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34 Misc. 693

Schmidt v. McCaffrey

New York Supreme Court

Decided May 15, 1901

New York Supreme Court · decided 1901-05-15

<p>Pleading.</p> <p>A general denial cannot be stricken out as sham under Code Civ. Pro., § 538, but only a “ defence ”. A “ denial ” is not a “ defence ” in the terminology of pleading.</p>

Relies on Wayland v. . Tysen

Decided 1901-05-15

Gaynor, J.

¶1Section 538 of the Code of Civil Procedure is that “ A sham answer or a sham defence may he stricken out ”, etc. This distinguishes an answer ” and a “ defence ” as separate things in the terminology of pleading, whereas the term answer ” includes the term “ defence ”. An answer may consist of a denial or denials only, - or of a “ defence ” only, or of both (Code Civ. Pro. § 500). But a denial cannot be struck out as sham, i. e., false, but only a defence ” (Wayland v. Tysen, 45 N. Y. 281). This serves to illustrate the difference in terminology between a denial ” and a defence ”. The inexact and unscientific language of the Code ought to be that a “ defence” may be struck out as sham. There are no defences pleaded here, but only a general denial.

¶2The motion is denied, with $10 costs.

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