Case Name: GONSALVES & COMPANY, LIMITED, PLAINTIFF, v. JACOB WATSON, DEFENDANT, HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, LIMITED, GARNISHEE
Court: Supreme Court of the Territory of Hawaii
Jurisdiction: Hawaii
Decision Date: 1904-11-14
Citations: 16 Haw. 256
Docket Number: 
Parties: GONSALVES & COMPANY, LIMITED, PLAINTIFF, v. JACOB WATSON, DEFENDANT, HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, LIMITED, GARNISHEE.
Judges: Frear, C.J., Hartwell and Hatch, JJ.
Reporter: Hawaii Reports
Volume: 16
Pages: 256–257

Head Matter:
GONSALVES & COMPANY, LIMITED, PLAINTIFF, v. JACOB WATSON, DEFENDANT, HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, LIMITED, GARNISHEE.
Appeal from District Court, Honolulu.
Submitted November 9, 1904.
Decided November 14, 1904.
Frear, C.J., Hartwell and Hatch, JJ.
Pbactice — evidence—plea of general denial in an action by a corporation.
In an action before a district magistrate by a corporation evidence that the plaintiff was. indebted in the sum claimed to- “Gonsalves & Company, Ltd.,” is evidence that the plaintiff firm is incorporated; but in a plea of general denial in such an action it is. unnecessary to- prove- the corporate capacity of the plaintiff.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT BY
HARTWELL, J.
Tbe defendant pleaded a general denial in tbe action by the-plaintiff corporation for the price of goods sold and delivered. He offered no evidence but moved "to dismiss tbe case on the ground that there is no proof that tbe firm of Gonsalves & Company, Ltd., is a corporation."
Tbe magistrate gave judgment for tbe plaintiff for- $46.00 and costs. Tbe defendant appealed on tbe point of law covered by bis motion. He relies on tbe general rule of law that tbe evidence must prove the allegations alleged in tbe complaint. Tbe plaintiff claims that while tbe plea of tbe general denial made proof of its corporate capacity unnecessary, tbe capacity was sufficiently proved by tbe evidence given by a witness that tbe defendant was "indebted to tbe firm of Gonsalves & Company, Ltd., in tbe sum of forty-sis dollars."
H. G. Middleditcli for plaintiff.
W. G. Achi for defendant.
The use of the word "limited" naturally imports a corporation, and renders further proof unnecessary. A plea of general denial, however, has generally been regarded as equivalent to a plea of the general issue, which "admits the competency of the plaintiff to sue as such." Pullman v. Upton, 96 U. S. 328.
This court has decided that in a complaint before a district magistrate in an action by a corporation it is unnecessary to allege that the plaintiff is a corporation. Hawaii Mill Co. v. Andrade, 14 Haw. 500.
The appeal is dismissed.