Court Opinion

ID: 6508669
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 18:20:25.240396+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:54:48.506420
License: Public Domain

PETEES, C. J.
The suit in this action was commenced on the 25th day of September, in the year 1868, and the judgment was rendered on the 26th day of December, in 1871. It is founded on the verdict of a jury, and is for the sum of 15,000, to be paid “ in gold,” and for costs. From this, the defendants below appeal to this court; and here, among other errors, they assign the refusal of the court below to sustain their demurrer to the complaint. This complaint contains but one count, or statement of the cause of action. It is in the following words. [See the foregoing statement of facts.]
The defendants’ demurrer to the complaint raises the ques*287tion of its sufficiency. It is contended by the appellants that it is defective, first, in failing to state, in a proper manner, any legal grounds of action against tbe defendants, whether the suit be regarded as an action of debt, or assumpsit, or as an action on the case for a tort; and in the second place, that the cause of action is so presented as to be both in tort and assumpsit. * * * To the objections, thus raised by the appellants, the appellee replies, without, however, classing his action under any of the established distinctions in such cases, that the material facts are stated in the complaint in such a manner as to show that the plaintiff has been injured by the illegal conduct of the defendants; and that these facts are so stated as required by the law of the Code, that is, they “ are so presented that a material issue, in law or fact, can be taken by the adverse party thereon; ” and this is sufficient. Rev. Code, §§ 2629, 2680.
The purpose of the suit is thus alleged, viz.: “ The plaintiff claims of the defendants the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars as damages.” This is clearly in case, for a tort. See Forms given in the Code, pp. 674, 675 et seq. After this commencement, the pleading states the sale of the 31,031 pounds of cotton by the plaintiff to the defendants, on August 14,1866, for the price of 25cents per pound, payable “in gold,” on the first day of December, 1866 ; and that for the price thus agreed upon, the plaintiff received from the defendants their promissory note, dated August 14, 1866, payable to the plaintiff on December 1, 1866, “in gold,” for the gum of $8,932.90, which was the amount of the price of the cotton. It is then alleged, that the cotton thus sold was worth at the time of said sale, and when said note fell due, a large price per pound, in “ greenbacks,” to wit, 40 cents per pound. Then it is further alleged, that said defendants failed to pay said note, when it fell due, in part or in whole. It is then further alleged, that the defendants, being so indebted to the plaintiff in the amount of said note “ payable in gold,” to wit, on May 13, 1867, próposed to sell, and did sell and deliver, fifteen shares, of one thousand dollars each, of stock of the Indian Hill Factory, to the plaintiff, for said note, and said note was thereupon delivered up by plaintiff to defendants, in payment of the price of said stock. Said shares thus sold amounted to the sum of $15,000 of said stock. Then it is alleged, with very great particularity, that this sale of said stock was a deceit and a fraud, knowingly and intentionally practised on the plaintiff by the defendants; that said stock was worthless, when sold, and turned out to be worthless in the end ; and that this was known to the defendants at the time of the sale, who then represented said stock to be of value, when they knew it was of no value ; *288and that it was upon this false representation of the value of the stock that the plaintiff made the purchase, and gave up the note in payment of the price of the same. After this, the complaint recites, in conclusion, as follows, viz.: “ And the plaintiff further avers, that the said fifteen shares of stock in the said Indian Hill Manufacturing Company was, and in fact became, wholly worthless and of 115 value to the plaintiff. And the plaintiff further avers, that he afterwards, and within a reasonable time, viz., on the 21st day of September, 1868, tendered to said defendants the certificate for said fifteen shares of stock of said company, and demanded of them said promissory note, so falsely and fraudulently obtained, or the amount due thereon to the plaintiff; and the defendants refused to receive the said certificate of fifteen shares of stock of said company, and refused to deliver to plaintiff said promissory note, or to pay the amount of money due thereon, and they still refuse ; and thereupon the plaintiff sues, and claims as damages the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars.”
