Fernald v. Garvin

Appleton, C. J. The writ in this case was returnable before a trial justice of York county. It contained two counts in assumpsit and one in case, under R. S., 1857, c. 22, § 4, for double the value of building the fence and the fees of the fence viewers, as ascertained in accordance with the provisions of the Act. At the return day, the defendant pleaded the general issue to the first two counts, and to the last filed what was apparently intended for a demurrer. A trial was had and judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff from which an appeal was taken. After the action had been more than one term in this Court, the defendant moved- its dismissal, because the writ contained two counts of indebitatus assumpsit with a special one in case. The motion was overruled, the • cause proceeded to trial, and a verdict was rendered in favor of the plaintiff. The objection mainly relied upon is that there is a misjoinder of counts. Assuming such to be the case, how is advantage to be taken of such misjoinder? "The consequences of a misjoinder are more important than the circumstances of a particular count being defective; for, in the case of a misjoinder, however perfect the counts may respectively be in themselves, the declaration will be bad on demurrer or in arrest of judgment, or upon error. * * A demurrer for misjoinder must be to the whole declaration, and not merely to the defective count or breach.” 1 Chitty on Pleading, 205. When there is a misjoinder of counts, [417] the defendant can avail himself of the objection only by demurring to the whole declaration. The defendant cannot plead to one count and demur to the other. Smith v. Merwin, 15 Wend., 184. The defendant, neither by his pleading below nor by his motion in this Court, has properly taken advantage of the alleged defect. The defendant cannot move in arrest of judgment, because, by R. S., 1857, c. 82, § 26, "no motion in arrest of judgment in a civil action can be entertained.” At common law, in Knightly v. Birch, 2 M. & S., 533, it was held, if there be a misjoinder of counts, and a verdict for the plaintiff on the counts well joined, and for the defendant in the others, the misjoinder is not a cause for arresting judgment. The counsel moving in arrest of judgment referred the Court to Bage v. Broionel, 3 Lev., 99, but the Court discharged the rule, Lord Ellenborough saying, " the case referred to had had its day, and that it was time it should cease.” The case is not before us upon error. Tt is not necessary, therefore, to consider what construction should be given to R. S., 1857, c. 82, § 25, which prohibits a reversal of judgment by writ of error, for a misjoinder of counts, in certain cases. The defect of misjoinder might have been cured by motion to amend. 1 Ohitty on Pleading, 205. Prescott v. Tufts, 4 Mass., 146. Although assumpsit and tort cannot be joined, yet the Court will permit the plaintiff to elect in which count he will proceed, and strike out the other. Noble v. Laley, 50 Penn., 281; Pennsylvania Railroad Co. v. Zug, 47 Penn., 480. The verdict in the case at bar was rendered on the counts in assumpsit. It cannot harm the defendant to allow the count in case, if misjoined, to be stricken out and judgment to be rendered on the others. If a new trial were to be granted, the count in case might, by leave of Court, be stricken out. It may equally well be allowed now, without granting a new trial. [418] The defendant, as before remarked, filed his motion in this Court to dismiss the suit. But, if advantage could be taken of a misjoinder by plea in abatement, or by a motion in the nature of such plea, the motion comes too late. In Chamberlain v. Lake, 36 Maine, 388, Shepley, C. J., says, " when a defect is apparent of record, advantage may be taken of it by motion, and a decision upon that motion will present a question of law arising upon the sufficiency or insufficiency of the record.” But this remark applies specially to defects to be taken advantage of by way of abatement of the suit and not by demurrer. The same is true of the remarks of Rice, J., in Greeley v. Currier, 39 Maine, 517. The objection in a case of misjoinder should have been taken by demurrer. Fritz v. Fritz, 23 Ind., 388. The magistrate had jurisdiction, inasmuch as " the debt or damages demanded do not exceed twenty dollars.” R. S., 1857, c. 83, § 1. It seems there was no account annexed to the writ. The case proceeded to trial without objection for this cause until all the testimony was out. The defendant did not move for a bill of particulars, as he might have done. It is manifest, from the report of the case, that the plaintiff claimed in assumpsit for the expense of building the fence in controversy and for moneys paid the fence viewers. Both the parties understood what was in dispute. The omission might have been cured on motion by either party. The cause proceeded to the jury, and with instructions which precluded the possibility of error arising from the omission to annex the particular items in litigation. No injury is shown to have arisen to either party. The verdict was on the counts in assumpsit and upon an express or implied promise arising from the circumstances of the case, and not upon the count based upon R. S., c. 22, § 4. The instructions, as applicable to' the first and second counts, are free from objection. Whether the recognizance is sufficient or not, the defendant takes no exception thereto. [419] The English Courts, when the verdict is under £20, refuse to grant a new trial, though the verdict is against evidence, unless there has been a misdirection on the part of the presiding Justice, or misconduct on that of the jury. Bevan v. Jones, 2 Young & Jervis, 264; Grimm v. Fischer, 25 Upper Canada Rep., 383. No sufficient reason is perceived in this case to justify our interference. Motion and exceptions overruled. Kent, Walton, Barrows and Daneorth, JJ., concurred.