Thornton v. Adkins

By the Court.

Lumpkin, J.

delivering the opinion.

[1.] We propose to limit our decision to tbe only question’ which we think made by the bill of exceptions : and that is, whether the order of the Judge requiring the interrogatories, to be answered, was authorized by the Act of 1847 ?

The first section of that Act provides, that “any party,, plaintiff or defendant, in any action at Common Law, pending in any Superior or Inferior Court of this State, wishing a discovery from the adverse party, to be used in evidence at the trial of such action, may file written interrogatories to such party, and call upon him to answer the same in solemn form, on oath or affirmation; and if, upon such interrogatories being filed, it shall appear to the Court, by the oath of' the party filing the same or otherwise, that answers to such interrogatories will be material evidence in the cause, and that the interrogatories themselves are pertinent, and such as the adverse party would be bound to answer upon a bill of discovery in a Court of Chancery, the Court shall allow such interrogatories, and shall make an order requiring the adverse party to answer the same, in writing and in solemn form, on his oath or affirmation.” (Qobb, 465.)

The order of the Judge in this case, requiring the in- ■ terrogatories to be answered, was founded upon the “ affidavit, of the defendant, that the answers would be material evidence in the cause, and upon an examination of the questions themselves.” The order states that the Court perceived, by inspection, that the interrogatories were pertinent, and such as the party would be bound to answer upon a bill filed in Chancery.

That the questions are pertinent to the pleas, is not denied. Whether the pleas, themselves, are allowable, involves legal principles of the gravest consideration; and which this Court will not undertake to decide, until they are fully discussed. We have uniformly given to this Act and those amendatory thereof, the most liberal construction; and we see no reason tó depart from that policy. It is a highly beneficial law, and should never be used for improper purposes.

We agree that it should appear in some way, to the Courfc or to the Judge, in vacation, who grants the order, that the-interrogatories are material, and that the disclosures sought are such as the party would be compelled to make to a bilí filed for discovery; still, all that the Statute requires is, that the Judge should, from the oath of the applicant, on inspection of the interrogatories, and his knowledge of the case “ or • otherwise,” be satisfied that the commission should issue.

“ The first rule respecting discovery,” says Mr. Adams,in this work on JSquity, (pp. 105-’6,) “is, that the defendant must answer to all facts material to the plaintiff’s case. He1 is not bound to answer questions of law; for such questions, ought to be decided by the Court. He is not bound to answer questions of fact, unless reasonably material; for he is. not to be harrassed with idle, and perhaps mischievous, inquiries. And it will not bo sufficient to show, that somehow’ or other they may be connected with the case; for if such connection be very remote, so that the discovery would be oppressive, it will be refused; as, for example, where a. bill charged an executor with mixing his testator’s money, with his own, and called on him to set out a monthly account of his banker’s balances, with an account of his own proper- ■ ty, debts and liabilities. And lastly, he is not bound to answer merely because the question is material to the issue, but it must be also material to the plaintiff’s case.”

[2.] If the interrogatories propounded, therefore, are obnoxious to any of the foregoing objections, or are fishing or impertinent, or would make the defendant liable to a penalty- or forfeiture, or have a tendency thereto; or would compel him to criminate himself; or would involve him in a breach-of professional confidence as Counsel, or the discovery would be immaterial, it would bo improper to allow the interrogatories to be filed; and if leave be improvidcntly granted, the-party would be justifiable in refusing to depose until ho could be heard. Every citizen is, and of right ought to be, entitled to be heard before he can be stripped of the shield which the-law has thrown around him, and be subjected to an inquisition not authorized by the case. A bill for discovery, con-tabling objectionable matter, is demurrable; and if personally examined on the stand, as a party now, by law, may be, the same as any other witness, he could object ore terms to the questions put to him. The case of interrogatories was not intended to constitute an exception to all the analogies of the law, in this respect, and'should not be so held.

As to the form of the application, then, we deem it but of -little importance. Here the language of the law has been literally pursued; and we are not prepared to say that tho order was illegally granted. We do say, however, that if the interrogatories, or any of them, are such as a Court of Equity would not compel a defendant to answer to a bill of discovery, they are excluded by the very terms of the Act. And for myself, I am clear that any party against whom such interrogatories are sued out, should be permitted to controvert the propriety of the questions asked before he is forced to answer them. If, upon the refusal of the party to answer, the Circuit Court should be of the opinion that such refusal was captious or intended for delay, it is invested with plenary power to pass such order as will do justice in the premises. If, on the other hand, it finds that the original ex parte order was improvidently granted, it should not hesitate to set it aside. The party must have his day in Court, in relation to this as well as to every other right; he cannot be ■condemned unheard, or what is worse, hung and then heard.