Opinion ID: 877539
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: fictitious name

Text: The appellant, seller, alleged, as an affirmative defense in his answer, that the buyer's action is barred for failure to register the fictitious name J. Miller Livestock Co., as required by former section 30-13-111, MCA, 1978, in effect at the time this contract was executed (July 20, 1978) but since repealed (Sec. 18, Ch. 260, Laws of Montana, 1979). The former statute was quite old, and had been construed and applied several times. Generally, this Court held that if a business name fairly disclosed the true names of all persons interested in the business, then no compliance with the statute was necessary; and, that the duty was on the defendant asserting the bar to affirmatively prove lack of compliance. Canonica v. St. George (1922), 64 Mont. 200, 205, 206, 208 P. 607, 608; Croft v. Bain (1914), 49 Mont. 484, 489, 143 P. 960, 962. The seller has plainly failed to carry his burden of proof. Although he refers to the agent and the eastern feeder as buyer's partners throughout the pleadings, transcript and brief, the record contains no evidence to show that anyone besides John O. Miller has any interest in the business J. Miller Livestock Co. It is not enough for the seller to merely claim that he is without knowledge or that he has raised questions about the status of the business. Croft v. Bain, supra. The business name here fairly discloses the name of the person interested in the business. Because the seller failed to prove his allegations, any errors by the trial court in failing to rule upon his motions were harmless, as the motions should have been denied.