Case Name: Thomas S. Ellis v. Burrell McLemoor
Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1828-05
Citations: 1 Bail. 13
Docket Number: 
Parties: Thomas S. Ellis v. Burrell McLemoor.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 17
Pages: 13–14

Head Matter:
Thomas S. Ellis v. Burrell McLemoor.
Where two or more persons have a joint interest in a contract, in an action upon it, they must all join, although the interest be joint and several; but where the interest is several only, although the right of each is to the same thing, yet either of them may maintain the action separately.
When a promissory note was payable to A. or B. not to A. and B. or either of them, .it was held, that the interest of the payees was not joint and several, but several only, and that either of them might maintain an action upon it.
Columbia,
May, 1828.
Tried before Mr. Justice James, at Chester, Fall Term, 1827.
This was an action by Sum. Pro. upon a promissory note, in which the defendant had promised, jointly and severally, with two others, “to pay Thomas S. Ellis, executor of Sarah Ellis, deceased, or David Hutcheson, executor of Robert Ellis, deceased,” the sum specified in the note.
At the trial, the defendant moved for a nonsuit, on the ground that David Hutcheson, the other payee, ought to have been joined in the action. And the motion was sustained by his Honor, the presiding Judge.
The plaintiff appealed, and moved to set aside the nonsuit, on the ground that it was unnecessary to have joined the other payee in the action.
Howard, for the motion, cited 1 Ch. PI. 7,- and contended that the legal interest of the payees was several, according to the very terms of the note; and that the defendant was bound by his contract, to pay to either.of the payees who demanded payment.
If there was an inconvenience, it was one of his own making; but that in effect, it could work him no injury, because a payment to either would discharge his obligation, and might be pleaded in bar to an action by the other.
Williams, contra.

Opinion:
Nott, J.
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The only question in this case is, whether one of the payees of the note could sue alone, or whether both should have joined in the action.
The 'general rule is, that all must join in the action, who have an interest in the contract. Therefore, it is said, that when a contract is to pay to two or either of them, the action must be in the name of both. In this instance, there does not appear to be any joint interest. The promise is not to pay to both or either .of them, which might suppose them to have an equal or joint interest; but it is to pay to one or the other.
By the express terms of the contract, the money is to be paid to one or the other, severally and not jointly; and it would seem, therefore, that either might maintain the action. It is the law which the parties have made for themselves, and I do not find any technical rule opposed to it. In the case of Bell v. Chaplain, Hardres 321, the plaintiff had delivered another man's goods to the defendant, upon his promising to deliver them to the owner, but he did not deliver them. It is said, " that either the owner or deliverer may maintain an action against him; but they cannot join." In the same case it is said, " if a third person be to have the benefit of the promise, as in the case of a father and son, where a promise is made to a father for the benefit of the son, there they cannot join ; but either of them may bring the action." The same principle was decided in the case of Bone v. Hillen, 1 Mills' Con. Rep. 198. So that the circumstance that one or the other may maintain the action, does not appear to furnish any objection. The difficulty which has been suggested, that the Court does not know for which to render judgment, has no weight in my mind. For a judgment in favour of either will be a bar to the other.
I am of opinion that, according to the terms of the contract, the plaintiff was entitled to bring the action, and I cannot perceive that any rule of law is violated, or that any inconvenience can result from maintaining it in this form.
Motion granted.