Case ID: sc-eq_8/html/0389-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      J°HNS0N> J-", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

John Frazer v. William B. Legare, and Others.
    To a bill by a creditor to set aside a settlement by a husband on his wife, the latter must be made a party, unless some satisfactory reason be shewn to the contrary.
    Demurrer for want of parties being sustained, leave granted to amend so as to make the necessary parties.
    Before Johnston, Chancellor, at Charleston, January, 1831.
    This was a bill by a creditor of the defendant, William B. Legare, to avoid a settlement made by him upon his wife, and to subject the property settled to the payment of complainant’s demand. The husband, and the trustees under the settlement, were the only parties defendants; and they demurred on the ground, that the wife ought to have been made a party. His Honor, the Chancel, lor, overruled the demurrer; and the defendants appealed from his decree.
    Yeadon, for the appellants.
    Inolesby, contra.
    
   J°HNS0N> J-

It *s perhaps amongst the greatest advantages of the equity jurisdiction, that overlooking the forms of the common law, it brings together all the parties interested in the subject matter and by the same judgment determines all their rights; thus superceding the necessity of the circuity, and multiplicity of actions, which the common law proceedings render necessary. Hence-the rule, that all persons having an interest in a suit in equity ought to be made parties. k This, it is. said, is a rule of convenience, and'not of necessity ; and there is no question, but that it may be dispensed with, if there be a reason for doing so : but, considered only as a matter of convenience, it ought to be enforced, unless there exists some cause, which renders it inconvenient or unimpor. tant. See Bird v. Hardwicke, 1 Vern. 109, 110, note. Herring v. Yoe, 1 Atk. 290. Haines v. Beach, 3 Johns. C. R. 459.

In the present case, Mrs. Legare is the only person having any real interest opposed to that of the complainant; and his bill shews, that this was known to him: and there is not the slightest suggestion of any reason, why she was not, or ought not now to be, made a party. It is necessary, on the part of the defendants, as it may save them the necessity of a future account with hex.

It is therefore ordered, and decreed, that the decree of the Circuit Court be reversed, and the demurrer of the defendants sustained ; but that the complainant have leave to amend his bill, and make Mrs. Legare a party. ■

O’Neall, J., and Harper, J., concurred.

Decree reversed.