9 Abb. N. Cas. 49 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1880
Section 531 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides: “The court may in any case direct a bill of particulars of the claim of either party to be delivered to the adverse party.” This provision confers upon the court a broad judicial discretion, and is declaratory of a practice which existed anterior to the adoption of the Code, but which was very sparingly exercised in this State (Tilton v. Beecher, 59 N. Y. 176). The power thus conferred should be prudently employed, with the view to enable parties to prepare their pleadings and evidence for the trial of the. real issues involved in an action, and not to impose unnecessary labor upon any party. This statute, if judiciously enforced, will be of great value; otherwise, it will prove mischievous and oppressive.
An examination of the facts, disclosed by the papers, has convinced us that the defendants can, without risk or embarrassment, answer the complaint in some of the forms of pleading provided by section 500 of the Code. So far as preparing for the trial of the action is concerned, we do not discover that the plaintiff possesses facilities for ascertaining the facts desired by the defendants, superior to those which are possessed by the latter. It is not shown that any hostility exists be