109 N.Y.S. 387 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1908
Lead Opinion
Two causes of action are alleged in the complaint. The first for divorce upon the ground of adultery. The second for separation upon the ground of abandonment, failure to support and cruel and inhuman treatment. The. defendant demurred upon the ground that it appeared upon the face of the complaint that causes of action had been improperly united, and from the interlocutory judgment sustaining the. demurrer the plaintiff appeals.
The appellant bases her argument upon the proposition that marriage is a civil contract and that both causes of. action set up in the complaint come within one of the subdivisions of section 484 of the Code of Civil Procedure and, therefore, were properly united in one action. Said section, so far as applicable, provides that “The plaintiff may unite in the same complaint, two or more causes of action, whether they are such as were formerly denominated legal or equitable, or both, where they are brought to recover as follows: 1. Upon, contract, express or implied. *. * * 9. Upon claims-arising out of the same transaction, or transactions connected with the same subject of action, and not included within one of the foregoing subdivisions of this section. * * * ' But it must appear, upon the face of the complaint, that all the causes of action, so united, belong to one of the foregoing subdivisions of this section; that they are consistent with each other; and, except as otherwise prescribed by law, that they affect all the parties to the action; and it must appear upon the face of the■ complaint, that they do not require different places of trial,” .
This argument loses sight of a fundamental and controlling fact. Marriage is not only a civil contract, but creates a civil statm Duties, obligations and restrictions attach to it which do not attae to other civil contracts. An ordinary contract may be dissolved bt the mutual consent of both parties — not so the marriage contrae! The causes for its dissolution are precisely enumerated in the statut and can be accomplished only by decree of the 'eotirt in carefulf regulated- procedure. Reasoning by analogy is unsafe, because tin State has adopted a special body of law controlling the subject.-
In Erkenbrach v. Erkenbrach (96 N. Y. 456), Chief Judge Rugee said: “ Prior to the year 1787, the courts of this State had no jurisdiction of the subject of divorce, ‘and the only remedy of aggrieved individuals in matrimonial- cases was by application to the Colonial Governor and his council or to the Legislature for relief.’ (Burtis v. Burtis, 1 Hopk. 557; Griffin v. Griffin, 47 N. Y. 138.) In that year
Title 1 of chapter 15 of the Code of Civil Procedure is entitled “Matrimonial Actions.” Article 1, “Action to annul a void or voidable marriage.” Article 2, “ Action for a divorce.” Article 3, “ Action for a separation.” Article 4, “ Provisions applicable to two or more of the actions specified in this title.” An action will lie solely for the causes therein set forth. Jurisdiction will only be assumed under the provisions therein contained,, and judgment may be entered only in the manner therein prescribed.
Section 500 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that an answer must contain “ 2. A statement of any new matter constituting a defense or counterclaim.” Section 50l defines a counter-’ claim. “ The counterclaim specified in the last section must tend in some way to diminish Or defeat the plaintiff’s recovery, and must be one of the following causes of action against the plaintiff or, in a proper case, against the person whom he represents, and in favor of the defendant * * *; 1. A cause of action arising out of the contract or transaction, set forth in the complaint as the foundation of the plaintiff’s claim, or connected with the subject of the action.” But this provision cannot apply to matrimonial actions because section 1770 of the Code qf Civil Procedure provides that
.. In Durham v. Durham (99 App. Div. 450) this court said: “ In matrimonial actions jurisdiction is; derived from the statute relating to such subject.' There exists no common-law jurisdiction over the. matter, and the court tin administering the same can only exércise.such jurisdiction as the statute confers, or such as is necessarily incidental to. the exercise of' the power conferred- thereby. * *. * Section 1770 of the Code of Civil Procedure makes provision for. a' defense'by way of "counterclaim, but in its application it is. limited'to an .action for a. divorce a. v.moulo and a mensa, et. thorn:' A defense by way of counterclaim upon facts which" would authorize the annulment of a marriage is not provided for in the section"and does.not seem to- be authorized by any other statute. That-a counterclaim is not permissible'as a pleading, under such circumstances was held, in,Taylor v. Taylor (25. Mise. Rep. 566; affd. by this court" without opinion, 68 App. Div. 638).”
