Case Name: BEARD vs. YOUNG
Court: Tennessee Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Tennessee
Decision Date: 1810-09
Citations: 2 Overt. 54
Docket Number: 
Parties: BEARD vs. YOUNG.
Judges: 
Reporter: Tennessee Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 54–55

Head Matter:
BEARD vs. YOUNG.
Jonesborough
Sept. 1819
Appeal—Debt on a bill under seal; plea infancy, application and issue. This being the rule day, at the end of the term, an affidavit by the defendant was exhibited, stating, that since the pleadings were made up, he discovered, he could prove, the defendant had assumed the payment of the debt since his coming of age ; and prayed leave to amend, by withdrawing his former replication, and replying this matter.
Amendments may be made at any stage of the proceedings, provided the opposite party be not put in a worse situation.
Parsons, for the plantiff,
said he was prepared to show that, this being a deed, would not be confirmed by the infant after his coming of age ; and upon that ground, opposed the motion.

Opinion:
Overton J.
sitting alone. In modern times, court are much more liberal in allowing amendments than formerly. They will permit amendments at any stage of the cause, to come at justice, taking care the opposite party is not put in a worse situation. The laws discountenance, frivolous, or delatory objections—and upon this ground it is, that motions are entertained to set aside frivolous pleas in abatement. And so, it would seem, as to frivolous demurrers ; though this latter point, has been doubted, where the demurrant applies for time to agrue under the 26th Section of the act of 1724 C. 1. The substance of the amendment, proposed, goes to the merits of the action ; and the court will not, upon motion, determine the question of law arising on the replication ; unless it were evidently frivolous, which at present does not appear. According to the rules of practice, no argument, or trial, can take place at this term—therefore let the amendment be made, and the defendant may take issue or demur, as he thinks proper. In either case, the question will be examined at next term. The defendant will be in no worse situation.
The question of cost was reserved, at the request of the defendant's counsel.