Case ID: port_9/html/0232-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "GOLDTHWAITE, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

WHARTON vs. FRANKS.
    1. The statute which requires an endorsement of the cause of action on a writ, introduces no new rule of pleading; nor does it confine the discretionary powers of the court in relation to pleading — it merely dispenses with the service of a copy of the declaration, which was previously required.
    
      %. After plea to a declaration, it will be presumed that the leave of the court was obtained to amend the endorsement on the writ, conformably to the justice of the case — and to the declaration.
    3., The Circuit courts exercise a just discretion in relation to the whole subject matter of pleading, which will not be reviewed.
    4. A count, which alleges that money has been laid out for another, without charging directly that it was at the instance of defendant — is bad on demurrer.
    5. Where a judgment on demurrer is reversed, and the cause remanded — a respondeos ouster will be awarded.
    Error to the Circuit court of Jefferson.
    Debt on judgment — tried by Chapman, J.
    In this case, the endorsement on the writ stated the cause of action, to be a judgment for one hundred and fifty dollars and sixty-five cents, recovered on a day mentioned by plaintiff, of defendant, in South Carolina. The declaration contained two counts. The first was.in the usual form of declarations in debt on foreign judgment, and stated the amount of the judgment to be one hundred and fifty-five dollars and sixty-eight cents. The second count alleged that defendant was indebted to plaintiff in a further sum mentioned — for so much money laid out and expended by plaintiff, for the use and benefit of defendant, and “ at his implied instance,” &e.
    To the first count of the declaration, defendant craved oyer of the endorsement of the cause of action on the writ, and plead the variance between the said endorsement and the declaration, in abatement; and demurred to the second count.
    To the plea of defendant, plaintiff demurred, and joined in th. demurrer to the second count;
    Defendant also joined in the demurrer of plaintiff to the plea.
    Upon this state of the pleadings, it was considered by the court, that plaintiff’s demurrer to defendant’s plea in abatement be overruled; and that defendant’s demurrei* to the second count of plaintiff’s declaration be sustained —and the plaintiff not asking leave to reply; judgment was entered up for defendant.
    The plaintiff now assigned the judgment of the court, on the two several demurrers, as erroneous,
    
      Baylor., for plaintiff in error.
    
      Peck, contra.
   GOLDTHWAITE, J.

The plea in abatement denies, in effect, the legal sufficiency of the first count of the declaration, to charge the defendant, because it does not precisely correspond with the endorsement on the writ. By pleading this matter in avoidance of the action, as instituted, the defendant insists, that he has the right to compel the plaintiff to declare against him for a cause of action previously, and specifically described. It is obvious, that if this plea is allowed, it will be idle to talk of the discretionary power of the courts to allow amendments of the declaration, as without the consent of the defendant, they can never go beyond the endorsement of the writ, or permit a mere mistake to be corrected.

The statute which requires the endorsement on the Writ, was not intended to introduce any new rule in relation to the manner of pleading, or to confine the discretionary powers of the courts in relation to them. It merely dispenses with the service of a copy of the declaration with the writ, which previously to its enactment was required — (Aik. Dig. 278.) If we consider the endorsement as subject to the same rules which prevailed before, With regard to, declarations, we give complete effect to this statute, and do no violence to' any rule of construction. It cannot be supposed, that it was the intention of the general assembly, when it dispensed with the service of the declaration, to introduce a rule which would be, if as contended for,by the defendant below, infinitely more harsh and oppressive.

No one can doubt the power of the courts previous to this statute, to permit an amendment conformable to the justice of the case : if a mistake similar to the one committed in the endorsement on the writ, had been made in a declaration, its correction would have been a matter of course.

As the defendant has pleaded to this declaration, we would presume, if it was necessary, that the leave of the court had first been obtained.

The case of Johnson vs. Perry, (4 Stew. & Porter, 49,) which determines that the- omission of an endorsement on a writ, is fatal, when properly pleaded in abatement —does not touch this question. The omission of a declaration would be fatal, yet no one questions the power of the courts to authorise an amendment. In relation to the whole subject matter of pleadings, the Circuit courts must necessarily exercise a just discretion ; if the declaration does not substantially correspond with the process, they can set it aside on motion, or if for any cause it becomes necessary to amend or substitute other counts, they are invested with the authority so to do, and the exercise of their discretion will not be reviewed.

It is impossible to conceive that the courts will countenance amendments oppressive in their consequences, or refuse those which are necessary to advance the justice of a cause.

The plea in abatement camíot be sustained, and the judgment on demurrer should have been in favor of the plaintiff below.

The second count in the declaration is bad, and the demurrer to it very properly sustained. The objection to it is, that it is an attempt to innovate on settled and well established forms. It is true, that money may be laid out for another, which the law will imply to have been laid out at his instance, but we know of no case in which a declaration has ever been allowed, without charging the legal implication in direct terms. What the circumstances are, from which the legal implication arises, should be stated, and the court can then determine if they are sufficient in law ; but here the plaintiff undertakes to charge the defendant, without a statement or allegation of facts from which a legal implication can arise.

Let the judgment be reversed, and judgment of respon-deos ouster here entered, and the cause remanded for further proceedings.