Browne v. Peck & Pirtle

GARDNER, J. Suit by appellees against appellant and another for the enforcement of a mechanic’s lien on a certain automobile described in the pleadings. Section 4785 et seq., Code 1907. The original bill of complaint and affidavits .upon, which the attachment issued alleged that the sum of $63.90 was due for material furnished and labor performed by the plaintiffs in the manufacture and repair of said automobile. Subsequently the trial court, over the objection of the defendants, permitted the plaintiffs to amend the affidavit so as to show that $24 of the amount embraced in the original claim of $63.90 was for work done by a partnership known as Finley & Nelson, who were mechanics, and who as such mechanics contributed their labor and material in tbe repair of the car for the defendants; that said Finley & Nelson undertook the job of repairing the automobile, and before completing the same turned it over to plaintiffs for completion, and assigned in writing their account and claim for such work to the plaintiffs, who completed the job. The original complaint was amended to like effect. It is insisted by counsel for appellant that the amended affidavit disclosed a new cause of action, particularly so far as concerned the $24 due for labor performed by Finley & Nelson, and that the amended affidavit was improperly allowed. This is the important question presented upon this appeal, upon which all others seem to rest. We are of the opinion that the amendment did not state a new cause of action, but was merely descriptive of the original suit, made in order to avoid any question of variance. The full amount of $63.90 was due the plaintiff, but of this sum $24 was for labor performed by Finley & Nelson, whose business was purchased and taken over by the plaintiffs; this account being duly transferred in writing. The amended affidavit related therefore to the same subject-matter between tbe same parties, and therefore related back to the commencement of the suit. We think the amendment was properly allowed undPr the following, among other, authorities: Witherington v. Gainer, 149 Ala. 655, 43 South. 117; Webb v. McPherson, 142 Ala. 540, 38 South. 1009; McCain v. Street, 136 Ala. 625, 33 South. 872; Brown v. Loeb, 177 Ala. 106, 58 South. 330; Johnson v. Staenglen, 85 Fed. 603, 29 C. C. A. 369; sections 5366, 5367, Code 1907. The case of Sorsby v. Woodlawn Lbr. Co., 202 Ala. 566, 81 South. 68, cited by counsol for appellant, is not analogous to the instant case, and in no manner militates against the conclusion here reached. We have not overlooked the insistence of counsel for appellees that the question here sought to be reviewed was not properly presented in the court below; but we have pretormitted a consideration of all preliminary questions, preferring to rest the decision upon the merits of the cause. Finding no reversible error, the judgment of the court below will be affirmed. Affirmed. ANDERSON, C. J., and SAYRE and MILLER, JJ., concur.