Case Name: ISABELLA HENDERSON, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. EUGENE JACKSON, Defendant and Appellant
Court: New York Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1870-04-30
Citations: 2 Sweeny 324
Docket Number: 
Parties: ISABELLA HENDERSON, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. EUGENE JACKSON, Defendant and Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Superior Court of the city of New York
Volume: 32
Pages: 324–338

Head Matter:
ISABELLA HENDERSON, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. EUGENE JACKSON, Defendant and Appellant.
[Decided April 30, 1870.]
Where a complaint, in the narration of the facts constituting the cause of action, stated several causes of action, one for false imprisonment and another for malicious prosecution, but they were so blended and run into each other as to leave it uncertain which was the real cause of action—Jield^ that the remedy was by motion to have the causes of action separated and numbered, and that a demurrer for misjoinder of causes. of action was not the proper remedy.
The rule which requires causes of action to be separated and numbered is not exclusively for the convenience of parties, or merely to furnish them with information concerning the action or defense, but also for the convenience of the court, to assist it in the examination of the questions to be decided.
Therefore, until a pleading is made to conform to the requirements of the Code and rules, the court will not take upon itself the labor of ascertaining whether two causes of action are or are not stated in the complaint.
Before Monell, McCunn, and Jones, JJ.
Appeal from an order made at Special Term, by Mr. Justice Freedman, overruling a demurrer to the complaint.
The complaint alleged that “ the defendant, on or about the 14th day of August, 1869, by himself and bis servants and agents, arrested and imprisoned the plaintiff against her will, and put her in charge of a police officer, and forced and obliged her to go along the public streets of the city of New York to a certain station-house, and charged her with the crime of petit larceny, and, without any warrant or legal process, caused her to he detained in a vile and filthy cell, without any comforts, conveniences, light, or food, all night, and again caused her to be taken next morning in custody, and, as a part of the same transaction, to a police court held at Yorkville, and before a police magistrate, falsely and maliciously, and without any reasonable or probable cause, made a complaint before such police court against the plaintiff, in which he falsely and maliciously charged the plaintiff with having committed the offence of petit larceny; and that, by such complaint and charge, and as a part of the same transaction, the defendant caused the plaintiff, by process of commitment, to be imprisoned in a cell, in the house for detaining prisoners, for all that day and night.”
Then followed a statement, by way of aggravation of damages, of the character and duration of the imprisonment. A further allegation was, “ that by reason of such false and illegal arrest and imprisonment, and of such false and malicious charge, complaint, and prosecution, the plaintiff” has been greatly injured, etc.
The defendant demurred that several causes of action were improperly united.
The demurrer was overruled, and the defendant appealed.
Mr. Roger A. Pryor for appellant.
The complaints are, substantially, identical; and they are obnoxious to criticism for duplicity, as confounding two causes of action in a single count; but this irregularity we waive,—and the specific objection presented by the demurrer is, that the complaints combine causes of action which are not susceptible of union under sec. 167 of the Code.
It is obvious, on the face of the complaint, that it exhibits two causes of action, viz.: a cause of action for false imprisonment, and a cause of action for malicious prosecution.
In terms, the complaints state the grounds of action to be: . “ such false and illegal arrest, and such false and malicious prosecution;” and the complaint alleges sufficient facts to sustain either and both of these actions.
These specific causes of action, viz.: false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution, cannot be united in the same complaint.
They were not capable of being united under the ancient practice.
The appropriate form of action for false imprisonment was trespass (2 Bouvier’s Instit., 523, 525; Roscoe’s N. P., 548; 3 Stephens’ N. P., 2018 ; 2 Selwyn’s N. P., 913, et seq.; Buller’s N. P., 22).
The appropriate form of action for malicious prosecution was case.(2 Selwyn’s N. P., 1060; 2 Greenleaf on Evi., 245; Buller’s N. P., 11, et seq.; Roscoe’s N. P., 443; 1 Archibald’s N. P., 655; 3 Phillips on Evi., 472).
But trespass and case could not have been combined (Graham’s Prac., 2d edition, 96; Howard v. Banks, 2 Burrow, 1114).
They are not capable of being united under the present practice.
The Code, see. 167, classifies causes of action into seven categories, and allows causes of action in any one category to be united in the same complaint.
Causes of action belonging to different classes cannot be united (Laudan v. Levy, 1 Abb., 36).
Causes of action under sub. 3, i. e., injuries to persons or property, cannot be united with causes of action under sub. 4, i. e.,' injuries to character. False imprisonment is obviously an injury to person. Malicious prosecution is an injury to character. It is so distinguished by all the elementary writers (Black. Comm., bk. 3, ch. 8, p. 126; 2 Bouvier’s Instit., 508, sec. 2239; 1 Hilliard on Torts, ch. 16, p. 412; Broom’s Comm., 741, English edit., 1869). It is so recognized by the courts (Hull v. Vreeland, 18 Abb., 182; Martin v. Mattison, 8 Abb., 3).
