People ex rel. McGuire v. Bricklayers' Benevolent & Protective Union

46 N.Y.S. 648 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1897

Bradley, J.:

An alternative writ of mandamus has the character of a complaint in an action, and must in like manner be deemed to state the facts constituting the cause of relator’s grievance, and it may be demurred to with like effect. (Code Civ. Proc. § 2076.) . The demurrer of the relator to the defendant’s return subjects, .the writ to criticism for the purpose of seeing whether it states facts sufficient to support the relief sought. If it does not, his demurrer to the defendant’s return will require no consideration. . (People v. Baker, 35 Barb. 105 ; People v. Booth, 32 N. Y. 397; Genet v. Kissam, 21 J. & S. 43; Willover v. First National Bank, 10 Civ. Proc. Rep. 80.) The mandate expressed in the writ is that the defendant reinstate the relator into its complete membership, or show cause to the contrary thereof. This is upon the theory that the relator has been illegally deprived of that relation to the defendant.

The question, therefore, arises whether all the facts essential to the support of that assumption are set forth in the writ. (People ex rel. Egan v. The Columbia Club, 20 Civ. Proc. Rep. 319.) It is there stated that the relator was duly admitted to membership of the defendant about twenty years ago. No averment is made that he has been expelled from such membership, or that he has ceased to be a member of the defendant. The relator does by this writ state that he has continuously remained such member except as thereafter set out. lie then proceeds to state that in July, 1887, he tendered dues to the defendant’s financial secretary; by whom he was informed that a fine of five dollars had been imposed upon him, and that the secretary had been ordered to collect it from the relator before receiving any dues from him; that the secretary refused to inform the relator as to such fine further than to declare that it must be paid; that therer ■upon and thereafter the “ relator, as of right he could, do, lawfully refused to pay said fine until first informed as to the cause and authority for levying the same; that thereafter, and until the.latter part of November, 1887, relator attended the meetings of said corporation and took part, therein without protest or objection by said corporation; that during all said time the financial secretary persistently refused to accept any dues from relator, although the .same were duly, and regularly tendered to him by relator ;” that . in the latter part of November his dues were paid to and accepted by. the financial secretary up to that time; that in February, 1888, the relator tendered dues to and was informed by the defendant’s financial secretary that there was a fine of five dollars, against him, and that no dues would be received from him until the fine was paid; that the relator, making inquiry and being unable to obtain any information as to the cause of the fine, or of the authority for imposing it, réfused to pay the fine until he should receive .such information; “that about the month of June, 1888, a.strike was, by said corporation,. illegally 'ordered against relator, by reason whereof relator was idle” for two months; that the only reason why, at-that or any other time, the relator was in arrears for dues was that "lie refused to pay a fine as to the cause of which he could obtain no information; that on or about the 6th day of August, 1.888, the dues of the relator, up to that time, were paid to, accepted and retained by the defendant ;■ “ that since' said.' last-mentioned date no dues have been accepted by said corporation from relator,” although they have been frequently tendered. The effect or consequence. of such refusal to accept dues from the- relator, upon his relation to the defendant, is not stated in the writ. ' But the further statement is made that, on or about January 12, 1895, the relator duly presented to the Bricklayers and Masons’ International Union of America (of which the defendant was a member) a petition praying that such action' might, be taken as was proper for his restoration to his rights as a member of the defendant; that the international union illegally referred such appeal to an executive committee, which committee, on or about June 11, 1895, notified the relator to attend before it at' a time specified, which he did-, and that he has been informed by some of the members of the committee that the determination was. adverse to him; that the. relator has never been served with any written charges against him for violation of any of the provisions of the constitution or by-laws of the defendant, or of the international union, or for anything whatever; that he objected to the hearing by the committee for want of jurisdiction, and that the international union had no right to delegate such power to a committee.

It does not appear what was the particular subject of the appeal to the international union, or what was the nature of the determination adversely to the relator. No implication necessarily arises from the matters alleged in the writ that he was expelled from the defendant. And for aught that appears by allegation he is still a member of the union. In a pleading the facts relied upon to constitute the cause of action or defense, and essential to it, must be alleged. They cannot be inferred for the purpose and in support of the pleading, when implication, as matter of law, does not require it. (Page v. Boyd, 11 How. Pr. 415; Magauran v. Tiffany, 62 id. 251; Rodi v. President, etc., Rutgers Fire Insurance Co., 6 Bosw. 23; Tovey v. Gulver, 22 J. & S. 404.) The facts stated in the alternative writ do not seem to support the claim to the relief sought by it. In the cases cited by the learned counsel for the relator, the persons seeking reliéf had been suspended or expelled from the associations there referred to, and the questions for determination were whether they had .illegally been deprived of or denied that relation.

The matter of damages is entitled to no consideration in this action or proceeding independently of its mandatory purpose, to which the question of damages is merely incidental. (Code Civ. Proc. § 2088.)

These views lead to the conclusion that the demurrer was not well taken. But, proceeding further, we think the return itself is not • open to the criticism sought to be founded upon the demurrer. The objection that denial by the return, of any knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief of matters set forth in the writ does not put such matters in issue, is not tenable. Generally, statements upon, information and belief in affidavits in opposition to a motion including that for peremptory mandamus, are not effectual to defeat the motion founded upon positively sworn statements. That rule or reason is not applicable to proceedings instituted by an alternative writ of mandamus. Then the issues are to be presented and tried as are those of actions. (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 500, 2077; People ex rel. McMackin v. Bd. of Police, 46 Hun, 296 ; People ex rel. Neftaniel v. Order Am. Star, 21 J. & S. 66.)

In the view taken of the case, it is unnecessary to expressly refer to all the objections-nrged to the return, since the demurrer cannot be sustained- upon any of them.

The interlocutory judgment should be affirmed.

All concurred.

Interlocutory judgment affirmed, with costs, with' leave to- the relator to amend alternative writ within twenty days, on payment of costs of demurrer and .of this appeal.