Rappaport v. Werner

34 A.D. 525

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: July 1, 1898
• Status: Published

Opinion

Patterson, J.:

The order appealed from, by which this cause was stricken from the general calendar, was erroneously madel The action was against tort -feasors, each of whom was charged with responsibility- for the same alleged wrong. One of the defendants was a copartner of the plaintiff. The case was stricken from the calendar on the ground that' he was a necessary party, and that as lie was not served with the summons the cause was not in a condition to be put upon the calendar. That defendant was made a party on the record, but he was not served with process. Under the allegations of the complaint, each defendant was severally, as well as jointly, liable, if there is any liability at all. Whether the action can be maintained ultimately, is not the question that was before the court on this motion. It was a common-law action, and in such an action the fact that one defendant severally liable is not served, does not stay the action as ■against others who are severally liable. If the summons is issued against all and only served on one or more severally liable, the plaintiff may proceed against those served as if they were the only defendants named. That is specially provided by section 456 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Those served must answer, for their wrong. The ■case was properly on the calendar for trial, and the order must be reversed, with costs,, and the case restored to its proper place on the calendar.

Van Brunt, P. J\, Barrett, Rumsey and O’Brien, JJ., .concurred.

Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and case restored to its place on the calendar.