Frazer v. Lynch
Before: Haven
Synopsis
Subpiena Duces Tecum — Disobedience of Defendant — Striking out Answer — Contempt — Error of Law — New Trial. —• An order of the trial court that the answer of the defendant be stricken from the files because the defendant has disobeyed a subpoena duces tecum is not a judgment for contempt, but if erroneous, constitutes an error of law occurring during the trial of the action, which, if excepted to, may be corrected on appeal from the judgment and order denying a new trial.
Id.—Construction of Code—Protection of Adverse Party. — The provision of section 1991 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that in case of disobedience of a subpoena, “ if the witness be a party, his complaint or answer may be stricken out,” is intended for the protection of the adverse party, whose substantial rights are or may be affected by such disobedience, as well as a punishment for the contempt itself.
Id.—Discretion — Striking out Answer. — The power conferred upon the court to strike out an answer should be exercised with guarded discretion, with a view to promote substantial justice; and it is error for the court to strike defendant’s answer from the files because of disobedience of a subpoena duces tecum, where the disobedience is by an illiterate person, without the advice of counsel, and where defendant’s counsel, before the making of the order, offer to admit everything that could be shown by the papers sought to be produced.
De Haven, J. This is an action of ejectment. The defendants joined in an answer, which put in issue all the allegations of the complaint as to the ownership and right to the possession of the demanded premises, the value of the rents, issues, and profits, and the amount of damages claimed by plaintiff.
The plaintiff caused to be issued and served upon the defendant Catherine Lynch a subpoena duces tecum, re[622]quiring her to produce in court a United States patent conveying a portion of the land in controversy to one Patrick Lynch, through whom plaintiff claims title. The said defendant did not produce the patent as commanded. The court below, of its own motion, examined the defendant upon oath as to her reason for not doing so. Her evidence is as follows:—■
“ Q. This paper was served on you, Mrs. Lynch, which reads as follows, among other things (reading the commands of the subpoena, and then continuing),— this paper purports to have been served upon you; you say your son read it to you? A. Yes, sir; that patent that I got. Q. Did you bring it? A. No, sir; I did not. Q. Why did you not bring it? A. I did not know that there was any case. Q. You did not understand that you were compelled to bring it, by this subpoena? A. No, sir. Q,. Tell me your reason for not bringing it, after your son read this subpoena ? A. He read it to me after I got it from Washington; that is all. Q. Now, who read it to you? You were served with a paper reading like this, -were you not? A. Yes. Q. Who read that to you? or did you read it yourself? A. No, sir; I could not read myself. Q. Who read that to you? A. I do not believe any one read it to me; I was summoned on the road; there was a lady with me; she just looked at it, and I took it home and left it on the shelf. Q. Your counsel told you, did they not, that it was necessary to bring this document into court? A. No, sir. Q. Your son told you, did he not? A. He did not tell me anything; he came home at six o’clock last night, sick. Q. Did n’t your son tell you that your counsel said to you to bring that paper into court? A. I suppose he could have got it; he is very sick, and laying down sick in town here, and did n’t get home until six o’clock.
“Mr. Harrison.—We are ready to admit the contents of that document, so that it will not cripple the plaintiff’s case.
[623]
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