70 N.Y.S. 868 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1901
This is an action for slander. The complaint alleges that the plaintiff is engaged in business in the city of Hew York and elsewhere as a dealer in cotton, and also as an inventor and dealer in inventions and patented articles; that on or about the 21st day of January, 1901, at the borough of Manhattan in said city, “in the
The answer contains a general denial of the utterance of the alleged slander. The plaintiff’s affidavit read in opposition to the motion shows that lie does not know more definitely than is stated in the complaint the place where or the persons to whom the alleged slanderous words were uttered, and that defendant must know where and to whom he spoke them. According to the complaint, the slander occurred all at one time and place. The defendant denies having slandered the plaintiff, and this leaves upon' the plaintiff the burden of establishing his case by competent evidence.
The defendant is entitled to a bill of particulars which will inform him more accurately of the place where plaintiff intends to prove the slanderous words were uttered, and also the name of at least one of the person's in. whose presence and hearing they were spoken. (Stiebeling v. Lockhaus, 21 Hun, 457; Tilton v. Beecher, 59 N. Y. 177; Woods v. Gledhill, 35 N. Y. St. Repr. 597; Dempewolf v. Hills, 53 N. Y. Super. Ct. 105; Turner v. Beavan, 10 N. Y. Supp. 128; Shaffer v. Holm, 28 Hun, 264; Murray v. Mabie, 55 id. 38; McCarron v. Sire, 14 Civ. Proc. Rep. 252.)
' Plaintiff contends that the words are actionable 'per se. The complaint does not sufficiently allege special damages to warrant
The moving affidavit is justly open to criticism and doubtless led to the denial of the motion; but in view of the indefiniteness of the complaint and the nature of the action, we think a bill of particulars should have been ordered.
The order appealed from is reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion for a bill of particulars as to the place of the slander and as to the name of one of the persons in whose presence and hearing it is claimed the slanderous words were uttered, is granted, with ten dollars costs.
Patterson, Ingraham, McLaughlin and Hatch, JJ., concurred.
Order reversed, with ten dollars Costs and disbursements, and motion granted to the extent stated in opinion, with ten dollars costs.