197 A. 822 | N.H. | 1938
Although section 8 of chapter 336 of the Public Laws provides for the production of the books, records and papers of domestic corporations it does not in our opinion deprive the court of its equitable power to order discovery. "Notwithstanding . . . . changes, made by statutes, which seem to remove the very foundation for any interposition by equity, it has generally been held that the legislature has not abridged nor affected the auxiliary equitable jurisdiction to entertain suits for mere discovery of evidence and production of documents, and that such equitable jurisdiction still exists, where not expressly abolished by the statutes." 1 Pomeroy, Eq. Jur. (4th ed.), s. 193, pp. 269, 270. See, also, Bispham, Equity (10th ed.), s. 558; Reynolds v. Company,
In exercising this equitable power, however, a trial judge should be careful to observe the very definite limits of his authority. "The fundamental rule on this subject is, that the plaintiff's right to a *279
discovery does not extend to all facts which may be material to the issue, but is confined to facts which are material to his . . . cause of action; it does not enable him to pry into the defendant's case, or to find out the evidence by which that case will be supported." 1 Pomeroy, Eq. Jur. (4th ed.), s. 201. On the other hand, although the plaintiff is not entitled to a statement of the evidence material to the defence, he may nevertheless compel the discovery of all the facts material to his own cause of action, even though the defendant's evidence may thereby be incidentally disclosed. Ib., citing LaCoss v. Lebanon,
It is no objection that the evidence sought may be merely cumulative. Reynolds v. Company,
The principles which govern discovery in general are applicable to the discovery of documentary evidence. 1 Pomeroy, Eq. Jur. (4th ed.), s. 205, p. 310. In the case of Davis v. Company,
It is suggested that the allowance of the motion may require the disclosure of facts which will subject the defendant to a penalty under P.L., c. 238, ss. 38, 39. There is nothing in the record, however, to indicate that any such claim was made at the hearing. Moreover, it is the general rule that a corporation has no privilege against self-incrimination. Hale v. Henkel,
The defendant also contends that excessive hardship may result to it if compelled to comply with an order which grants to the plaintiff "the untrammeled right to inspect at will" the records in question. There is some force to this contention. The order is a very broad and general one, and if the defendant desires that some safeguard be imposed, it may request the Superior Court to appoint a *280
special master who will see not only that the order is properly complied with by the defendant but that the plaintiff does not inspect any records "not legitimately necessary to enable her" to prove her case on the trial. Motley, Green c. Co. v. Company, 174 Fed. 734. See, also Glenney v. Stedwell,
Exception overruled.
All concurred.