Hence a recovery in malicious prosecution is a bar to an action for slander (Sheldon v. Carpenter, 4 Comst., 578).
And on the other hand, a former recovery in an action for false imprisonment is no bar to an action for malicious prosecution; the court holding the two actions to be entirely different, and to stand on different grounds (Guest v. Warren, 9 Exch., 379).
The objection of misjoinder cannot be obviated by the pretence that these two causes of action “ arose out of the same transaction.” The pleader attempts to so reconcile them, but it is an illogical and clumsy artifice. If the transactions be distinct they cannot be made identical by calling them the same (Fellerman v. Dolan, 7 Abb., 395; Brown v. Buckingham, 21 How., 192; Flynn v. Bailey, 50 Barb., 78).
“ Transaction means some commercial or business negotiation, not a wrong by violence or fraud ” (Barhyte v. Hughes, 33 Barb., 320).
It is legally impossible that a cause of action for false imprisonment should arise out of the same transaction with a cause of action for malicious prosecution.
The specific and essential ground of the former is an illegal arrest. The specific and essential ground of the latter is a legal arrest, but effected maliciously and without probable cause (McKown v. Hunter, 30 N. Y., 627).
How the same arrest or prosecution cannot be both legal and illegal. The complaint itself shows that the causes of action stand not on the same, but on two separate and distinct transactions, i. e., the action for false imprisonment on the illegal arrest; the action for malicious prosecution on the false accusation and arraignment for crime. Anderson v. Hill, 53 Barb., is directly and decisively in point, and rules the present case. In further illustration of what is intended by the Code as the same transaction, see Burns v. Hevins, 27 Barb., 493; Bogardus v. Parker, 8 How., 303; Askens v. Hearns, 3 Abb., 184; Sweet v. Ingerson, 12 How., 331; Dorman v. Kellam, 4 Abb., 202; Henry v. Henry, 17 Abb., 411; Smith v. Hallock, 8 How., 79; Springsteed v. Lawson, 14 Abb., 328.
Mr. Henry Brewster for respondent.
The cause of action described in the complaint is one continued transaction from beginning to end.
The imprisonment was continuous and unremitted, and was first on an accusation and then on a regular complaint, but all of the same nature and character; in fact, one charge.
The length of time a party is kept in prison, and the different acts tending to prevent a discharge, do not make a separate transaction ; at most, it would be several transactions connected with one grievance, and therefore constituting a single cause of action, and is within subdivision 1 of section 167 of the Code. This provision is very broad, and was intended for just such cases as this (1 Whit. Pr., 673, 3d ed., and cases cited; Brewer v. Temple, 15 How., 286; Robinson v. Flint, 16 do. 240; See v. Partridge, 2 Duer, 463).
One action here would necessarily draw in question the whole transaction, and would be a bar to a second action (Sheldon v. Carpenter, 4 Comst., 579).
The gravamen of the whole case here is manifestly the impris-.. onment of the plaintiff (see, also, Adams v. Bissell, 28 Barb., 382; Xenia Branch Bank v. Lee, 7 Abbott, 293).
If, however, the court should differ with us on this question, we then say, that even if there are two causes of action, they are properly joined.
Ho case was cited, nor is there any to our knowledge, where it has been held that false imprisonment and malicious prosecution cannot be joined.
They were joined in an important and severely litigated case; though the case does not show that the question was raised (Grinnell v. Stewart, 32 Barb., 544).
Actions not more congruous have been joined, and the joinder upheld (Badger v. Benedict, 1 Hilt., 414; Pugsley v. Aiken, 1 Kern., 494; Bidwell v. Astor Mutual Ins. Co., 16 N. Y., 263; 1 Whit. Pr., 671 to 679).
Malicious prosecution has been joined with slander, on the ground that both affect character (Martin v. Mathison, 8 Abbott, 3; Hull v. Vreeland, 18 Abbott, 182).
The grounds of damage for malicious prosecution are three :
To the person by imprisonment.
To the reputation by scandal.
To the property by expense.
Two of these, the first and third, come under the 3d class in sec. 167 of Code.
The second ground of damage comes under the fourth class (3 Black. Com. by Chitty, 126, Note 14; Savill v. Roberts, 12 Mod., 208; S. C., 1 Lord Rayno, 374).
If either of these grounds of damage exist, the action lies. On the first ground, one minute’s restraint is enough (above authority).
On the second ground, the charge must be one involving infamy or turpitude. An indictment for assault and battery does ' not defame the character sufficiently to support an action on that ground (Byne v. Moore, 5 Taunt., 187).
Nor does a civil arrest, or prosecution, as in the following cases (Pangburn v. Bull, 1 Wend., 345; Burt v. Place, 4 Wend., 591).
