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11 Jones & S. 140

Smith v. Smith

The Superior Court of New York City

Decided January 7, 1878

The Superior Court of New York City · decided 1878-01-07

The action was for a dissolution of the marriage bond. On May 13, 1876, an order was' made at the special term, on the defendant’s application, that the defendant have sixty dollars to be paid to her or her counsel for the defense of this action, and that she be allowed the sum of §3.50 per week, as alimony herein.

Relies on Jackson v. Stackhouse

Decided 1878-01-07

By the Court.—Van Vorst, J.

¶1—The order from which this appeal is taken, recites that the papers read on the motion to set aside the release, were the petition of the defendant’s attorney, notice of motion, and the affidavit of John S. Woodford. We must be confined in considering this appeal to those papers.

¶2If other papers were in fact used on the motion, not mentioned in the order, before appealing the defendant should have applied to have the order in that respect amended.

¶3But in the form in which the matter comes before us, we are to assume that the order correctly states the papers used on the motion.

¶4There is no allegation that the defendant was induced by any fraudulent practice or artifice to execute this release.

¶5In the absence of such allegations the presumption is that it was voluntarily executed, and that it was for the defendant’s advantage to receive the sum of $100 *143at the time in advance, and in full, of all alimony to which she might at any time become entitled, under the order of May 13, 1876.

¶6At the time this money was paid a small amount of alimony onl'y had accrued. It might be that from death, or other legal cause, thereafter arising, the defendant’s claim might suddenly terminate. The allowance was only temporary, and it might be that on final judgment she would not be entitled to it.

¶7It was competent for her to agree to take a gross sum in lieu of all claims for alimony under the order.

¶8As there is no fact to impeach the honesty or good faith of the transaction, the judge before whom the order appealed from was made, was justified in refusing to set the release aside.

¶9A further construction of the release may, however, raise the question whether or not anything was released except alimony provided for in. the original order.

¶10The rule indicated in Jackson v. Stockton (1 Cow. 122), that the portion of the release in respect to “ expenses in the action,” is qualified by the recital with respect to “alimony,” in the former part of the release.

¶11The order appealed from is affirmed without costs, and without prejudice to the defendant’s right to apply by motion for the payment of such expenses in the action as she may be entitled to, in order that she may bring the action to a close.

¶12Curtis, Ch. J., and Freedman, J., concurred.

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