Case ID: vt_54/html/0507-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Royce, Ch. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ARCHIBALD BACHOP v. W. H. HILL.
    
      Amendment of Declaration. Reference. Rent. General J.ssumpsit. Waiver. Variance.
    
    1. A declaration containing only counts in general assumpsit, claiming that the defendant was indebted for rent, may be amended by filing a new count declaring more formally for use and occupation.
    2. The question of variance is waived, if there is no objection to receiving, and no motion to dismiss, the new declaration.
    3. All questions as to form or variance are waived by the reference.
    Heard on a referee’s report, December Term, 1881, Powers, J., presiding. The Court disallowed the larger sum found due for rent. The action was assumpsit, containing only the general counts, claiming the sum of $90, “ for work and labor, care . . . ; also for a like further sum due from the defendant to the plaintiff for rent.” The other facts are stated in the opinion.
    
      Leslie Carpenter, for the plaintiff.
    Assumpsit is the proper action for rent. 1 Chit, PI. (8 Am. Ed.) 343 ; Chit, on Con. (11 Am. Ed.) 510-11. The plaintiff had a right to amend. 23 Vt. 673 ; 29 Vt. 459; 51 Vt. 272. All questions of form are waived by the reference. 53 Vt. 585 ; 26 Vt. 138; 30 Vt. 610; 34 Vt. 121. Defendant should have moved to dismiss the amended count. 15 Vt. 716; 7 Vt. 223.
    
      LJ. W. Smith, for the defendant.
    The plaintiff could not recover under the general counts. 12 Vt. 139; 16 Vt. 95. The new count made an entirely different cause of action. 2 Aik. 252 ; 2 Saund. PI. &Ev. 388; 2 Vt. 295.
   The opinion of'the Court was delivered by

Royce, Ch. J.

The only question made in the County Court upon the hearing on the report was as to the power of the court to allow the original declaration to be amended by filing the new count which is appended to the report. No question is made but that the item for rent was recoverable upon the report made by the referee, if it was allowable to file that count. The form of action was the proper one for the recovery of rent; and the original declaration alleged that at the time of bringing the suit the defendant was indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of $90 for rent. It does not appear that any objection was made to the filing of the new count, or exception taken to the ruling of the court allowing it to be filed.

Upon the authority of Peek v. Smith, 3 Vt. 265, Way v. Wakefield, 7 Vt. 223, and Blodgett v. Skinner, 15 Vt. 716, the defendant, by neglecting to move to dismiss or to except to the ruling of the court permitting the amendment, and pleading to the action, waived any objection to its being made. In the latter case the defendant demurred to the declaration, and alleged as a cause of demurrer that the new count was variant " from the declaration upon which the trial was had before the magistrate ; and it was held that if the new declaration is inconsistent with the original cause of action, objection should be made to receiving it, or it should be met by a motion to dismiss ; and if no such motion or objection is made, the question of variance will be understood as being waived. But we think in this case the amendment was one that the court had power to allow. It has been understood since the case of Skinner v. Grant, 12 Vt. 456, that amendments of this character were permissible. The true rule upon the subject is stated by Judge Redfield in Granite Co. v. Farrar, 53 Vt. 585; and the authorities referred to in that opinion and the briefs of counsel, settle beyond dispute that the amendment was properly allowed.

The judgment is reversed, and judgment for the plaintiff for the largest sum found due by the referee.