Case Name: Allen McGreary vs. John Chandler & others
Court: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Maine
Decision Date: 1870
Citations: 58 Me. 537
Docket Number: 
Parties: Allen McGreary vs. John Chandler & others.
Judges: Kent, Walton, Dickerson, and Daneorth, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: Maine Reports
Volume: 58
Pages: 537–538

Head Matter:
Allen McGreary vs. John Chandler & others.
Voluntary association — nonjoinder of all the members must be pleaded in abatement.
In an action on a promissory note, signed by the defendants as directors, wlierein a voluntary association, called “ the Machias Mining Company, promise to pay Ellis M. Smith or order” the sum named at the time specified; Held, (1) That all the members of the association, if any, being liable, the action should be against all; but (2) That the action against the defendants alone is maintainable, unless they plead in abatement the non-joinder of their associates.
On exceptions.
Facts appear in the opinion.
A. M. Nichols, for the plaintiffs.
Geo. Walker, for the defendants.

Opinion:
Appleton, C. J.
This is an action of assumpsit upon the following note indorsed in blank:
" 183.66. Wine Harbor, Oct. 16, 1862.
For value received, the Machias Mining Co. promise to pay Ellis M. Smith, or order, eighty-three dollars and sixty-six cents in three months from date.
John Chandler, )
George Thompson, > Directors."
G. S. Parker, )
The Machias Mining Co. is a voluntary association of individuals, and not a corporation under the laws of the State. The defendants are members, and assume to act as its directors, and as such to bind the association. If they have bound the association, as they purport to have done, all its members are bound by and liable upon their contracts. The suit in such case would be against all the members. In the present case, it is against three of the associates only; but it is maintainable against them unless they plead in abatement the non-joinder of their associates, which they have not done.'
It is unnecessary to consider whether the words " directors " are to be regarded as merely a description of the persons, as in Chick v. Trevitt, 20 Maine, 462, inasmuch as the defendants are liable as members of the association for which they have acted as directors, and may be sued as such. .Exceptions sustained.
Kent, Walton, Dickerson, and Daneorth, JJ., concurred.