Case ID: nh_22/html/0097-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Bell, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

French v. Gerrish.
    A count upon a note for specific articles cannot be admitted as an amendment of a declaration for money bad and received, and for the hbe of goods.
    Assumpsit for money had and received, and upon an account annexed for two charges, for the use of a horse and carriage.
    The plaintiff moved to amend the writ by adding a count, “ that the defendant, on the 27th of January, 1848, by his note of that date, for value received, promised the plaintiff to pay him or his order, one brass-mounted harness,” &c.
   Bell, J.

By the 14th General Rule, no new count or amendment of a declaration shall be allowed, without the consent of the defendant, unless it be consistent with the original declaration, and for the same cause of action.”

A promissory note is admissible in evidence under the count for money had and received. But a written promise for the delivery of specific articles, or for the payment of fnoney and the delivery of specific articles, is not technically a promissory .note. We-know of no decision, that such a note is admissible under the money counts. It furnishes a claim not for a certain sum of money, but for unliquidated damages for the non-performance of a special contract.

The amendment desired would introduce a new cause of action, and is therefore inadmissible.

Judgment for the defendant