Wayne County Savings Bank v. Brackett

Smith, B. J.: Upon an application under section 870, etc., of tbe Code of Civil Procedure, for tbe examination of a person before trial, whether a party to tbe action or not, tbe applicant must state, by affidavit, facts and circumstances showing that tbe testimony sought is material and necessary to bis case. (Sec. 872, sub. 4, Rule 83; Beach v. Mayor, 14 Hun, 79; Chapin v. Thompson, 16 id., 53; Schepmoes v. Bousson, 1 Abb. N. C., 481; Elmore v. Hyde, 2 id., 129.) Tbe plaintiff has attempted to comply with that rule in this case-; but has not succeeded. It is not shown or alleged that tbe testimony sought will tend to support the cause of action. All that is alleged in respect to Brackett is, in substance, that bis examination is material and necessary to tbe plaintiff to enable it to ascertain whether tbe defendant company is a copartnership, as alleged in tbe complaint, or a joint-stock association, as alleged in the answer, to enable it to 'prepa/re for tbe trial, and to enable it to ascertain the authority of Brackett, as president, etc., to make notes on behalf or [436] in tbe name of said company. Like averments are made in respect to tbe materiality of tbe testimony of Warren. Similar affidavits were beld insufficient in tbe cases above cited, and we regard those authorities as decisive of this case. Tbe plaintiff contends that Brackett is a party defendant, and that tbe Code makes the granting of an order for the examination of an adverse party obligatory. In the view we take of tbe statute it is not necessary to decide whether Brackett is to be regarded as a party or not. So far as be is concerned individually, bis liability is not denied. If be is to be treated as a party to the issue, it is by reason of tbe fact that the company is sued in his name as president, as authorized by section 1919 of the Code, and tbe prior act of 1849. (Chap. 258.) It was beld at Special Term, in tbe New York Superior Court, that a person sued according to the act of 1849 is tbe only party defendant, and as such party be may be examined under section 870 et seq. of the Code. (McGuffin v. Dinsmore, 4 Abb. N. C., 241.) In The People v. The Mutual Gas-Light Company of the City of Brooklyn, it was held by the Court of Appeals that section 870 et seq. of the Code do not include the officers, servants, agents or employes of a party, although such party be a corporation, and, accordingly, that the director of a corporation defendant could not be compelled to submit to an examination before trial. (74 N. Y., 434.) That decision was made in 1878. In 1880, the seventh subdivision of section 872 of the Code was amended by adding to it a provision that “ if the party sought to be examined is a corporation, the affidavit shall state the names of the officers or directors thereof, or any of them whose testimony is necessary and material, * * * and the order .to be made in respect thereto shall direct the examination of such persons.” * * * Whatever may be the effect of that provision upon the point decided by the Court of Appeals in the case cited, it does not abrogate the preceding subdivision 4 of the same section, already referred to; on the contrary, it is to be read with it, so that whether Brackett is to be regarded as a party or not, the. affidavit must state facts showing that his testimony is material and necessary. And it is only when such an affidavit is presented to the judge that he is required by section 873 to grant an order for the examination asked for. [437] It follows that tbe order appealed from, in so far as it denies tbe motion to vacate tbe order for tbe examination of Brackett, should be reversed, and in all other respects affirmed; and tbe appellants are entitled to ten dollars costs of this appeal and disbursements. HabdiN and BabKeb, JJ., concurred. So ordered.