21 Abb. N. Cas. 211 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1888
These actions, as shown by the complaints, .are for alleged libels. The answers are unverified. Section 523 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that “the verification may be omitted where the .party pleading would be privileged from testifying as a witness- concerning an allegation or denial contained in the pleading.”
Some of the cases are to the effect that the court will not assume, merely from the pleadings, that the reason why an answer was not verified was, that the party answering would be privileged from testifying as a witness, and it therefore seemed proper that where this right is claimed, that the party-
The motion should be granted, for the reasons that the-verified pleadings would tend to acensé the officers and the-corporation of a misdemeanor, and expose the officers and the corporation to a penalty or forfeiture. If called as witnesses they would be privileged from testifying to the truth 'of any matter denied.
Motion compelling plaintiff to accept answer granted; no-costs.