Kellogg v. Baker , 15 Abb. Pr. 286 ( 1862 )

Robertson, J.

After previous orders requiring the defendant to make his second defence more definite, and his amending the same, the plaintiff moved to strike out the part of the answer containing such defence as sham. On that .motion an order was made, striking out the third defence, but not disposing of the motion made. That order was appealed from and reversed, with liberty to the plaintiff to proceed to a hearing of his original motion to strike out the second defence as sham.

The plaintiff has now given notice of a motion to strike out such second defence of the answer as sham, or as not complying with the order heretofore made, requiring the answer to be made definite and certain, or to strike out the third defence as inconsistent with the second defence.

The permission of the general term did not go further than to allow the rehearing of the motion to strike out as sham, probably on the ground that it had not been disposed of. If so, until it be disposed of by decision, withdrawal, or otherwise, no new motion can be made covering the same ground.

The additional relief now sought is to strike out the third defence as inconsistent with the second defence. Of course both these remedies cannot be given. I do not see any inconsistency between denying the original existence of any liability, and setting up a release of whatever might be due on such claim. A man may buy his peace without admitting the cause of action.

Upon the question of the sham character of the defence, no affidavit is introduced throwing suspicion upon it, and it is positively sworn to. The fact that the defendant has not complied with an order to make it more definite and certain does not make it sham. For such refusal the court may strike it out, but not as being sham; and it may be a serious question whether plaintiff, by having moved that the answer be made definite, may not have waived the right to strike it out as sham, in consequence of putting the defendant to the trouble and expense of amending it.

But even if the motion now were to strike out as indefinite or uncertain, I think the motion should be denied, unless a party who has had a release under seal, which he has lost, is precluded from setting it up where he cannot recollect its exact date, consideration, and terms, or how executed. Parties are undoubtedly bound to answer as to facts within their own knowledge positively, but that does not extend to the contents of written papers; they are presumed to remember acts, but not writings. Every one may forget the date or consideration of an instrument, and yet remember enough of its operative words to show its legal effect; and unless I am driven to the conclusion that the defendant must remember the date of this instrument, or lose the benefit of it altogether, I ought to deny the motion. The Code uses the terms (§ 160), “ so indefinite and uncertain that the precise nature of the defence is not apparent.” It appears to me plain that such precise nature is apparent ;—it is a release under seal, executed by the original creditors after the supposed cause of action arose, and before the beginning of this action. Time is not always material, and may be disregarded. (Potter a. Thompson, 22 Barb., 87; Ive a. Scott, 4 Dowl. Pr. C., 993; Lester a. Jewett, 11 N. Y., 53; Lyon a. Clark, 8 Ib., 148.) If its only materiality be, that one event occurred after another, it is sufficient to say so. (Martin a. Kanouse, 2 Abbotts’ Pr., 330; Brown a. Hermon, 21 Barb., 508; Beesley a. Dalbey, 6 Bing., N. C., 37.) The motion to make definite and certain is a substitute for a special demurrer, which formerly discharged the same office. Allegations of various matters have been held to be good against special demurrers for want of stating time, such as the sale of goods, date of letters-testamentary, and ejectment of the plaintiff in an action for mesne profits. (Lane a. Thelwell, 3 Cr. M. & R., 140 ; Hughes a. Williams, 2 Ib., 331; Ive a. Scott, 4 Dowl. Pr. C., 993.) I think, therefore, the second defence is stated with sufficient certainty. If there is any defect in it, by stating the legal effect of the instrument instead of setting forth a copy or stating its contents, the objection must be taken by demurrer.

But it is a fatal objection to the motion to make more definite, that the plaintiff waived all right to the relief sought by noticing the cause for trial, by which he accepted the issues as they stood, at least unless they were sham; he admitted he knew to what the defendant referred, and had no need of further information by making his answer more specific.

On all these grounds the motion must be denied, with $10 costs to the defendant.