Kellar v. Shrady

The defendants in this instance, this being a common-law suit, were entitled to costs. Where it is sustained, costs upon a demurrer are absolute,—except where issues of law and fact are joined, and the issue of fact remains undisposed of, the court has no discretion upon the question of awarding costs. Section 3232 of the Code. In this case only an issue of law was presented by the pleadings, so that defendants, when their demurrer was sustained, were entitled to the costs prescribed in section 3251 of the Code, *1124as a matter of right. They also had the right to appeal from so much of the order and interlocutory judgment as denied them costs. See Tallman v. Bernhard, 75 Hun, 30, 27 N. Y. Supp. 6. The fact that plaintiff sues as a public official, in our judgment, does not alter the case.

That part of the order and interlocutory judgment which refuses the defendants costs is reversed, with $10 costs, and disbursements for printing.