Griffin v. Cohen

The practice regulating amendments of pleadings has undergone changes from time to time. Courts have at all times favored amendments to the utmost extent that was supposed consistent with a due regard to the rights of suitors, and the proper despatch of business,, and hence we find that the right to amend has only been restricted within those limits which would effectually prevent an abuse of the privilege. By the rules of this court,, in. force at the time of the adoption of the Code, the respective parties had the right to amend their pleadings of course once ; hut to-prevent an abuse of this right for the purpose of delay, it was provided that the defendant should not amend his plea unless his attorney should make and serve an affidavit that he verily believed the plea true in point of fact, and that it was pleaded in the belief that it contained a good answer to the action, both in form and substance. (Rule 23 of 1845, and 22 of 1847.) The Code of 1848 imposed no restriction upon the right of either party to amend their pleadings without costs and without prejudice. (§ 148.) This provision was amended in 1849, by providing that pleadings might thus be amended once, while the original Code imposed no restriction or limitation of that character. (Code of 1849, § 172.) It was found that under the provisions of the Code as amended, the right to amend was liable to abuse, as parties might, and not unfrequently did, put in an answer with a view to a subsequent amendment within the time allowed by law, which would postpone the trial of the action to the prejudice of the plaintiff. The legislature did not see fit to guard against this abuse by requiring an affidavit of good faith, as required by the former rules. To remedy, to some extent, this difficulty, the section was again amended in 1851, and it is now provided that a pleading may be once amended within the time prescribed in the act, unless “ it be made to appear to the court that it was done for the purpose of delay, and the plaintiff or defendant will thereby lose the *453benefit of a circuit or term for which the cause is or may be noticed, and if it appear to the court that such amendment was made for such purpose, the same may be stricken out, and such terms imposed as to the court may seem just.” (Code of 1851, § 172.) There is nothing in this section authorizing the party upon whom the amended pleading is served to disregard it if served within the proper time. Strout agt. Curran, (7 How. Pr. R. 36.) The right to amend is absolute, subject only to the power of the court to strike out for cause shown. If the amendment is made in good faith, and not for the purpose of delay, it cannot be stricken out, although the effect may be to deprive the opposite party of the benefit of a circuit or term. The court must pass upon the question of intent as well as of the effect, and be satisfied that it was made for the purpose of delay, and that such will be the effect of it, before it can be stricken out. The statute does not authorize the party to decide in the first instance and disregard it at his peril, leaving the rights of the parties to be subsequently settled upon motion, but provides for a decision upon the good faith and propriety of the amended pleading before any other proceedings are had in the action which may affect the rights of the parties.

The rights of the parties may be effectually protected, and all delay prevented under this provision. If the amended pleading shall be served during a circuit the court can, upon a proper case being made, require the party amending to show cause at a short day, why the amended pleading should not be stricken out. (Code, § 402.) Or if for any reason this cannot be done upon the adjournment of the circuit, application may be made at a special term, and if the case is brought within the provision authorizing the court to strike out, it can be done, and such terms imposed upon the party thus attempting to avail himself of the statute of amendments in bad faith, as will prevent injury to the adverse party. The plaintiff was, in my judgment, clearly irregular, and it is unnecessary, therefore, to examine several other matters which were urged upon the argument of the motion. I will barely add that some parts of the amended answer are doubtless material if they can *454be supported by evidence. The good faith of the amendment is sworn to, and that it was not made for the purpose of delay, and there is nothing in the case to cast suspicion upon this part of the affidavit.

The motion must be granted with $10 costs, with leave to the plaintiff to reply within twenty days after a return of the amended answer to his attorney.