Witmer v. Schlatter

The opinion of the court was delivered by Gibson, C. J. — The nature of this particular pTea in abatement, is misapprehended in supposing, that to show the parties, the defendant must necessarily show the contráct; and that in a second action,- the record is evidénce, at least, against all who pleaded, not only of partnership, but of the whole ease. The extent of the defendants’ allegation is best determined by the nature of the mischief which the plea was devised to remedy. Previous to Rice v. Shute, 5 Burr. 2611, the omission of a joint contractor, was a ground of nonsuit. The defendant folded his arms .till the plaintiff made out a case, by proving the contract as laid, when, if the defendant succeeded in showing additional parties, the plaintiff failed on the principle of variance, as he still does where too many are joined; or he failed by proving too much, if he showed a contract with more than were named in the writ. But in no case, was the defendant bound to prove a contract with any one, or any other substantive part of the. plaintiff’s'case. Thehardshipwas, that the plaintiff being ignorant of the proper parties, was' foiled as often as a new joint contractor was disclosed; and to remedy it, Lord;Mansfield did what? Simply required, that objection for want of parties, should be pleaded in a way to prevent a repetition of it, or waived altogether. This, then, being the nature of the mischief, and the extent of the remedy, what change has it produced in the order and effect-of the proof? The plea neither asserts nor admits the existence of any contract whatever; the new parties beihg conditionally named, to enable the defendant to connect them with whatever contract may be proved'. The order of proof, therefore,' is the same that it was when the. matter was triéd on non assumpsit; and the plaintiff fails to maintain his part of the issue, unless, as formerly, he proves a cause of action, in the first instance. The proceeding was not devised to relieve him from'the-burden of any part of his case, or to give him any other advantage than a certainty of proceeding in a new action, without further objection for the same cause, either from those vvhd pleaded of those who .were subsequently joined. A successful plea in abatement,therefore,operates no further than to preclude an objection for want of parties a second time. But giving the plaintiff the benefit of that, he is-nevertheless-bound to prove his case against all who are named, as if there-never had been a proceeding to ascertain them. Against those who pleaded, the 'record is undoubtedly, evidence, that all who were alleged to bp partners, are so in fact; but although the fact'of partnership may he established by the separate admissions of all, it cannot be by the admissions of less than all, for the — 363 — plain reason, that a confession is competent to affect none but him who made it. Then, conceding, that the plea in abatement was competent evidence of partnership, as regards some of the defendants, and that, had there been evidence of, that fact against all, proof of a contract with the firm, would have been proof of a contract with all; yet, against many of the defendants, not parties to the former action, there was no evidence of partnership whatever; consequently, the verdict is not to be sustained. It is not an argument, to say, that on strict rules of evidence the plaintiff may be baffled for ever. It is an undoubted defect in our judiciary, that it is incompetent to .afford facilities for the attainment of justice, which aré universally had elsewhere. • As long-as .the legislature shall withhold the powers of a Court of Chancery, for the discovery of facts and circumstances to found an action at law, so long must the hardship, felt in this particular instance, enduré without a remedy. We cannot wrest the law from its purpose, to cure an evil, the remedy for which, is not within "our province." The remaining point is more substantial. I do not understand it to be contended, that the members of the company were not, at first, individually bound. But the articles of association were framed with a view to eventual incorporation; and it is assumed, from this circumstance alone, that the parties treated on the basis of an understanding, that the character.of the contract should follow that, of the association. There is not a spark of evidence, that the provision for incorporation was known "to the plaintiffs; nor, were that otherwise, had they reason to suppose, that in conferring corporate powers, the "legislature would meddle with vested rights. It is, indeed, supposed, that he who deals with a company, is bound to know the principles on which itis constituted; in so much, that he ipso facto, agrees to contract according to the conditions of the articles. . So differently is the law held in actions against joint stock companies, both here and in England, that the stipulations in the articles, have never been allowed to exempt the members from,liability beyond the joint funds, or to restrain their responsibility to third persons, on the general principles of"'partnership. It was, indeed, intimated, by Justice Platt, in Skinner v. Dayton, 19 Johns. Rep. 513, and by one" of the judges of this court, in Hess v. Werts, 4 Serg. & Rawle, 361, that partners may limit their liability by an explicit stipulation between them and the party with whom they contract, but that such a limitation is never a matter of silent inference. “ But stipulations of this kind,” says the learned commentator on American law, “are looked upOn unfavourably, as being contrary to the general policy of the law; and it would require a direct previous notice of the intended limitation, to the party dealing with the company, and his clear understanding of the terms of the limitation.” 