Hyperlawhypertext legal database Fairweather v. Satterly 30 N.Y. Super. Ct. 546

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Fairweather v. Satterly

30 N.Y. Super. Ct. 546 7 Rob. 546 Court N.Y. Super. Ct. English

Delivered by Jones, J.

Contents

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p. 546
Fairweather vs. Satterly.

Headnote

1. An infant defendant for whom no guardian ad litem has heen appointed, cannot waive the objection that his rights have not heen protected in the manner prescribed by law.
2. ' There is no difference in this respect between an action brought on a contract made by an infant and one brought for a tort committed, by him.
(Before Jones, J., at Special Term,
February, 1867.)
This action was brought to recover damages for a tort committed by the defendant. The defendant appeared by an attorney and answered. The issue joined came on to be tried before a judge and jury, and-resulted in. a verdict for the plaintiff. Judgment was entered against the defendant on the verdict, and an execution issued thereon, which was returned unsatisfied. Proceedings supplemental to execution were then taken, against the defendant, and are still pending.
. The defendant, on an affidavit showing that at the time of the commencement of the action he was and still is an infant, and that no guardian ad litem had been appointed for him, now moves to set aside the judgment and all pro
p. 547
eeedings subsequent to the complaint, on the ground of his being such infant and no guardian ad litem having been appointed.
The answer interposed, in the action, did not set up the infancy of the defendant.
Subsequent to the entry of judgment a guardian ad litem was appointed for the defendant, who now, at thé first opportunity since the appointment, makes this motion in behalf of the defendant.
Mr. Fine, for the plaintiff.
Mr. Lawrence, for the defendant.

Section 115 of the Code provides that when an infant is a party he must appear by guardian. This section is substantially the same as the provisions of the Revised Statutes.

The defendant’s counsel cites four cases decided under the provisions of the Revised Statutes, (Mockey v. Grey, 2 John. 192 ; Bliss v. Rice, 9 id. 160 ; De Witt v. Post, 11 id. 460 ; Gosling v. Acker, 2 Hill, 391 ,) and one case arising under the Code, (Kellogg v. Klock, 2 Code Rep. 28 ,) in all of which,, a judgment against an infant was, on the application of the" infant, either set aside, or reversed, for error in fact, on the ground that no guardian ad litem had been appointed for the infant. Counsel for the plaintiff urged that the non-appointment of a guardian is a mere irregularity, which may be waived.

Conceding it to be a mere irregularity, yet I am at a loss to see how by unauthorized legal proceedings an infant can waive it. The cases cited by the plaintiff’s counsel (Palmer v. Davis, 28 N. Y. Rep. 242 ; Robbins v. Wells, 26 How. Pr. 15 ; Fellows v. Niver, 18 Wend. 563 ; Parks v. Parks, 19 Abb. 161 ; Van Amringe v. Barnett, 8 Bosw. 359 ;

p. 548
Rutter v. Puckhofer, 9 id. 638) do not decide that an infant can waive the irregularity. In all these cases, an adult defendant, after pleading to the merits, sought to set aside a judgment rendered against him, on the ground of some disability in the plaintiff, such as being a married woman, or an infant, and suing without the appointment of a next friend or guardian. Those decisions proceeded upon the well recognized principle (which is substantially incorporated in the Code) that a plea in bar waives all pleas in abatement, one of which was an infant plaintiff suing hy attorney, without guardian. This principle was well known and established at the time of the decisions relied on hy the defendant’s counsel, but neither the counsel nor the court deemed it applicable to an infant.

In De Witt v. Post, ( 11 John. 460 ,) a verdict had been obtained against the defendant, who sued out a writ of error, and assigned as error in fact that he was an infant, at the time of the plea pleaded, but had appeared by attorney. For this error the judgment was reversed.

In Gosling v. Acker, ( 2 Hill, 392 ,) Gosling and wife brought replevin against Acker. On the trial the plaintiffs were nonsuited, and the defendant had a verdict for the value of the goods, and costs. The plaintiff brought error, and assigned for error in fact that Gosling appeared by attorney, although at the time of appearance, and at the time of trial, and also at the time of giving judgment, he was only twenty years and nine months of age, and ought to have appeared by guardian. The court held the assignment of error valid, and reversed the judgment.

"Upon a review of the authorities, ! am confirmed in the view which I took at the argument, that an infant cannot waive the objection that his rights have not been protected in the manner prescribed by the law.

The rule requiring the appointment of a guardian has its foundation, as is observed in Kellogg v. Klock, ( 2 Code Rep.

p. 549
28 ,) “ in the want of legal capacity in the infant to perform, any valid act in the conduct of his defense, upon the ground of a presumed want of understanding.” If he can perform no valid act, a waiver by him will be invalid.

It was suggested that there is a difference between an action brought on a contract made by an infant and one brought for a tort committed by the infant. ■ The principle upon which a guardian is required permits of no such distinction ; and the cases do not recognize any. De Witt v. Post, and Gosling v. Acker, were both actions of tort, but in both of those cases the fact of the infant having appeared by attorney, without guardian, was held fatal to the judgments.

The motion must be granted, with leave to the plaintiff to serve the complaint on the attorney for the guardian ad litem, and complaint to be answered, within twenty days after the service thereof. Ho costs of the motion to either party.

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