Hammond v. Crowell Publishing Co.

253 A.D. 205, 1 N.Y.S.2d 728, 1938 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 8399

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: January 28, 1938
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

The action is one for damages for the unauthorized use of plaintiff’s name in violation of sections 50 and 51 of the Civil Rights Law. The statute requires that written consent first be obtained in order to justify the use of one’s name or picture for the purposes of trade. Defendant pleads as a separate and complete defense that consent was given by a course of conduct, and seeks to assert an estoppel based on such conduct. It repeats the facts so pleaded in an additional partial defense in mitigation of damages. In view of the express statutory requirement for written consent, we deem the matter alleged insufficient as a complete defense. Appropriate allegations of fact in mitigation of damage may be asserted as a partial defense.

The order should be reversed, with twenty dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion granted, with leave to the defendant to serve an amended answer within ten days from servi.ce of the order hereupon entered, with notice of entry thereof, on payment of said costs.

Present — Martin, P. J., Glennon, Dore and Callahan, JJ.

Order unanimously reversed, with twenty dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion granted, with leave to the defendant to serve an amended answer within ten days after service of order upon payment of said costs.