff is inapplicable here for income of trust funds payable to a husband has been held to be his personal property and may, like other property, be sequestered for the benefit of his wife and is applicable not only to accrued income from a trust but in a proper case an anticipatory order may be entered sequestering future income. In the instant case defendant had no such interest in trust funds or any specific property. However broadly section 1171 of the Civil Practice Act may be interpreted, it is at least limited to property which, beyond any reasonable question belongs to the husband (Rosenberg v. Rosenberg, 259 N. Y. 338, 342).

The motion is, therefore, denied.

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

Related

Fisher v. Meyerowitz
31 Misc. 2d 624 (New York Supreme Court, 1961)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
15 Misc. 2d 686, 181 N.Y.S.2d 570, 1958 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2263, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/eckhaus-v-eckhaus-nysupct-1958.