Case ID: ohio-cc-dec_21/html/0116-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "SWING, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

PLEADING.
    [Hamilton (1st) Circuit Court,
    1908.]
    Swing, Giffen and Smith, JJ.
    Jane Morris v. Anchor Fire Ins. Co. et al.
    Filing Several Petitions against Several Defendants on Separate Causes of Action.
    A liberal construction of the civil code in furtherance of justice is required. Hence, where separate causes of action against several defendants are improperly joined, the proper procedure is to permit the plaintiff to file severál petitions against each defendant as provided by Sec. 5064 Rev. Stat.
    Mouliraier, Bettman & Hunt, for plaintiff in error.
    Wade Cushing, for defendants in error.
   SWING, J.

The demurrer to the petition on the ground that separate causes of action against several defendants are improperly joined was properly sustained, but we think the court erred in dismissing the petition. What the court should have done was to permit the plaintiff to have filed several petitions against each defendant by analogy with Sec. 5064 Rev. Stat. This section does not in express terms apply to this case. It was adopted long before the eighth cause of demurrer was made a ground for demurrer; but there would seem to be no reason why Sec. 5064 should apply to the seventh cause for demurrer and not apply to the eighth cause for demurrer. The code should be liberally construed in furtherance of justice as is shown by See. 5114 Rev. Stat., whereby amendments are provided for, and the general principles applicable to code pleading, and we think this principle broad enough to cover this case. To some extent it avoids costs and litigation and does no substantial harm to the defendants.

Giffen and Smith, JJ„ concur.