Opinion
February, 1894.
Samuel G. Adams and Nathan Lewis, for appellant.
A.H. Berrick, for respondent.
The respondent objects, in limine, that the order is not the subject of review by this court.
We have no jurisdiction to entertain an appeal from an order which the City Court has granted in the exercise of its discretion. Keller v. Feldman, 2 Misc. 179; 49 N.Y. St. Repr. 718. An order for the examination of a party before trial, if the requisite facts be presented, is discretionary, and so is not open to revision by us on appeal from the City Court. Robinson v. Cornish, 36 N.Y. St. Repr. 39; Finlay v. Chapman, 119 N.Y. 404; Jenkins v. Putnam, 106 id. 276; Glenney v. Stedwell, 64 id. 120; Bank v. Sheehan, 101 id. 176; Herbage v. City, 109 id. 81; Clyde v. Rogers, 87 id. 625; Stilwell v. Priest, 85 id. 649. But if the facts indispensable to the allowance of the order be not apparent in the papers the court has no power to grant it, and having no discretion to make an order beyond its jurisdiction, in making it the court commits legal error. "If the affidavit discloses such a case as gives the judge the power to act, what action he will take is discretionary with him." Glenney v. Stedwell, 64 N.Y. 128; Jenkins v. Putnam, 106 id. 276. "Here there were facts upon which the court had the power to exercise its discretion, and that is as far as our inquiry can extend." Stilwell v. Priest, 85 N.Y. 650.
To authorize an order for the examination of the defendant, with a view to the preparation of the complaint, the moving affidavit must show the desired information to be material and necessary for the purpose; that the plaintiff is without such information and that it is inaccessible to him otherwise than by recourse to his adversary. Martin v. Clews, 55 N.Y. Super. Ct. 552; 18 N.Y. St. Repr. 463; De Lacy v. Walcott, 36 id. 79; Jenkins v. Putnam, 106 N.Y. 272; Strakosch v. Press Co., 53 Hun, 503; Britton v. MacDonald, 3 Misc. 514. The plaintiff's affidavit exhibits neither that the facts he seeks are necessary to enable him to frame his complaint, nor that he is ignorant of them, nor that he cannot obtain them except by examination of the defendant. On the contrary, the allegations in the affidavit comprise all the elements of a sufficient complaint; and they purport to be made on the personal knowledge of the plaintiff.
Plaintiff's application was premature. After issue joined, he may well claim the examination of the defendant with a view to the trial.
Upon the ground that nothing was presented to the court below to justify the order, it is reversed, with costs.
BOOKSTAVER and BISCHOFF, JJ., concur.
Order reversed, with costs.