Section'523 of the Code;of Civil Procedure provides that “ Where a pleading is verified.each subsequent pleading .* * * must alsd.be verified.” But section 1757, in article 2, action for divorce, provides, that' “ The answer- of '.the defendant may. be made, without verifying i-t, notwithstanding the verification of the complaint.”
There is no exception in the article governing actions, for a separation..' Which provision is to control the defendant in this case ? May he serve an unverified answer because -the ■ first cause of action is for a divorce, or is he required to serve a verified answer because the second cause of action is for a separation ? ,
.- Section 1756 provides that “ In either of the following cases a husband or á. wife may maintain an.action against the other party to the marriage to"procure a. judgment divorcing the parties and dissolving- the marriage by. reason - of the defendant’s adultery: 1. Where, both parties were residents of .the State when .the offence was committed. 2. Where the parties were married within the State. ■ 3. Where.the plaintiff was a resident of the State when- the offence was committed, -and is a resident thereof, -when the action is
Section 1763 of article 3, “Action for a. separation,” provides that “ Such an action may be maintained in either of the following cases: 1. Where both parties are residents of the State, when the action is commenced.- 2. Where the parties-were married.within the State, and tlie plaintiff is a resident thereof, when the action is commenced. 3. Where the parties, having been married without. the State, have become residents of the State, and have continued to be residents'thereof at least one year; and the plaintiff is-such a resident, when the action is commenced.” '
If the necessary jurisdictional facts exist for the prosecution in our courts of an action for a divorce, but do not exist for the prosecution of, an action for. a separation, may the plaintiff, by joining both causes of'action in one complaint, although failing upon the first cause of action, yet obtain judgment A pon the second cause of action, although the court would have had no jurisdiction if an action -had been brought upon that cause alone ?
That interrogatory is not fanciful, for the complaint at bar is an amended complaint, the plaintiff’s original complaint having set up a cause of -action for separation. This court decided, in Conrad v. Conrad (123 App. Div. 384) upon an appeal from an order granting counsel fee and alimony pendente lite, in said action for a separation that upon the papers then submitted the. plaintiff had established that she did not come - within any of the provisions giving the court -jurisdiction of the action which she had brought and reversed the order.
We have found no well-considered case where the courts of this State have decided that these two causes • of action could be united in one complaint. While that fact may not be conclusive upon the question, it is entitled to weight when the court is ashed to. authorize a novel departure from- settled practice, and ' one fraught with what has hitherto been. considered as grave and serious consequences.' '
In Johnson v. Johnson (6 Johns. Ch. 163) it was decided that charges of adultery and of cruel Usage,-being distinct and independ- '
In Smith v. Smith (4 Paige, 92) the complainant filed á bill against her husband charging him with cruel and; inhuman treatment ' and also with the crime of adultery, and she prayed for a separation from his bed and board forever or for a decree dissolving the marriage contract. The defendant demurred to the bill for multifarious ness .or duplicity in joining two distinct causes of action, requiring different decrees and’ which were incompatible and improper to be joined, in' .the same bill. Chancellor WabWorth said ; “ In a suit for a separation the defendant is required to -put in his'answer bni oath, but he-may answer a bill for a divorce on the ground of adultery, without oath. Another difficulty exists as. to the mode of:trial; the one charge requiring a trial by jury and the other being triable by tlie court, as in ordinary suits in chancery. It is true- this court might award an issue to try the question of cruel treatment,, but it .would be very .difficult to frame an issue which would convey the requisite .information to the chancellor to enable him to exercise á sound discretion in deciding, upon the propriety of a separation.” After pointing out other difficulties which existed in the practice at that time,, he concluded: “This is not a proper case for a bill with a double aspect, and I am ¡satisfied that public policy as well as the rules of law forbid the joining of these two charges in the same bill. The wife should not be encourage-to make a charge of -adultery .against her 'husband' unless sh has the means 'of "substantiating the charge by. proof.- And i she can prove the-adultery a suit for a separation or limited divorce is- useless.” ■ -