The action lies where it affects neither person nor character (Smith v. Hixon, Strange, 977; Pangburn v. Bull, supra, there was no arrest.)
If all the three causes of damage concur, as in this case, two are identical with the trespass to the person, and are within the third class.
If one point of similarity makes it allowable to join it with the fourth class, surely two points of unity with the third class make it proper to join it with an action in that class.
There are two reasons to one in favor-of this joinder rather than with slander.
Sutton v. Johnstone (1 Term Reports) was cited by appellant’s counsel. There the outrage was such, a jury gave £6,000. The party was imprisoned for months, but as the transactions occurred in naval warfare, the action was held not to lie. .
It cannot apply unless to show what a plaintiff must prove.
Anderson v. Hill (53 Barb.) is not in point, and is doubtfully reasoned.

Opinion:
By the Court:
Monell, J.
The facts stated in the complaint, if separated, are sufficient to constitute two causes of action.
The facts first stated constitute a cause of action for false imprisonment; and those secondly stated constitute a cause of action for malicious prosecution.
But the facts thus first and secondly stated are so blended and run into each other, as to constitute the narration of an entire transaction, commencing with an illegal arrest, followed by a false and malicious charge, and concluded by a further imprisonment.
The damages sought to be recovered are for the false imprisonment, as well as for the malicious prosecution.
No opinion appears to have been written at Special Term, and it is not, therefore, known whether the decision was placed on the ground that there was no misjoinder of actions, or that the remedy by demurrer was not appropriate. A demurrer is, of course, a proper remedy where two causes of action are improperly united, and we should be called upon, perhaps, to examine and determine the question of the alleged misjoinder of actions in this case, if. the pleading was in form properly to raise it.
It has always, under our present system of pleading, been a vexata questio, whether facts should be stated according to their legal effect, or as they actually occurred or existed. The pleader in this case has followed the latter course, and given a connected narration of facts, which he claims constitutes the cause of action.
In abolishing all forms of pleading, the Code did not quite leave the pleader to exercise his own judgment as to the manner of framing his pleading. The Code requires that it shall contain a "plain and concise statement of facts." If two causes of action are united they must be separately stated (Code, § 167) ; and by rule of court must be plainly numbered (Rule 19).
These regulations are not exclusively for the convenience of parties, or to merely furnish them with information concerning the action or defense. They are also for the convenience of the court, to assist it in the examination of the questions to be decided ; and the court has the right, I think, to require that the provisions of the Code, and of their rules, should be complied with by attorneys before it is called upon to determine any question in controversy. For this purpose the Code has provided that irrelevant or redundant matter in a pleading may be stricken out on motion, and indefinite or uncertain allegations may be required to be made more definite and certain.
Without, therefore, looking into the question raised by the demurrer in this case, whether a cause of action for false imprisonment and also for malicious prosecution can be united, it is enough to say, that until the complaint is made to conform to the requirements of the Code and rules of court, we will not take upon ourselves the labor of ascertaining whether two causes of action are or are not stated in the complaint. That question must be determined before we are authorized to say there is a misjoinder, and there should not be left any room for doubt on that subject. Therefore, as a preliminary, and to enable the question of misjoinder to be made certain, a motion should be made to require the causes of action to be separated and numbered. If any matter in the statement of facts is irrelevant or redundant, a motion should be made to strike it out. If it is indefinite or uncertain, it should be amended and made definite and certain.
Those, it seems to me, are the appropriate remedies for this case, and until they are resorted to, and the causes of action are so definitely and clearly stated in the manner prescribed, that the court can at once see that there are two distinct causes of action, a demurrer is not a proper, or if a proper, not the only remedy.
The weight of decision is in favor of this view, notwithstanding the very pointed case of Anderson v. Hill (53 Barb., 238), of which, however, it may be said that the question of the appropriateness of the remedy is not discussed or alluded to in the opinion, although the objection was distinctly taken on the argument of the case.
The cases in opposition are Blanchard v. Strait (8 How. Pr. R., 83), Wood v. Anthony (9 id., 78), Lord v. Vreeland (13 Abb., 195), and Cheeny v. Fisk (22 How. Pr. R., 236). This last case, very singularly, is a General Term decision, made in 1860, of the Supreme Court of the same district that made the decision in Anderson v. Hill (supra), but is not referred to in the opinion in the latter case. In Cheeny v. Fisk the court says: " If a single count or statement of a cause of action, or one that professes to be that, is found upon examination to contain more than one cause of action, it is. not demurrable, although the two causes, if stated sepa/rately, might not he united in one action, but that in such case the remedy is by motion." This case decides the precise question raised in Anderson v. Hill, but not passed upon, directly at least, in that case.
As we are not informed of the views of the learned judge who decided this demurrer, we have the right 'to assume it was in accordance with ours, and (hat he held the demurrer not to he the proper remedy.
The order appealed from should be affirmed, with costs.