Walton v. Fairchild

McAdam, 0. J.

There is no doubt as to the authority of the court to direct a plaintiff’s attorney to disclose his client’s address, but the power should be exercised during the pendency of the action, and while the relation of attorney and client actually exists. The penalty for refusing the information is visited on the client by staying his action, or, if a defendant, by striking out his plea, (Tidd, Pr., Amer. Notes, 533, 534, .and see page 99; Plaintiffs v. Vanderbilt, 1 Abb. Pr. 193;) but no punishment is inflicted on the attorney, who is the mere confidential agent of the client,…