3 Kent’s Com. 5. Without such direct notice, therefore, the question of assent to the articles, is not one of.fact, but of law. Then, without any previous assent by the parties to be — 364 — affected, the legislature has thought proper to declare, that “all contracts whatsoever, made and entered into by, or with the said association,' shall be as obligatory on the same, and on the other parties to the said contracts, to all intents and purposes, as if the same bad been made and entered into subsequently to this act of incorr poration: And, it shall be lawful for the sard corporation, and fertile parties to any such contracts, .to maintain actions at law, anil otherwise enforce the due performance thereof, as fully and effectually, as if the same had been made by, or with the said corporation.” It might be said, that this does not expressly absolve the members from individual liability, but enables their creditors to sue them or the corporation, at their election. But the legislature, it seems to me, mánifestly intended to-substitute the responsibility of the corporation exclusively; to do which, without the assent of all parties, it was" altogether incompetent. Such a law would be in direct contravention of the provision in the Federal Constitution, which interdicts the impairing of contracts. What evidence is there, then, that the plaintiffs subsequently agreed to release the defendants and accept the corporation as their debtor. They received monies due on the contract, from the treasurer of the corporation, and corresponded with its agents and members, with a view to future engagements. No organic change had, however, been made by the act of incorporation, the officers and their functions being the same, and they received their money from the hand Whose business it would have been to pay it under the articles of association; so that, if the mere receipt of money were to prejudice them, they never could have been paid at all. For the rest, it is obvious, that a recognitidn of the corporation for prospective purposes, is not a retrospective admission of the validity of provisions in the act of incorporation, not at all necessary to corporate existénce. To bind the plaintiffs, their assent to this particular provision, whether precedent or subsequent, Ought to be direct and unambiguous. We are, therefore, of opinion, that the parties to the contract are personally liable; but for the insufficiency of the evidence of partnership, as to some of the defendants, a new trial is" awarded. Huston, J. — The material facts are, that about .the 1st of April, 1817, a number of persons associated under the name of “The Philadelphia and Pittsburg Transporting Company.” The object Was, to increase the facility and despatch of carrying goods between the two places named. On the 1st of April, managers were elected, a contracting, committee appointed, and soon after an agent. A great number of people subscribed for shares in the company; but whether all subscribed before, or some .after the contract with the plaintiffs, was not proved. On the 12th of December, 1817, a contract was entered into between the plaintiffs and the agent of the company, in writing, by which the plaintiffs agreed to furnish horses and drivers, and to carry from Downingstown to Harris365 burgh. Articles of agreement, stating the objects and plans of the company, were agreed on the 1st of April, 1817; and the eighth of those articles stated, distinctly, the intention of the company, to endeavour to procure a charter. We must take it, that those who entered into a contract with the agent of the transporting company, knew who the company were, or, at least, as many of them as satisfied him; and as much of the objects of the company, as was necessary to make the contract a rational one — they were bound to know so much. By the contract, no labour was to be performed until the 1st of April, 1818. On the 19th of March, 1818, the company was incorporated, and the name and articles of the company continued the same as before incorporation. The plaintiffs brought a former suit against the seven managers. The defendants in that suit pleaded in abatement, that the contract, if any was made, was not with the defendants alone, but with them, and one hundred and sixty-seven others, and named the others. Issue was taken on this plea, and a trial, and verdict, and judgfhent for the defendants. This suit was then commenced, and again a plea in abatement, as to one name, was put in, (see 15 Serg. & Rawle, 150,) and overruled. After the jury was sworn in this cause, the plaintiffs offered in evidence the record of the first suit, containing the plea in abatement, which had in it the names of all, or most of the defendants, in this suit; this was objected to, and admitted, and this admission was the first subject of discussion in this court. A range, wider than necessary to be followed here, was taken in the argument. The plaintiffs insisted, that it was evidence conclusive against all the defendants, or, if riot, prima facie against all; or, if not, conclusive against those who had pleaded that plea in abatement. The plaintiffs further said, if it was not evidence, yet, as the articles of agreement were afterwards read without objection, and all the names were subscribed to them, the illegality of reading this record against those who were not parties to the first suit, was cured by giving legal evidence afterwards, fully proving the same thing. The defendants denied, that the record was admissible for any purpose; or that the names at the foot of the articles of agreement were proved or read, or that they made out the case, if read. The assertion, that a record is not to be read in evidence, except against parties or privies, is too narrow. Some exceptions were admitted, as the record of conviction of the principal, in order to show that an accessory may be tried; judgments in rem., and matters of public right, as tolls and common. There are many other exceptions in daily use. 1. In making out a title in ejectment, the plaintiff shows a judgment against A., execution and sale to the plaintiff, and gives this in evidence, to prove a title in himself against B., the defendant in ejectment; and yet he, B., was no party to that judgment against A. — 366 — 2. In cases where a party may sue one of two persons, but not both; after suing onq, the plaintiff sues the second, who gives in evidence the first suit, to prove the election. 