Case ID: ala_30/html/0677-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "STONE, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

BROWDER vs. GASTON & WELLBORN.
    [action on promissory note by transferred against maker.]
    1. Sufficiency of complaint. — In. an action on a promissory note, by transferree against the maker, tbe complaint must aver the assignment, or contain some other allegation to show the plaintiff’s ownership.
    2. Substantial defect in complaint not cured by judgment by default. — A substantial defect in the complaint, on account of the omission of a necessary allegation, is available on error, after judgment by default.
    3. Signature to complaint. — A complaint, under the Code, (§ 2234,) must be signed by either the plaintiff himself, or his attorney.
    Appeal from the Circuit Court of Barbour.
    The record does not show the name of the presiding judge.
    
      The complaint in this case was in these words:
    “Gaston & Wellborn "i Tbe plaintiffs claim of tbe dews. ifendant tbe sum of $86 13, witb Isham 0. Browder. J its legal interest from tbe 8tb January, 1856, due by a promissory note, or due-bill, made by defendant to Joseph A. Salsbury, or bearer, dated tbe 8th January, 1856, for tbe sum of $66 13.”
    The judgment was by default.
    It is now assigned as error, 1st, that tbe complaint shows no cause of action in plaintiffs ; and, 2d, that tbe complaint is not signed by either tbe plaintiff or bis attorney.
    L. L. Cato, for tbe appellant.
   STONE, J.

Some of tbe forms of pleading, in civil proceedings, given in tbe Code, contain no averment of property, or ownership, in the plaintiff. Tbe form for a complaint “on promissory note by payee against maker,” p. 551; tbe form “for the recovery of chattels in specie,” p. 552, and several others, are in this condition. In every such case, the form given in tbe Code is sufficient. — See Letondal v. Huguenin, 26 Ala. 552; Pickens and Wife v. Oliver, 29 Ala. 528. But, when tbe complaint describes a cause of action which is, prima facie, tbe property of tbe plaintiff, there must be, to make it good, an averment of property in tbe plaintiff, or something equivalent to it. If tbe demand be assignable, an averment that it has been assigned to plaintiff will be sufficient.

The complaint in this case describes a note made payable to Joseph A. Salsbury. This, without more, imports that Salsbury is tbe owner of tbe note. Tbe plaintiffs fail to show that they are tbe “party really interested,” and for this reason tbe complaint is bad. — Code, § 2129; see, also, form for complaint by transferree, onp. '552.

This defect is one of substance, and is not cured by sections 2402 and 2405 of tbe Code.

Tbe complaint should also have been signed by tbe plaintiff, or bis attorney. — Code, § 2234.

Tbe judgment of tbe circuit court is reversed.