Roach v. La Farge

Sutherland, J.

I concur in affirming the order, without costs.

Leonard, P. J.

The Code (§ 121) has introduced a form known to the practice of the late Court of Chancery, and applied it for the purpose of reviving an action, after the party entitled to revive has omitted for a year to proceed in a more simple manner for that purpose by motion.

The office of a supplemental bill in chancery was, generally, to introduce new facts which had arisen since the bringing of the original bill; and leave to file the supplemental bill must be obtained from the court. “If there is probable causé for filing it, leave will be given of course, and the court only examines the question so far as to see that the privilege is not abused for the purpose of delay and vexation to the defendant; and in a case of doubt, the court will direct notice of the application to be given.” (1 Hoffman’s Ch. Pr., 403.)

The same author says the practice is most safe to apply for leave in all cases.

If the application to revive be made within a year, the formality of a supplemental complaint is unnecessary; but the leave of the court must be obtained by a motion.

It is true, the Code does not direct an application to the court for leave to bring the supplemental complaint after the expiration of a year from the time of the death or other disability of a party; but such was the former practice in respect to supplemental bills, and I do not see how or when it was abrogated.

Had the Code directed the action to be continued by a bill of revivor, then the former practice in relation to such bills would have been impliedly adopted, and I concede that the practice of bringing it, without application for leavé, would have been regular.

The proceedings by bill of revivor, and supplemental bill, were each well known to the practice in the Court of Chancery; and when the “ supplemental complaint” was introduced into the Code, it seems appropriate that the practice prevailing at *69the introduction of the Code in relation to that proceeding should be adopted.

I am unable to perceive any good reason why the leave to bring the supplemental complaint should not be granted.

The motion was denied at special term only for the purpose of enabling the question to be brought before the general term by appeal.

Since the decision in the Matter of Borsdorf (17 Abbotts’ Pr., 168; S. C., 41 Barb., 211), we must, until some other practice is adopted by more united authority, adhere to the rule there prescribed.

The plaintiff, in the present case, will serve his supplemental complaint for the purpose of continuing his action, if so advised, although the leave to do so is denied.

I think the order should be affirmed without costs.

Order affirmed, without costs, on the ground that the motion was unnecessary and improper.