Case Name: LEE & HARDY vs. RICE ET AL.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1838-05
Citations: 12 La. 254
Docket Number: 
Parties: LEE & HARDY vs. RICE ET AL.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 12
Pages: 254–255

Head Matter:
LEE & HARDY vs. RICE ET AL.
Eastern Dist.
May, 1838.
APPEAL FROM THE COURT OP THE FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT.
The petition must contain the name and surname of the plaintiff: it is insufficient, to give only the initials of the Christian name.
The exception, showing that only the initials of the plaintiff’s Christian name are stated in the petition, will he sustained, and the case remanded.
This is an action on a promissory note. The plaintiffs style themselves in th'eir petition, George M. Lee and P. A. 'Hardy, and allege the defendants are indebted to them in the sum of five thousand dollars, on an endorsed promissory note, for which sum they pray judgment.
The defendants pleaded a general denial, and require strict proof of the demand, and of the plaintiffs’ title to the note.
These respondents further answering, say, “ that this suit should have been instituted in the full Christian names of the petitioners, and not in the manner in which they have commenced it, etc.” They pray that the petitioners’ claim be rejected.
The objections to the petition set up in the answer, were overruled, and from judgment given against the defendant, Rice, he appealed.
°Tlie petition must contain the name and surname of the plaintiff: It is insufficient, to give only the initials of the Christian name.
The exception, showing that only the initials of the plaintiff’s Christian name are stated in the petition, will be sustained, and the ease re-rQanded'
Locket, for the plaintiffs...
Eggleston, for the defendants and appellant.

Opinion:
Martin, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court.
The defendant, Rice, is appellant from a judgment on his promissory note; he pleaded the general issue, and that the plaintiffs had not set out their full Christian names. He required the plaintiffs to prove their title to the note. The plaintiffs in the petition are called George M. Lee and P. A. Hardy.
The Code of Practice, article 172, No. 1, requires, that the petition contain the name and surname of the plaintiff. In that under consideration, the plaintiff, Hardy's surname is only given. We have only the initials P. A. instead of his other or Christian name., These letters may signify Peter Anthony, Paul Andrew, or any other names having the same initials. This is not a sufficient compliance with the law: and the District Court, in our opinion, erred, in disregarding the defendant's exception in this respect.
It is,- therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be annulled, avoided and reversed, and that the case be remanded for further proceedings according to law, and that the plaintiff and appellee pay the costs of the appeal.