Case ID: njl_18/html/0258-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hoknbloweb, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

COPPERTHWAIT v. DUMMER.
    In Debt on Bond. Motion to strike out pleas.
    1. A plea which, ought to conclude to the country, but which concludes with a verification, will be stricken out on motion.
    2. In debt on Bond, a plea stating generally, as in the case of Shotwell’s Bxers. v. Dennis et al., 2 Oreen, 501, that the Bond was given upon an usurious and corrupt agreement, without setting out wherein the usury consisted, will be struck out on motion. The case in 2 Oreen 501, reviewed.
    3. A suit pending in Chancery, upon a Mortgage for a foreclosure, is no bar to an action at law on the Bond accompanying the Mortgage. Such a plea will be stricken out.
    STATE OF THE CASE.
    This action is brought on a Bond, given by the defendant, to John Potter; by him, assigned by deed, to Robert F. Stockton, and by him assigned by deed, to the plaintiff. The defendant after craving oyer, and setting out the bond and condition, pleaded, First, Non est factum : Secondly, That the deed of assignment, in the declaration alleged to have been made by Potter, is not the said Potter’s deedj and concluded to the country: Thirdly, That the deed of assignment in the declaration mentioned to have been made by Robert F. Stockton, is not the deed of said Stockton, concluding with a verification. Fourth, That the Bond was made and delivered by the defendant to the said Potter, and by the said Potter accepted, “ in pursuance of a corrupt and unlawful agreement, made on &o. at &c. between the parties aforesaid, to the said obligation, whereby there was then and there reserved and taken by the said John Potter, for the forbearance of the said sum of money mentioned in the said condition, above the rate and value of six dollars for the forbearance of one hundred dollars for a year, contrary to the form of the statute &c. &c.
    Fifthly, That before this action was commenced, the plaintiff had exhibited his Bill in Chancery, against the defendant and others, for a foreclosure of the Mortgage given to secure the said Bond; and in that plea, the defendant has set out the Bill in Chancery, in extenso, with averments, that it is the same bond &e.
    
      P. D. Vroom, in support of the motion.
    
      A. 8. Qarr for defendant.
   Opinion of the Court.

Hoknbloweb, C. J.

The last three pleas must be stricken out. The third plea, which denies that the assignment made by R. F. Stockton is his deed, admitting such denial to be necessary or material, is evidently pleaded as a frivolous plea, by concluding it with a verification. The defendant might as well have concluded the general issue in the same manner.

The fourth plea setting up usury, is an exact copy of the plea in the ease of Shotwell’s Exers. v. Dennis et al., 2 Green, 501. As the court did not strike out the plea in that case, the defendant may have supposed he was excusable for introducing it on the record in this case; and I am not disposed to censure him for doing so. But upon reviewing the plea, and what was said by the court in that case, I am of opinion it ought then to have been stricken out; and consequently we ought not now to drive the plaintiff to a demurrer, upon such a plea. Although usury, when well pleaded, is a good bar to an action of debt on bond, yet it must be pleaded in such a shape as to be capable of being replied to, and the matter set forth, put at issue. The defendant might as well have contented himself with saying, actio non, because the bond was given upon an usurious and corrupt agreement. I am satisfied the rule was laid down in the case referred to, 2 Green, 501, in terms quite too loose and general. It will not do to say, that if the defence hinted at, or expressed in the plea, is a good- one if well pleaded, the plaintiff must be put to his demurrer, however unskilfully or inartificially pleaded. This very case is a practical comment on the impropriety of such a rule. The plea is bad at first blush, and if demurred to would require no argument to prove it so. It must therefore be stricken out.

The fi-fth plea, is without a shadow of foundation for its support. It has never before been attempted, that I know of, to plead a suit in Equity on a Mortgage, for a foreclosure, as a bar to an action at law on the Bond, to secure which, the Mortgage has been given.

I cannot forbear to remark, that I believe it would greatly expedite and advance the administration of justice, if the court were to exercise a more unrestricted discretion in striking out pleas and in doing so, on motion, instead of requiring such applications to be put on the paper.

A defendant, by leave of the court, may plead several pleas. This leave is never asked, in fact; but every additional plea is stated upon the record, to have been put in by leave of the court, first had and obtained, according to the form of the statute in such case made and provided. This is an indulgence granted to the pleader, and he ought never to put in a second or further plea, either in form or substance, that he does not believe the court would have permitted him to file, if it had been previously presented to the court and its permission asked. In my opinion therefore, we ought, in the most summary manner, to strike out, with costs, all such pleas, as the court, without hesitation would, if they had been consulted, have refused a place upon the reeord.

In this case, the third, fourth and fifth pleas should be stricken out, with costs.

Justices Ford, White, Nevius and Elmer, concurred.

Pleas stricken out.

Cited in Hogencamp v. Ackerman, 4 Zab. 137, 138, 139.