I have thus stated the substantive allegations of the com- • plaint, in order to make it more easy to grasp their purport, in estimating their purpose in the pleading. Evidently, the Code does not destroy the distinctions in the forms of actions, existing at the time it went into effect. Nor was it intended to allow causes of action, not permitted to be joined, to be indiscriminately mingled together in the same suit, or in the same count of the complaint. This appears from the fact, that different forms of complaints are given in the schedule of forms appended to the Code for different actions, which forms recognize and preserve these distinctions; and these forms, or such others as substantially conform to them, are required to be used in our practice. Rev. Code, pp. 673 et seq. ; lb. § 2630. Besides, a misjoinder of counts, or different causes of actions, is still recognized by this court, as a defect in pleading, which may be assailed by general demurrer. 1 Brick. Dig. p. 24, § 55, and cases there cited; Gruildford & Co. v. Kendall, 42 Ala. 651. The rules of evidence, also, require the preservation of these distinctions, so far as retained by the Code. Very great confusion would follow from their abolition. 1 Chitt. PI. (m. p.) 201, notes q and l. The Code, then, does not dispense with the necessary distinction of forms in actions to be brought under its provisions. It does not overthrow the whole theory of misjoinder of actions ; but it requires that these distinctions, except as therein altered, shall be observed and complied with ,• and that the facts of each particular action shall be briefly and perspicuously stated, so as to present a material issue to the adverse party. Rev. Code, § 2629. In effecting this, an old authority declares, that “ no greater certainty is required than *289is sufficient to bring on a trial without inveigling the judge or the jury.” 7 Bac. Abr. (Bouv. ed.) p. 458. And Mr. Gould adds, that the complaints hould contain the substance of a syllogistic proposition, in which the major premise, or sumption, is not expressed, but understood and supplied by the court. This major premise announces the rule of law, or principle of law, which gives the plaintiff his right to recover, if the facts of the minor premise, or subsumption, turn out to be true. Gould’s PI. p. 14, § 3,4, 5, 6 ; Hamilton’s Logic, p. 207, §§ 57 et seq. The second term of this syllogism consists of the facts, out of which the issue submitted to the jury arises. This issue must be single, and it must refer to the principle of law in connection with which it is supposed to be framed. 7 Bac. Abr. (Bouv. ed.) p. 531; Steph. PI. pp. 24,124, marg. If the action is founded on a contract, express or implied, this contract should be set out, or described, with the certainty above required, at least. Or, if it is founded on the conversion of a chattel, or a deceit in a sale, or any other cause of action, the like certainty should be used in stating the facts. In all cases, it is the duty of the pleader to present the facts of the case, without confusion or obscurity, in the forms prescribed by the Code, if this can be done ; or in other forms equally brief and perspicuous, which, in substance, shall conform to those given in the Code. Brevity and clearness are both required. Rev. Code, §§ 2629, 2630.
If these principles be applied to the present complaint, it will be seen that the facts are so presented, that the statement was not only calculated to “ inveigle the judge or the jury,” but in all probability it had that effect. For, had the learned judge on the trial below entertained a clear apprehension of the complaint, he would not have given charges which were proper in one aspect of the pleading, but which were improper in another ; or which were proper in an action on the case for a deceit in the sale of the stock, but improper in an action of debt or assumpsit on the note for the price of the cotton. Nor could the jury long have hesitated about the facts, had the case been properly presented. Nor does it seem that they could have declared by their verdict, that the damages were “ five thousand dollars in gold,” for such a verdict does not seem to respond to any issue legitimately presented by the pleadings.
Then, turning again to the facts stated in the complaint, it appears that the defendants were indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of $8,932.90, by promissory note, dated August 14, 1866, and falling due December 1, 1866, payable “in gold;” which is alleged to have been due and unpaid at the time the suit was brought. On these facts, an action of debt, or as*290sumpsit, might have been maintained. 1 Chitt. P. (m. p.) 89, 108; Rev. Code, § 2637. But the complaint does not stop with these averments. It goes on to present a second statement of facts, from which it appears that the defendants sold and delivered to the plaintiff fifteen shares of stock of the Indian Hill Factory, for which the plaintiff paid by a transfer and delivery to them of said promissory note; but, in the sale of this stock, the defendants committed a deceit and fraud on the plaintiff, in wilfully and falsely representing said stock to be of great value, when it was in fact of no value, and turned out to be wholly worthless; all of which the defendants well knew when they made sáid false representations, which were made to deceive and mislead the plaintiff, and had that effect, to his injury. On these latter facts, an action on the case for a deceit in the sale of the stock might have been maintained. 1 Chitt m. p. 132, 133; Wilkinson v. Moseley, 18 Ala. 288; Monroe v. Prichett, 16 Ala. 785; Dixon v. Barclay, 22 Ala. 370; Morgan v. Patrick & Smith, 8 Ala. 185; Blick v. Briggs, 6 Ala. 687; Pasley v. Freeman, 3 T. R. 31; S. C. 1 Smith Lead. Cases, with Amer. Notes, m. p. 55 ; also, 1 Hil liard on Torts, pp. 1, 2, 3, § 3, and notes.
Each of these statements of facts is in an intelligible form, and presents a material issue in law or fact to the adverse party ; and either the one or the other statement would be sufficient, if it stood alone. Rev. Code § 2629. But, the one showing grounds for an action in debt or assumpsit, and the other grounds for an action on the case for a deceit in the sale of the stock, they cannot be united. Assumpsit or debt cannot be joined with case for a tort. 1 Chitt. Pl. m. p. 201; Copeland v. Fowler, 21 Ala. 472; Rhodes v. Otes, 33 Ala. 578.
