Case Name: Posey Williams, Plaintiff in Error, v. Henry M. Knighton, Defendant in Error
Court: Oregon Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Oregon
Decision Date: 1856-12
Citations: 1 Or. 234
Docket Number: 
Parties: Posey Williams, Plaintiff in Error, v. Henry M. Knighton, Defendant in Error.
Judges: 
Reporter: Oregon Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 234–234

Head Matter:
Posey Williams, Plaintiff in Error, v. Henry M. Knighton, Defendant in Error.
Error to Colombia.
A complaint upon a promissory note, which omits to state that the note was then due, is insufficient.
Knighton took judgment by default against Williams in the District Court, upon a complaint which states, “ that he has a cause of action against the defendant, and expects to recover judgment for five hundred dollars, with interest, &c., as per a certain promissory note, which he holds against him, for five hundred dollars, bearing interest, &e., dated February 25th, 1855.”
D. Logan, for plaintiff in error.
R. P. Boise, for defendant in error.

Opinion:
Olney, J.
Waiving all other questions, it does not appear that the note was due. This cannot be implied from the allegations that he has a cause of action against the defendant. That is a conclusion of law. The pleader should state the facts which he thinks gives a right of action, and not keep back those facts, and offer the court his opinion. If one fact, necessary to a right of action, be omitted, all others might as well, and the complaint might be reduced to this, " that the plaintiff has a cause of action against the defendant for five hundred dollars, for which he asks judgment."
The complaint is insufficient, and the judgment must le reversed.