Case Name: Hall et al. versus Logan
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1859
Citations: 34 Pa. 331
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hall et al. versus Logan.
Judges: 
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 34
Pages: 331–332

Head Matter:
Hall et al. versus Logan.
The Act of 14th April 1838 does not empower an individual to maintain an action at law against a firm of which he is one of the partners.
McFadden v. Hunt, 5 W. & S. 468, affirmed.
Error to the District Court of Allegheny county.
This was an action of assumpsit by Joseph Logan, for the use of John Watt, against Stephenson Hall and Joseph Logan, late copartners under the firm of Hall & Logan, on three non-negotiable notes, amounting to $490, made by the firm of Hall & Logan in favour of Joseph Logan, one of the firm, and assigned to John Watt, the equitable plaintiff.
On the trial, the court reserved the point, whether the action was maintainable; and the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for $589.95, subject to the opinion of the court upon the point reserved. And the court below subsequently gave judgment for the plaintiff, with leave to have execution thereof of the partnership property, if any, of the defendants, but not of the separate property of the defendant Hall, till the accounts should be taken, and the equities settled between the defendants.
A. M. Watson, for the plaintiff in error,
cited and relied upon the case of McFadden v. Hunt, 5 W. & S. 468.
Brady Grill, for the defendant in error.
In McFadden v. Hunt, the firm was indebted to McFadden, as a partner. Here, the indebtedness to Logan was not as a partner, but as an individual, for money loaned to the firm ; which distinguishes this case from the one cited. The Act of 14th April 1838 authorizes this suit.-

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Thompson, J.
In this case, the legal plaintiff was also one of the defendants. At common law, such a suit could not be sustained. No one can, in the same action, be both plaintiff and defendant: 2 Bos. & Pull. 120; 2 Marsh. 319; 6 Taunt. 597 ; s. c. 1 Mast 27; 1 Roll. 176.
In McFadden v. Hunt, 5 W. & S. 472, it was decided, that such an action derives no aid from the 1st section of the Act of 1838. That act provides for suits by one firm against another, where some of the partners are members of both firms. This was decided in Miller v. Knauff, in the District Court of Philadelphia, about the same time: 3 Penn. L. J. 225. We are not disposed to change the construction given to the act, and do not think the special entry of the judgment in the case, takes it. out of the rule.
Judgment reversed.