Case Name: CONCHA TORRIJOS v. JOSÉ FERNANDEZ ET AL.
Court: United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1913-05-07
Citations: 6 P.R. Fed. 171
Docket Number: No. 954
Parties: CONCHA TORRIJOS v. JOSÉ FERNANDEZ ET AL.
Judges: 
Reporter: Porto Rico Federal Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 171–173

Head Matter:
CONCHA TORRIJOS v. JOSÉ FERNANDEZ ET AL.
San Juan,
Law,
No. 954.
Pleading and Pkactice.
Pleading — Construction Against Pleader.
1. Where a complaint states that the plaintiff usually resides in Spain, it will, construing the statement more strongly against the pleader, mean that she is a resident of Spain, and a nonresident of Porto Rieo. Her physical residence in Porto Rieo will not change this rule.
Pleading — Porto Rican Procedure.
2. Section 342 of the Porto Rico Code of Civil Procedure suggesting that the proceeding he stayed until costs are secured, where plaintiff is a nonresident, is followed.
Opinion filed May 7, 1913.
Mr. A. Diaz Vera for plaintiff.
Mr. Cay. Coll y Cuchi for defendants.

Opinion:
HamiltoN, Judge,
delivered tbe following opinion:
It seems to tbe court that tbe rule that tbe pleading is to be construed most strongly against tbe pleader would apply here, and when tbe plaintiff says that she usually resides in Spain, that, for all legal purposes, makes her a resident of Spain. Tbe fact that she is physically in tbe island now would not make her a resident, and tbe court would therefore bold that, for tbe purposes of this motion, she is a nonresident. Now, what tbe effect of that is, it is not necessary to say, but, under § 342 of tbe Code of Civil Procedure and tbe rule of court, tbe court bolds that she is a nonresident.
Of course, counsel understand that tbe court has nothing whatever to do with tbe parties to any particular case. I simply enforce tbe law. How it cuts one way or tbe other I do not know, and it would be none of my business to know.
The court will make tbe order that tbe plaintiff make a de posit or furnish security for all costs which may accrue in this case, and it would seem only right to follow the suggestion in § 342 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that all proceedings are stayed until that is done. It is so ordered.