Villiers v. Third Avenue Railroad

| City of New York Municipal Court | Dec 15, 1897

O’Dwyer, J.

The action is for negligence resulting in personal injury.

The complaint alleges: “ That on or about the 18th day of September, 1896, between about noon and 1 o’clock in the afternoon, while plaintiff was'driving in a carriage, drawn by a horse, along said Seventh avenue in a northerly direction, on the easterly side of .said avenue, and was about to cross the- southerly or eastbound track of the defendant in said One Hundred and Twenty-fifth street, defendant so carelessly and negligently moved an eastbound motor, moved, as plaintiff is informed and verily believes by compressed air, as to cause it to collide with the carriage .the plaintiff was driving, and to injure her in her person and on the left side of her body, and particularly in the region of her ribs, neck and head, and causing her to suffer neuresthenia or nervousness, and otherwise causing her to suffer in her person, and rendering, it impossible for her to attend to her usual'duties, and also involved her in expenditures, medical treatment and medicines in all to her damage past, present' and prospective, $2,000.”

The answer consists of a general denial, and with it defendant served a demand for a bill of particulars.

The plaintiff did not serve the bill of particulars demanded,, and after ten days had elapsed, defendant made a motion therefor, upon the pleadings and proceedings, and the affidavit of William Hi Truman, assistant superintendent of the defendant company. .

The affidavit, after stating the relation of deponent to defendant, the nature of the action, the date of issue, and the service of the demand for a bill of particulars, together with a criticism upon the statement of facts contained in the complaint, avers:

“ That defendant intends in good faith- to contest this claim; that it has a good, defense, but that it is ignorant of the facts of the claim in the particulars hereinafter set forth, and is advised by counsel, that it is necessary and material to its defense of this action that it shall have a bill of particulars, which shall specify in detail, certain' enumerated facts.”

Upon the hearing an order was made, directing the plaintiff to deliver to the defendant a bill of particulars containing: “ (1) The number of the ear, if known to the plaintiff; (2) Extent! of injuries and character to daté,, and medical bills to date; (3) Plaintiff’s business and how long prevented following the same, and damages thereto to date. Such statement shall not prejudice future damages that may be suffered by plaintiff, and all proceedings on the part' of the plaintiff be and they hereby are stayed until the terms of this order are fully complied with.”

In Oonstable v. Hardenbergh, 16 Hun, 434, it was held that it must be shown by the moving papers, that the defendant had not the means of obtaining the information required, and that it was necessary to have such knowledge as was within the possession of the plaintiff in order to prevent surprise upon the trial. It is clear from an examination of the affidavit of Mr. Truman that the defendant failed to comply with the requirements of this rule. Great caution should bé exercised by the courts in requiring parties to furnish particulars in actions for damages resulting from negligence, and upon this record we are of opinion that the defendant was not entitled to the particulars directed in the order appealed from.

The order appealed from should, therefore,' be reversed, with costs, and the. motion denied, with $10 costs;

Cohlatt, J., concurs.

Order reversed, with costs, and motion denied, with $10 costs.