
    Frederick Fox, as Executor, etc., of Henry Vizethann, Deceased, Appellant, v. John D. Chapman, Respondent.
    First Department,
    January 25, 1907.
    Practice— fight to damage not determined on motion to strike out allegations of complaint.
    When a question arises as to whether a pleading states a cause of action or defense, the issue must he presented by demurrer, or upon trial at the opening thereof, or when the evidence is offered, or at the close of the case by motion. Especially is this true as to the measure or items of damage.
    Thus, when the complaint in an action to recover damages for death by wrongful act alleges that the widow of the deceased spent large sums of money for hospital room and board and for care and medical attendance, the right to recover Such items cannot be decided upon a motion to strike the allegations from the complaint.
    . Appeal by-the plaintiff, Frederick Fox, as executor, etc., from so much of an Order of the Supreme Court, made at the Hew York Special Term and entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Hew York on the 13th day of Hovember, 1906, as strikes out a certain allegation of the cqmplaint. ' •
    
      Alison M. Lederer, for the appellant.
    
      John E. Walker, for the respondent.
   McLaughlin, J.:

This is the ordinary negligence action to recover damages alleged to have been sustained by the widow and next of kin by reason- of the death of jdaintiff’s testator. The complaint alleges that the testator was injured on the 25th of October, 1903, and as a result of such injuries he died on the 13th of September, 1904. Then follows this allegation: “ That during the interval between the said 25th day of October, 1903, and the Í3th day of September, 1904, large sums of money were necessarily expended on behalf of the said Henry Vizethanri by his widow for hospital room and board, and for medical attendance and nursing and medicines and medical appliances, and after his decease as aforesaid for sepulture and funeral expenses.”

Before an answer had been interposed the defendant moved to strike out the allegation quoted, on the ground that the same was superfluous and unnecessary and that the .expenses therein alleged to have been incurred are not properly recoverable as items of damage.” The motion was granted except as to the “sepulture and funeral expenses,” and plaintiff has appealed.

We are not called upon at this time to determine, nor was it proper for the court below to do so,, whether the damages alleged in the allegation stricken out are recoverable. The plaintiff’s right to judgment, however, upon this claim is .barred and forever foreclosed by the order which has been made; in other words, the trial of that issue has be'en determined upon a motion. Such practice is improper. (Durham v. Durham, 99 App. Div. 450.) The proper practice, where a question arises as to whether a-pleading states a cause of action or a defense, is to present the question by demurrer, or else upon the trial, either at the opening or when the evidence is offered, or at the close of the case, by motion. (Hoffman v. Wight, 137 N. Y. 621; Walter v. Fowler, 85 id. 621.) And especially, is this true where the question arises as to the measure or items of damage. (Pavenstedt v. New York Life Ins. Co., 103 App. Div. 36.)

It follows that the order appealed from should be reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion to strike out denied, with ten dollars costs.

Patterson, Ingraham, Latjghlin and Houghton, JJ., conburred.

Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and ¿notion denied, with ten dollars costs. Order filed.  