But, it is said, that one of these statements of facts is surplusage ; and that one of them ought to be stricken out, for this reason, or disregarded. But it is not suggested which is the surplusage, or which is the matter of substance! Which, then, is the unnecessary averment ? It is possible that the averment of facts upon which no breach is assigned may be, as a general rule, treated as surplusage, if the pleading is sufficient without it. 20 Ala. 473. Here, the pleading does not show which averment is unnecessary, and the breaches refer to both averments. After showing a tender of the certificate of the factory stock to the defendants, and a demand of the note surrendered on the sale of the stock, it is alleged, by way of conclusion and default, that “ the defendants refused to receive said certificate of fifteen shares of stock of said company, and refused to deliver to the plaintiff the said promissory note, or to pay the amount of money due thereon, and they still refuse ; *291and thereupon the plaintiff sues, and claims as damages the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars.” This seems to me to claim the damages for a, failure to receive back the stock when tendered, and a failure to surrender the note when demanded, or a failure to pay the amount of the note. This shows that the breach or default on which the damages accrued refers to both of the above averments of facts, that constitute two different causes of action, which cannot be joined. The complaint is, therefore, defective for a misjoinder of causes of action, and the demurrer to it should have been sustained.
I think the pleading also violates the rule of brevity and clearness required by the Code. The learned counsel for the appellee seem to feel this difficulty. They fail to show, in their brief, whether they consider the complaint as one founded on a cause of action arising from a contract, or from a tort. Such uncertainty is a defect, and has no warrant under the forms or the rule of practice intended to be inaugurated.by the Code.
For the error above pointed out, the judgment of the court below must be reversed, and the cause remanded for a new trial.
This opinion might be here properly concluded, as, in the present condition of the case, the other questions mooted in the court below may not again arise upon an amended complaint, which the appellee is authorized to file, if he chooses. A discussion of these questions might be premature, and tend to embarrass the court below on a new trial. Nothing, therefore, is intended to be settled in this opinion, but the form of the complaint. In this, it is proper to add, that the forms of complaints prescribed by the Code, or such other forms as substantially conform to these in brevity and clearness, must be used in our practice. If this is not done, the purpose of the law will be defeated. It is said by an old authority, that originally pleadings were so formed as to bring on the trial without inveigling the judge or the jury; “ and they were very plain and concise; but in progress of time pleaders, yea, and judges became too curious in them, so that the art and dexterity of pleading, which in its use, nature, and design, was only to render the fact plain and intelligible, and bring the matter to judgment with convenient certainty, began to degenerate from its primitive simplicity and true use, and end- in a piece of nicety and curiosity; which, how it hath improved therein in later times, the length of the pleadings, the many unnecessary repetitions, and the many miscarriages of causes, upon small and trivial objections, do but too sufficiently testify.” 7 Bac. Abr. Bouv. ed. p. 458. The common law permitted fines, by way of mulcts, to be laid on the pleader by the courts, “ for *292barbarous and disorderly pleading.” 2 Inst. 123. This power to fine for prolix and irregular pleading is still preserved to the courts by the Code, but the fine is imposed on the party and not on the pleader. Rev. Code, § 2630. Here, the complaint is unusually prolix and obscure. It covers nearly five pages of the transcript of the record; and it is quite uncertain whether it is intended as a complaint in an action of debt or assumpsit, or in an action in case for a deceit in the sale of the factory stock ; or, possibly, as an action of trover for the conversion of the note. This want of brevity and uncertainty it was the purpose of the Code to remedy and forbid. Rev. Code, §§ 2629, 2630; lb. p. 673, Forms of Complaints. There is a brief and sufficient form given in the Code for a complaint applicable to any cause of action that can arise out of the facts of this case, as recited in the present pleading, which might be written on a single page of the present transcript. If the action is intended to be founded on the note, for the agreed price of the cotton, then the complaint may be in debt or assumpsit. 1 Chitt. PL m. p. 99, 108; Rev. Code, § 2637. Or, if it is intended to be an action in case, for a deceit in the sale of the factory stock, then the complaint may be in case for a deceit in the sale of chattels. 1 Hilliard on Torts, pp. 1, 11; 1 Chitt. Pl. m. p. 132. Or, if it is intended to be an action of trover for the note, which the defendants are alleged ■illegally to have gotten into their possession on the sale of the stock, then a complaint in trover for the conversion of the note would be proper. Lowremore v. Berry, 19 Ala. 130. The Code furnishes proper and brief forms of complaints for each of the above causes of actions. Rev. Code, p. 673, On Promissory Note; Ib. p. 674, On Account; Ib. p. 675, Deceit in sale of Chattels. These forms should be used or conformed to. This is the rule of pleading established by law. To disregard this rule is to disregard the statute, and make it in the end but little better than a dead-letter. Forms which transcend this limit are “disorderly,” and should be discouraged. From such a fountain only confusion can flow.
There is another error apparent on the record, but not mentioned in the assignment. The verdict is for “ five thousand dollars in gold;” and the judgment follows the verdict. The present law of the United States, governing the currency, and defining what shall be a legal tender in payment of debts, forbids such a judgment. The verdict ought, therefore, to have been for “ dollars ” simply. A judgment for “ dollars in gold” is erroneous. Railroad Company v. Johnson, 15 Wall. 195; Parker v. Davis, 12 Wall. 457; Knox v. Lee, 12 Wall. 457. I notice this error, in order that it may not be repeated on a new trial, should it become necessary, about which no opinion is expressed.
*293For the error first above mentioned, the judgment of the court below is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a new trial, with leave to the plaintiff in the court below to amend his complaint, as he may be advised, in conformity with the law.