Case Name: Margaret West et al., Administrators, vs. Edward H. Darcy
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1897-12-09
Citations: 20 R.I. 311
Docket Number: 
Parties: Margaret West et al., Administrators, vs. Edward H. Darcy.
Judges: Present: Matteson, C. J., Stiness and Tillinghast, JJ.
Reporter: Rhode Island Reports
Volume: 20
Pages: 311–313

Head Matter:
Margaret West et al., Administrators, vs. Edward H. Darcy.
PROVIDENCE
DECEMBER 9, 1897.
Present: Matteson, C. J., Stiness and Tillinghast, JJ.
The copy of the note sued upon, to be filed with the writ and declaration under Gen. Laws R. I. cap. 289, § 14, need not be a literal and exact copy thereof; if the copy he sufficiently accurate to identify the claim, and not to mislead the defendant, the purpose of the statute is fulfilled.
If a defendant fail to make the affidavit of defence referred to in the same statute, the only effect is to preclude him from making a defence to the plaintiff’s claim; but the defendant is, nevertheless, entitled to have his claim in set - off ad j udicated in that suit.
The failure to file the required affidavit of defence is a conclusive admission, for purposes of the suit, of the validity of the plaintiff’s claim.
Assumpsit on promissory note, the defendant not filing an affidavit of defence but pleading a claim in set-off.
Heard on the defendant’s petition for- a new trial.

Opinion:
Matteson, C. J.
This is an action of assumpsit on a promissory note, begun in the District Court of the Sixth Judicial District and certified to the Common Pleas Division on the defendant's claim for a jury trial. A copy of the note was filed with the writ and declaration, as provided by Gen. Laws R. I. cap. 239, § 14. No affidavit of defence was made, but the defendant filed a plea of the general issue and a claim in set-off, in accordance with Gen. Laws R. I. cap. 239, § 10, 11 and 12.
When the case was called for trial in the Common Pleas Division, the court, on the plaintiffs' motion, entex-ed a decisioxx for the plaintiffs as by default for waxxt of an affidavit of defexice. The defexxdant objected to the entry of the decision because the copy of the xxote filed by the plaintiffs was not a literal and exact copy; but the court ruled that it xxeed not be a literal axxd exact copy, and that a copy which, was substantially correct was a sufficient compliance with the statute. To this ruling the defendant duly excepted.
The-defendant then ixxsisted that he was exititled to proceed in the trial of his claim ixx set-off, notwithstandixig his omissioxx to file an affidavit of defexice as agaixxst the note; but the court ruled to the contrary, axid to this ruling the defendant also excepted.
The case is before us on the defendaxit's pe'tition for a new trial based on these exceptions.
We think that the Common Pleas Division was correct in its first ruling but erred in its secoxxd.
The purpose'of the copy is to xiotify the defexidant of the particular claim in suit, so that he may determine whether he has a defence or not axid make or omit to make his affidavit accordingly. If it is sufficiently accurate to identify the claim, axid not to mislead the defendant, its purpose is fulfilled. To insist on an exact copy would be to require a fac simile or reproduction of the original — a degree of strictness which would rénder the provision of the statute well-nigh impracticable and consequently inoperative.
Andrew B. Patton and Thomas F. West, for plaintiffs.
John W. Hogan, for defendant.
We think that the affidavit of defence referred to in § It relates only to the claim of the plaintiff on which the suit is based, and that if it is not made, the only effect is to preclude the defendant from making a defence to the claim. The failure to file the affidavit is a conclusive admission, for the purposes of the suit, of the validity of the plaintiffs' claim. But the defendant is nevertheless entitled to have his claim in set-off adjudicated in that suit and, if he prevails, to have it deducted from the plaintiffs' claim, or, if it exceeds the plaintiffs' claim, to a judgment for the excess.
New trial granted, and case remitted to the Common Pleas Division for further proceedings.