Court Opinion

ID: 6121199
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-04 18:47:16.021246+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:21.459498
License: Public Domain

Davis, P. J.:
The demurrer in this case states two grounds.
First. That the complaint docs not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.
Second. That several causes of action have been improperly united in the complaint.
The demurrer ivas sustained on the second of these grounds, and judgment ordered for the defendant. An application was made for leave to amend, which was denied. If the complaint is to be construed, as it was by the court below, as setting out three several distinct causes of action arising upon three separate and independent frauds of misrepresentation and- concealment practiced upon each of the several firms, who are plaintiffs, the disposition of the demurrer by the court below was correct. But however the facts may turn out upon the trial, we think the true construction of the complant is not that stated in the opinion of the court below. In substance, the complaint alleges an indebtedness of the defendant arising upon several loans made by the respective firms who united as plaintiffs, which loans were payable whenever the defendant should be able to pay the same.
The complaint then alleges in substance that on the 7th day of October, 1868, the defendant did pay $10,000, part and parcel of said loan, but neglects and refuses to pay the residue, and asserts as a x-eason therefor that on that day the plaintiffs executed and delivered to him a release uxxder seal, and that said release is a valid bar to aixy action. The complaixxt then further alleges that the release execxxted by them was made uxxder a mistake of material facts, axxcl was procured by the defexxdaxxt ixx substaxxce by misrepi-esentation axxcl concealmexxt, the pax-ticulars of which ax-e set oxxt at lexxgth; and they allege that they executed the release in ignorance of the material facts, and by takixxg advaxxtage of such material facts the defexxdant induced them to execute a joint release which he ixow sets up axxcl assex’ts as a bar to the several claims; axxcl that they file a bill iix equity for the pux-pose of setting aside their joiixt release on the ground of fraud, and a mistake on their part, arising out of such common concealmeixt axid ignorance, and they pray for judgment in their favor fox- the balance of their respective claims.
*54It may be that on the trial the facts proved will not sustain the allegations of common fraud practiced upon them, and in obtaining the joint release executed by them, but we see no good reason why they may not maintain their action in equity for the purpose of avoiding such release if the allegations be true.
The principal issue presented by this complaint is the invalidity of. the alleged release. It is manifest by the admissions of the complaint itself, that unless the release be set aside there can he-no recovery of the indebtedness to the several firms. They have a common interest, therefore, in this principal issue, and inasmuch as the release is, or under the allegations of the complaint must be assumed to be, a joint one, obtained by a common fraud, there is no reason why all the parties to it may not unite in an action brought for the purpose of declaiming it void, and setting it aside because of a common fraud practiced upon them in obtaining it.
We think it comes directly within the principle of the cases cited by appellant's counsel, and although the plaintiffs were unconnected parties with respect to the indebtedness to them, they may join in the suit because there was one connected interest among them all centering in the principal point in issue. (2 Mad., 234; Ward v. Northumberland, 2 Anstr., 469, 477; Whaley v. Dawson, 2 Sch. & Lef., 270.)
The prayer for the additional relief by the recovery of judgment, for the indebtedness, does not render the complaint multifarious.. Geery v. N. Y. & L. S. Co., 12 Abb., 268; Wells v. Bridgeport Hydraulic Co., 30 Conn., 316.) Nor does it prejudice their l’ight to get rid of the release by a common action, and we do not see why that relief may not be granted under the Code in an equitable action, as an incident necessary to complete justice.
The judgment and order should be reversed and demurrer overruled, with leave to defendant to answer on the usual terms.
The other appeals are necessarily disposed of by this disposition of the demurrer. The orders should be severally reversed with ten dollars costs and disbursements in each case.
Brady and Daniels, JJ., concurred.
Ordered accordingly.