Mistretta v. Familiar Ass'n of Mutual Benevolence

Plaintiff sued alleging that he was entitled to the sum of $7 for one week’s “sick benefit” for illness in February, 1914. Defendant, besides defending, counterclaimed for $10 motion costs. The judge awarded the defendant $3, thus in effect allowing plaintiff’s claim. In 1913 defendant, over plaintiff’s protest, passed an amendment to its by-laws which, inter alia, provides that:

“A member who leaves Greater New York to establish himself in other cities,” etc., “shall remain a member. * * * However the member who is outside of Greater New York shall not receive sick benefits,” etc.

In the agreed state of facts contained in the record, it is conceded that the plaintiff lived in Newark, both before and after he joined the society, and that the society knew this fact. It is not, therefore, necessary to decide whether the by-law is unreasonable, or violative of plaintiff’s rights, since it does not apply to him, as he did not leave Greater New York. It is also admitted that defendant was always a member in good standing.

Upon the present state of the record the judgment should be affirmed, with $25 costs.