Herklotz v. Chase

The separate defense and counter-claim set up in paragraph 7 of the answer asks for equitable relief. The cases from the state courts cited by the defendant do not apply, it being abundantly settled by authority that the provisions of section 914, Rev. St., conforming the practice, pleadings, etc., to such as are followed in the state courts, do not adopt the state law allowing equitable defenses in a legal action. Montejo v. Owen, 14 Blatchf. 324; Myrick v. Roe, 31 Fed. Rep. 97; Church v. Spiegelburg, Id. 601. The motion to strike out this defense and counter-claim is therefore granted.

The plaintiffs also move to strike out the separate defense set up in paragraph 9 of the answer, on the ground that it asks for equitable relief, and for the further reason that no cause of action is therein alleged, or that the same be made more definite and certain. The action is brought by the payee of a promissory note against the maker. The answer admits making and delivery of the note, avers that plaintiffs are not bona fide holders for value, but received the same with notice, and without parting with any consideration or value therefor. Then follows paragraph 9, the subject of this motion. It avers that plaintiffs and defendant had had various dealings in the sale of produce; that, at the time of the delivery of the note, plaintiffs falsely represented that they *434had bought certain produce for defendant; that there had been a depreciation in the market, and that this defendant was indebted to them in the amount of the note, which was made and delivered relying upon said representations. These representations were; it is alleged, wholly untrue, and there was not at the time of the making and .delivery of the note any indebtedness from the maker to the payee. This is neith er more nor less than the defense of no consideration already pleaded. The paragraph states the defense in more detail, alleging that the assumed consideration was a prior indebtedness, which it avers did not in fact -exist. This, if established, is a valid defense between the original parties, and it is a defense at law. The motion to strike out oh the ground stated in the moving papers is therefore denied.

The motion to make more definite and certain is also denied. Defendant has distinctly averred that the failure of consideration on which he relies is to be shown by establishing to the satisfaction of the court and jury that there was not, when the note was given, anything due from defendant to plaintiffs. The transactions out of which the indebtedness, if any, arose, are as familiar to the plaintiffs as to the defendant, and, in view of the fact that the production of the note will lay the burden of proving failure of consideration on the defendant, plaintiffs are sufficiently notified as to the defense. Further detail would be a mere pleading of the evidence on which defendant relies.