Middleton v. Boardman

Per Curiam: Ordinarily this court would be disinclined to allow an appeal to the Court of Appeals from an order relating solely to a question [468] of practice. There is, however, a conflict of opinion in the First, Second and Third Departments on the subject of examinations of a party before trial. In this (Second) department the court has followed its decision rendered in Oshinsky v. Gumberg (188 App. Div. 23), in cases which have arisen both before and since the enactment of the new Civil Practice Act. In the Third Department the court has held in the case of Combes v. Maas (209 App. Div. 330) that an examination before trial may be had of an adverse party without limiting the examination to an issue of which the moving party has the affirmative. In the First Department the court held, in Griffin v. Cunard Steamship Co., Ltd. (159 App. Div. 453), that “ Upon considerations of sound public policy we have not allowed general examinations before trial in negligence cases.” To the same effect see Bruhl v. Nedwell (164 App. Div. 932). Later, in Shaw v. Samley Realty Co., Inc. (201 App. Div. 433), the same court said: “ The power to permit a general examination undoubtedly exists, but the matured judgment of the court is that it should not ordinarily be exercised in this class of cases ” (i. e., in so-called negligence cases). In this department the fact that the action is in tort is not regarded as a ground for limiting the examination in any way. The growing burden of deciding practice motions of this character impels us to allow this appeal so that the practice may be definitely settled by the Court of Appeals, not only in negligence cases but in all cases. The motion for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals should be granted. Kelly, P. J., Rich, Jaycox, Manning and Young, JJ., concur. Motion for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals granted, questions to be certified. Settle order on notice.