D'Aloia v. Unione Fratellanza Italiana

84 N.J.L. 683 | N.J. | 1913

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Trenchard, J.

The plaintiff below was a member of an association incorporated under an act entitled “An act to incorporate benevolent and charitable associations,” approved April 9th, 1875. He was expelled therefrom, and brought this suit in the Cumberland Circuit Court against such association to recover damages for such expulsion, claiming it to have been illegal.

At the trial the learned trial judge granted a nonsuit based upon the opening statement, of counsel of the plaintiff, and from the consequent judgment the plaintiff appeals pursuant-to the Practice act, 1912.

We are of opinion that the nonsuit was erroneous.

It appeared from such opening statement of counsel that the plaintiff proposed to prove in effect that he was a charter member of the defendant benevolent association, whose main object was and is the relief of sick members; that, while such member, such association, in his absence, and without any notice whatever having been given to him that any charge was to be made against him, expelled him from membership, and thereby he has been deprived of the benefits of membership in the association.

How, of course, when a motion for compulsory nonsuit is based on the opening statement of counsel, plaintiff is entitled to the benefit of all facts projoosed to be proved, and in reviewing the legality of the nonsuit, we must regard them as proved.

Clearly, the facts proposed to be proved constituted an illegal expulsion. A member of a benevolent association against whom proceedings are pending which have expulsion for their object is entitled to notice, so that he may make such defence as he may have to the charges upon which the proceedings are based. Venezia v. Italian Mutual Benevolent Society of Perth Amboy, 45 Vroom 433; Berkhont v. Royal Arcanum, 33 Id. 103; Sibley v. Carteret Club of Elizabeth, 11 Id. 295.

Ho doubt the trial judge recognized that rule. It appears that he granted the nonsuit upon the theory that the plaintiff must content himself with reinstatement through mandamus, and cannot sue for damages.

But such is not the law. The true rule is that a member of a benevolent association, wrongfully expelled, may sue for damages, and is not remitted to mandamus to compel reinstatement. It was, in effect, so declared at Circuit by Mr. Justice Dixon in Schmidt v. Social Turnverein, 6 N. J. L. J. 57, and was recognized by this court in Brennan v. United Hatters, 44 Vroom 729. And such is the great weight of authority in other jurisdictions. See cases collected in 29 Cyc. 203 and 9 Am. & Eng. Encycl. L. (2d ed.) 503.

The judgment will be reversed and a venire de novo awarded.

For affirmance — None.

For reversal — The Chancellor, ('tiike Justice, Garrison, Swayze, Trenohard, Parker, Yoorhees, Mixture, Kata sen, JBogert, Yredexburgh, Congdon, White, Terhuxe, ITerrenheimer, JJ. 15.