Morning Journal Ass'n v. Smith

PEE CUEIAM. This is a writ of error from an order of the circuit court for the southern district of New York, which over [142] ruled the defendant’s demurrer to the plaintiff’s complaint. The plaintiff, a married woman, and subject of Great Britain, brought in the TJnited States circuit court an action for libel against the defendant, a corporation, of the state of Hew York. The statute of the' state of Hew York (Code Civil Proc. § 450) provides that the husband is not a necessary or proper party to an action to recover damages to the person, estate, or character of his wife, and all sums that may be recovered in such actions shall be the separate property off the wife. The défendant’s point upon the demurrer is that an alien married woman cannot maintain an action at common law in the TJnited States circuit court for either of the districts of Hew York without joining her husband, or suing by her prochein ami. It may be remarked that upon the face of the complaint it does not appear that the husband of the complainant was living when the suit was commenced, but we do not place a decision upon that ground, because we are of opinion that an averment that the complainant was. a married woman would not create a defect of parties.' Section 721 of the - TJnited States Revised Statutes provides as follows: “Tits laws of the several states, except where the constitution, treaties, oi" 'statutes of the United States otherwise require or provide, shall he regarded as rules of decision, in trials at common law, in the courts of the United States, in cases whore they apply.” The Hew York statute is applicable to any married woman, whether alien or citizen, who becomes a plaintiff in the courts of that state. Such statutory modifications of .the common law in regard to the rights of husband and wife as plaintiffs in actions at law in the courts of a state are applicable also in the TJnited States courts for such state,.: if . not inconsistent with the laws of the.TJnited States, or with the duties which , belong to its judges and courts, -and--the powers with which they are’clothed. This state statute is.applicable in actions at common law in the courts of, fihe^United States held.within the state of Hew York.’ The order of the circuit court is affirmed.