Kelly v. New York Central & Hudson River Railroad

HERRICK, J.

It seems to me that thp affidavits upon which the -order for an examination was granted embody all the requirements of sections 872 and 873 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and unless, in the exercise of his discretion, the justice to whom the affidavits were presented determined that the evidence sought was immaterial or unnecessary, or that the examination sought was merely for the purpose of annoyance or delay, the defendant was entitled to the order as a matter of right. Watts v. Wilcox, (Sup.) 17 N. Y. Supp. 647; affirmed in 133 N. Y. 672, 31 N. E. Rep. 626. A party litigant may, in the discretion ■of the judge or justice to whom application is made, upon complying with the provision of sections 870, 872, and 873¹ of the Code of Civil Procedure, have a general examination of his adversary as a witness in the case, as well before as at the trial; and such examination is not limited to an affirmative cause of action or an affirmative defense. Herbage v. City of Utica, 109 N. Y. 81, 16 N. E. Rep. 62. This case somewhat .modifies the law as held in some former cases, and is understood by many of the profession. That discretion is to be exercised on the line indicated in Watts v. Wilcox, supra; and while this court has aright to review such exercise of discretion by the justice, it will not reverse his decision unless it appears very clearly to the court that error has been •committed. In this case I cannot see that any such error has been committed. The order should be affirmed, with $10 costs, and printing and ■other disbursements. All concur.

1 Section 870 provides that “the deposition of a party to an action pending in a ■court of record, or of a person who expects to be a party to an action about to be brought in such court, * * * may be taken at his own instance or at the instance of an adverse party, or of a coplain’tifE or codefendant, at any time before trial, as prescribed in this article.” Section 872 provides that “the person desiring to take a deposition, as prescribed in this article, may present to a judge of the court in which the action is pending * * * an affidavit, ” etc. Section •'873 provides that “the judge to whom such an affidavit is presented must grant ■an order for the examination, if an action is pending, ” etc.