The same question arose upon demurrer in Zorn v. Zorn (38 Hun, 67) in the fifth department, Mr. Justice Barker writing the opinion, with whom Justices Bradley and Haight concurred. He said : “ The charges of adultery- and of cruel usage áre not only distinct and unconnected charges, but they lead to separate and dis-' tinct issues. The mode of proceeding is different and it leads to confusion to connect them in the same action. One of the causes of action asks for a judgment dissolving the marriage contract, and the other for relief based upon its existence and continuance. The charge of adultery' overbears and destroys the effect of the one of cruelty and ill-treatment and the remedy is merged in the other, and it would be vexatious and improper, as well as useless, to pursue the charge of cruel usage until the charge of adultery had been tried and determined adversely to the plaintiff. These views,were expressed - by the chancellor in Johnson v. Johnson (6 Johns. Ch. 163), where it was distinctly held that charges of adultery and of cruel usage were distinct and independent in their character, and cannot be joined together in the same action.' This rule has never been departed from in this State, and has been adhered to since' the adoption of the statutory rule of pleading. (Smith v. Smith, 4 Paige, 92; M'Intosh v. M'Intosh, 12 How. Pr. 289; Henry v. Henry, 17 Abb. Pr. 411; McNamara v. McNamara, 9 id. 118.) We need not further, restate in this opinion the .reasons and arguments upon which these decisions are founded, as we consider them controlling upon the question. * * * We are unable to escape
But the appellant argues that the force of these authorities has been destroyed by the amendment to section 1770 of the Code of Civil Procedure made by chapter 703 of the Laws of 1881, which allows a counterclaim to be interposed in 'an. action brought either, for a divorce or a separation of a cause of action arising under either of said articles, and that, therefore, as a' counterclaim for divorce may be interposed in an action for a separation, the reason for refusing to unite the two causes of action in a complaint has disappeared. . '
. In the first, place, the section had been ,so amended at the time of the .decision of Zorn v. Zorn (supra). It is true that that provision of the Code is not discussed in the case, but it is as fair to assume that it Was not considered material as it is that it was overlooked by counsel and the court.
In the second place it has long been the law that in an action for a divorce, as is now expressed in section 1758, subdivision 4, of the Code of Civil Procedure, that the plaintiff was not entitled to a divorce' where the plaintiff has also been guilty of adultery, under such circumstances that the defendant would have been entitled, if innocent, to a divorce. And it has also been the law in an action for a separation, as now expressed in section 1765 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that the-defendant may set up in justification .the misconduct of-.the. plaintiff, and if that fact is established to the satisfaction of the court, the defendant is entitled to judgment. In Other words, in each cause of action the misconduct of the plaintiff was a defense. ■ Then the Legislature went a step further and provided for a counterclaim', but limited in the first instance to a counterclaim oh the samé nature.as .the cause of action.
In the third place it seems conclusive that the Legislature has not provided for the joinder of these causes of action, ■ while it .has specifically provided for the interposition of the counterclaim.
As Said in Erkenbrach v. Erkenbrach (supra) where, after pointing out that the authority of the courts in matrimonial actions is confined altogether to the exercise of such express and incidental powers as are conferred by the statute: “ The maxim of expressio unius est exolusio alterius has uniformly been applied to the construction of statutes in our decisions and seems to govern this case.”
It would seem that it Ifas been the settled policy of the courts to hold that such causes' of action may not be united in the same complaint. We find-no statutory provision authorizing it.
We, therefore, conclude that the judgment appealed from sustaining the demurrer should be affirmed, with costs to the respondent, with leave, however, to the plaintiff upon payment thereof to amend within twenty days. . .
Patterson, P. J., Laughlin and Houghton, JJ., concurred; Ingraham, J., dissented.
See Laws of 1787, chap. 69.— [Rep.
Sec R. L. 1813, chap. 102; 2 R. L. 197 et seq.— [Rep.
See Laws of 1824, chap. 205, § 12.— [Rep.
See R. S. pt. 2, chap. 8, tit. 1, arts. 2-5.— [Rep.
See Code Civ. Proc. (Laws of 1880, chap. 178), § 1770.— [Rep.
