Court Opinion

ID: 4926123
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 00:57:00.07205+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:20.717495
License: Public Domain

Weston J.
delivered the opinion of the Court at the ensuing July term in Waldo.
The defendant relies, that by reason of the facts by him pleaded to the original suit, they not having been traversed or denied by the plaintiff, he was discharged from all liability, arising from the acts or omissions of Dinsmore, his principal, subsequent to the twenty third of Jipril, 1823. And he avers that the cause of action, set forth in the scire facias, accrued after that period. The counsel for the plaintiff contends that no conclusion or estoppel to this effect can be raised against him, by reason of the pleadings in the original suit; and that his omission to traverse allegations there made, which constituted no defence to that action, cannot now avail the defendant, or prejudice him.
In support of this position, it is insisted that the averments or omissions in one set of pleadings cannot affect another; and that, as' the law is now understood, protestations are no longer necessary; and have become obsolete in practice. Under the statute of 4 and 5 Anne, a defendant may, by leave of court, plead two or more distinct pleas. And the better opinion seems to be, that averments and admissions in one count in the declaration, or in one plea, where there is more than one, have no tendency to establish or controvert any other count, which is technically regarded as introducing a new cause of action; or to affect any issue, which may be joined upon *88other pleas. Had it been held otherwise, the advantage arising from more pleas than one, given by. the statute, would have been in a great measure defeated. It hence results, according to the text of Starlcie, cited in the argument, that protestations have become of little use. They never affected the action, in which they were made. The intent of a protestation is, that the party may not be concluded in another action. 5 Com. Dig. Pleader N. No authority has been adduced to show, that this is not as necessary now as it was formerly. Sergeant Williams, in his edition of Saunders, ml. 2, 103, note 1, discusses, and illustrates the doctrine, of protestation, and no where intimates that there is no occasion for its use, in modern practice.
What has been once solemnly admitted- on record, whether such admission be direct or implied, estops the parties to. such record. This is subject to such modifications and exceptions, as are established by law. A party is not estopped by every averment made by the other side, which he does not deny. An estoppel ought to be certain to every intent. Ifynust be upon a matter directly and precisely alleged; and not by way of argument, inference or recital. So if the thing alleged be not traversable or material, it is no estop-pel. Co. Lit. 352, b. And it has been urged in argument that the estoppel, pleaded in the case before us, does not attach, because the facts relied upon were not material or traversable in the original suit. Their effect was avoided by replying a cause of action, arising prior to the matter pleaded in discharge of farther liability. Whether this objection be sufficient to rebut the estoppel, it is unnecessary"to decide ; for if the facts relied upon, although established by estop-pel are immaterial, they constitute no defence, and if' material, the ground of the objection fails.
The important question then is, upon the merits of the case, whether the facts pleaded in the original suit, absolved the defendant from further liability. And we are clearly of opinion that they did not. The obligors in the bond to the plaintiff, did not reserve to themselves the right to be absolved from future breaches, upon notice ; nor does any such right arise from implication of law. If was averred that at the period stated, the principal was insolvent, and unable *89to indemnify bis sureties for any damage, which they might sustain on his account. It is not uncommon for an insolvent man of fair character, to obtain sureties for the faithful discharge of the duties of an office, to which he may be appointed. Nor is the obligation of sureties, if they undertake for a man solvent at the time, lessened or impaired by bis subsequent insolvency. It is a hazard they voluntarily assume, and within their contemplation as a contingency which may happen. In Crane v. Newell, cited in the argument, in addition to the notice from the sureties, it was expressly averred that the principal was-entirely unfit for the office of deputy, and that this fact was well known to the plaintiff, which the plaintiff did not deny, except by protestation. But the court did not sustain the de-fence. The obligation of the surety remains; unless the parly to whom lie lias become bound, without bis consent, changes the contract, or puts it out of his power to enforce payment against the principal. This doctrine is fuliy supported by the authorities cited for the plaintiff.
Tf the plaintiff and the principal had conspired to defraud the sureties, or if the plaintiff had continued him in office, with the fraudulent intent to do them an injury, and this liad been directly and affirmatively pleaded and proved, it might have constituted a good defence. But the averment is, that one of the sureties notified the plaintiff that he would be no longer bound, that the principal was insolvent, and that this was known to the plaintiff, who notwithstanding carelessly and fraudulently continued him in office. That this was done fraudulently, is a deduction from the facts alleged. The omission of the plaintiff to remove the principal, although he knew these facts, the defendant has denominated fraudulent. Now what depends on inference, argument or deduction, does not afford matter of estoppel. But the inference is not fairly, still less necessarily, deducible from the premises. The plaintiff might know that the surety was unwilling to stand further bound, and that the principal was insolvent, and yet continue him in office without fraud.

Judgment for the plaintiff.