A. M. Gilman & Co. v. Cosgrove

Norton, J. delivered the opinion of the Court—Cope, C. J. and Crocker, J. concurring. 1. The complaint should have set forth the names of the individuals composing the firm of A. M. Gilman & Co., as the plaintiffs, if the action was intended to be in behalf of individuals composing a firm. Defendants may, by virtue of a special statute, be sued by their copartnership name, but there is no statute authorizing an action to be brought by plaintiffs in a copartnership or firm name. The objection to this defect has, however, not been taken in a way to be available. If it may be assumed that “ A. M. Gilman & Co.” is the name of a firm of which A. M. Gilman is one of the partners, then the defendant should have demurred to the complaint for a defect of parties. If it be said that it does not appear by any averment in the complaint, and that it cannot be assumed that “ A. M. Gilman & Co.” is the name of a copartnership, then, in order to have made it appear that there was an error in naming the plaintiffs, and to have taken effectual advantage of that error, the answer should have denied the purchase of any goods of the plaintiffs, and when proof was offered, it should have been shown that the goods were bought of certain individuals, who, perhaps, might have done business under a firm name, but neither of whose names [358] was A. M. Gilman & Co. (Porter v. Cresson, 10 Serg. & Rawle, 257; Pate v. Bacon, 6 Munf. 219.) The objection not having been taken in a proper mode, there was no error committed on this point. 2. The second answer filed is called an amended and supplemental answer, and such it is in form and substance. It is not a supplemental answer alone, if such an answer could properly be filed as a mere addition to the one already filed. There was therefore no error in holding that it suspended the first answer. 3. As the answer which was held to be the one on which the issue was formed and the trial was had, did not deny the allegation of the complaint as to the sale of the goods and the amount due therefor, the evidence offered upon those points was properly-rejected. 4. The grounds upon which the defendant asked leave to file a second amended answer were displaced by the counter affidavit, and there was hence no abuse of discretion in denying the application. We do not by this remark intend to be understood that it would otherwise in this case, or in any case, be an abuse of discretion to refuse leave to amend, after proofs had been introduced on a trial. Judgment affirmed.