Dissenting Opinion
The complaint alleges the marriage of the plaintiff and the defendant, and for a first cause of action alleges that the defendant committed adultery in the city of Cleveland, O., with a woman whose name is unknown to the plaintiff, and also committed a similar offense in the city of Hew York. For a second cause of action the complaint alleges that the'defendant willfully abandoned and deserted the plaintiff and for four years has failed and neglected to provide for her support and maintenance, and that between the 16th of August, 1888, and December, 1901, the defendant had treated the plaintiff in a cruel and inhuman manner. And the complaint demands judgment against the defendant dissolving the marriage or in the alternative separating the plaintiff from the bed and board of the defendant. The ground of the demurrer which has been sustained by the court below is that it is improper to unite in the same com
Section 484 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides for the causes of action which may be joined in the same complaint,- but there, is nothing in this section as I .read it which bears upon this question; That section provides generally that “ -the plaintiff may unite-in the same complaint two or mofe" causes of action whether they aré'such.as were formerly denominated legal or equitable or both where they are brought to recover as follows: ” and then follow twelve subdivisions none of which apply to an action for divorce or separation. The section then provides-: “It must appear upon the face of the complaint that all the causes of action so united belong to one of the foregoing subdivisions of this section; that they are. consistent with each other ;'andj except as -otherwise prescribed by law, that they affect all the parties" to the'"action ; and it must appear upon the face of the complaint ¡that they do not -require different places of trial.” This section is complied with except that these two- causes of action do not belong to any one of the subdivisions, of :the section. What .are termed matrimonial actions are provided for by title 1 of chapter 15-of the Code of Civil Procedure. By article 2 of .that title provision is made for an "action for divorce. Article 3 provides for an action .for a separation. Article 4 contains provisions applicable to two Or riiore of the actions specified in this title, and" section 1770 provides that where" an action is brought- by either a husband or wife as "prescribed in either of the last two articles a .cause of action against the plaintiff and in. favor Of the.defendant "arising under either of said articles may be interposed in'connection with a denial of material allega, tions of the complaint as a counterclaim. This last section was amended by chapter 703 of the" Laws of 1881, the"effect of which was to allow a counterclaim asking for an affirmative- judgment for a divorce or separation o'r both in an action, brought ,to obtain either . a divorce or "a separation!- ; Ho reason is apparent why a. defendant, should be allowed to unite in one answer asking for affirmative relief two causes of action,"one. for a divorce an.d one.a. separation which would prohibit the plaintiff from uniting in the complaint two causes of action to entitle him or her to the same relief to which the defendant would- be entitled by way of counterclaim.
In the case of Zorn v. Zorn (38 Hun, 67) the General Term of the Supreme Court in the fifth department held that these two causes of action could not be joined, but it seems to be. conceded that there is no, statutory provision which interferes with it, and the only ground stated is that the charges of adultery and cruel usage are not only distinct and unconnected charges, but they lead to separate and distinct issues, the mode of procedure is different, and it leads to confusion to connect them in the same cause of action. The learned judge there relied on the case of Johnson v. Johnson (6 Johns. Ch. 163) where the chancellor held that the charges were inconsistent in respect to the mode of procedure and that it leads to confusion to connect them together in the sanie bill. The decision seems to be based upon the anxiety of the 'court to prevent confusion and to preserve some analogy to the simplicity of declarations at common law. All of this has been entirely overthrown by our modern system of pleading. In Doe v. Roe (23 Hun, 19), decided by the General Terra in the third department, the presiding justice in delivering the opinion of the court mentioned the case of Smith v. Smith (4 Paige, 92) and the other cases which had held that an action for divorce on the ground of adultery could not be united with an action for a separation on the ground of cruel treatment, and said : “ This is not the law of the English courts. (Hughes v. Hughes, Law Rep. 1 Prob. & Div. 219.) Whether it should now be the law here we need not decide. The reasons given by the chancellor are not all applicable at this day.”
The rule as thus established was one solely of convenience. It is not based upon any principle or any provision of the Code of Civil Procedure, as it is quite clear that these two causes of action are not inconsistent within section 484 of the Code of Civil Procedure. They, are both matrimonial actions, and while it is true that they are based upon separate facts the cause for each cause of action may both exist at the saíne time. The mode of trial is the same except that an issue of adultery must be tried if either party demand it by a jury, but if a jury trial is demanded the single issue is sent to be tried by a jury and thé facts alleged in relation to the charge
I think that the judgment appealed from should be reversed.
Judgment affirmed, with costs, with leave to plaintiff to amend on payment of costs.