Wirth v. Wirth

| N.Y. App. Div. | Nov 8, 1918

Laughlin, J.:

This is an action for separation on the sole ground of cruel and inhuman treatment. The decision and judgment proceed upon, that and other grounds not alleged, viz., failure properly to provide for the plaintiff and conduct on the part of defendant rendering it unsafe for plaintiff to cohabit with defendant. The complaint was not amended and the evidence relating to the grounds for separation, other than that pleaded, was received over defendant’s objection duly interposed that the evidence was not within the issues. The judgment cannot be supported by the evidence with respect to the charges not pleaded, for the nature and circumstances of the defendant’s misconduct and the time and place of each act complained of must be pleaded. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1764.)

The only evidence offered on the trial was the testimony of the plaintiff. In so far as the evidence relates to misconduct specified in the complaint, it was condoned, for the parties continued to five together down to the time of the separation, and such of it as was of a serious nature occurred many months before and none of it took place at or about the time of the separation. Moreover, the misconduct pleaded was not the cause of the separation. The plaintiff, according to her own testimony, left the defendant for the reasons that he was not contributing toward the support of herself and daughter, who was about five years of age, as much as she thought he should and that he wished her to work out and earn money, and to continue to live with him, which she was unwilling to do, and she thereupon left, taking the child with her. If, however, the plaintiff were entitled to the benefit of the evidence thus erroneously received it would be insufficient to sustain the judgment. Of course, the duty of the defendant to support his child continues, and the law prescribes a remedy for requiring performance of that duty. So, too, it is his duty to support his wife, but not, on the evidence here adduced, while she sees fit to remain away from the home he provides for her. Nothing, so far as appears, has occurred to render it improbable that these parties may not be able to resume marital relations with entire safety to the plaintiff.

It follows that the judgment and the findings and conclusions of law inconsistent with these views should be reversed, without costs, and appropriate findings and conclusions of law to sustain a judgment of nonsuit dismissing the complaint, without costs, and authorizing the entry of such a judgment should be made.

Clarke, P. J., Page, Shearn and Merrell, JJ., concurred.

Judgment reversed, without costs, and complaint dismissed, without costs: Order to be settled on notice.