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88 Misc. 473

Dryden v. Lattimer

New York Supreme Court

Decided December 15, 1914

New York Supreme Court · decided 1914-12-15

<p>Depositions — contents of order of examination of defendant in action for alienation of affections of plaintiff’s wife —when motion to vacate examination granted.</p> <p>Where it is apparent that the real purpose of an examination of the defendant in an action for alienation of the affections of plaintiff’s wife is to cross-examine him and obtain knowledge of what he will testify to on his defense, a motion to vacate the order of examination will be granted though plaintiff states that he in good faith desires such examination to prove his cause of action.</p>

Decided 1914-12-15

Bbown, J.

¶1It does not appear that the plaintiff honestly intends, in good faith, to use defendant’s testimony to prove his cause of action. The plaintiff charges defendant with alienating the affections, etc., of plaintiff’s wife; the defendant denies, under oath, each circumstance charged as constituting plaintiff’s grievance.

¶2For the plaintiff to be permitted to examine defendant, before trial, at length and in general, thus committing defendant to a certain version of every detail in advance of the trial, with no knowledge of plaintiff’s claim thereto, thus enabling plaintiff to fashion, shape and stage his testimony, etc., on the trial to suit his notion as to how defendant’s version should be combated is, in effect, placing a burden on the defendant of establishing his defense before there has been any case proved against him. The law casts no burden on the defendant until there shall be proved against him a cause of action.

¶3The plaintiff’s contemplated procedure is so unfair, and gives him such an advantage, that it is believed it ought not, in furtherance of justice, to be granted in such an action as is here presented.

¶4It has been denied in actions for seduction (Wessel *475v. Schwarzler, 144 App. Div. 587); and in an action for breach of promise of marriage, id. 589.

¶5While the plaintiff does state that he, in good faith, desires to examine the defendant to establish his cause of action, and intends to use the evidence thus obtained upon the trial for such purpose, yet, from the very nature of the case, it is apparent that the examination is sought for the purpose of cross-examining defendant before trial, and obtaining the advantage of knowing what defendant will testify to in defending himself upon the charge, without disclosing what plaintiff will claim the facts to be.

¶6The motion to vacate order for defendant’s examination is granted, with ten dollars costs.

¶7Motion granted, with ten dollars costs.

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