3. Where he may sue several, but can get but one satisfaction. The plaintiff sues Á., and levies his money by execution, and after-wards sues B.; B. may give in evidence the first record, though no party to it, to prove that the plaintiff is already satisfied. > 4. In. ejectment, a defendant may give in evidence a title in a third person; buf it must be. a valid, subsisting title, not one abandoned, or barred, by-the act of limitations. '.After giving -such title, in evidence, he may give in evidence an ejectment verdict and judgment in favour of the owner of that title, not to prove, that it is a good title, but that it is not abandoned by the owner, or barred by the act of limitations. , A . 5. So, a verdict and judgment against a master, is evidence in a suit by him against his.servant, who committed the trespass, but not •conclusive. So, a verdict and judgment of eviction, by'a-person warranted against his warrantor, which may be conclusive if notice has been given- to the warrantor, or not conclusive, if there has been no notice; still, it is evidence to prove the fact of eviction. In short, where the verdict and judgment are on the same matter, and are pleaded or offered in evidence, as conclusive in the suit trying, the record is not admissible, unless between the same parties, or those in privity.with them. But where, a fact forms part of the proof of a claim, or of a defence, and that fact can be proved by the record of a.suit, it maybe so proved, as in the cases.put above, and in some others. So, when a plea in abatement was pleaded, in the cause now trying, the record of- the former suit was evidence to prove the fact, that a plea in abatement had been pleaded once before to the same demand, against some of the present defendants. I think it was evidence of a solemn admission by those who pleaded that plea in abatement, that they formed a part of those now sued, who made the- contract declared, on, if such a contract was made. ■ The plaintiffs are not bound to prove all the defendants to •be contractors, by one witness or .one kind of proof; and I think this was admissible as respected those who pleaded it, and no further. As .to whether the same thing was proved by the articles of agreement,! think there was a misunderstanding at the bar, and perhaps on the bench, in consequence of it; both parties supposing the case as against all the defendants, proved by the record of the first suit. When the articles were offered to be read, the defendants did not object to the .reading of them, unless the. signatures were proved. Being then read, and no’objection made, the judge considered the whole, including the signatures, admitted.' I say, I suppose this was the case.- The same mistake will not occur at another trial. Whether the articles, when all the signatures are proved, will support the plaintiffs’ case, I cannot now say. There were other grounds of defence discussed, of serious im — 367 — portanee. The contract certainly was made before the incorporation: whether with them as a company or firm, having partnership property, or as this company was composed, generally by'one member of another mercantile or manufacturing firm, signing the name of his firm; whether any of the firm was bound except him who signed, unless something more was done, was not discussed; but at the time the contract was made,- an act of incorporation was contemplated. I have said, the plaintiffs are bound to knowsomething respecting a company with whom they contracted. A,company enter into articles and appoint an agent; they propose to do'a certain business in a certain way: he who contracts with their agent shall not shut his eyes and say that he did not know any thing of them or their plans or designs. In'point of fact, no man ever does enter into such a contract as the present without full inquiries and minute information. I would then take it, the intention to procure an act of incorporation, and the fact that one had been procured, was either to be taken by us as known to the plaintiffs before they did the work; or if not so, is a fact to be submitted to a jury who may try the cause again. All the labour was performed for the corporation, none of it for the company, before the act of incorporation. If we say, the fact that they intended to become incorporated was known to-the plaintiffs when they contracted, or that it was known to the plaintiffs before they performed the labour, that the company was incorporated, and the labour, with such knowledge, was performed, not for the individuals, but for the corporation, in my opinion, the individuals are not hable. I use the word, company, in relation to the situation of the parties, before the act of incorporation, and the word, corporation, I apply to them afterwards. Though the contract was with the company, no work was performed for the company. On what principle, then, can they be sued for the services performed not for them, but for others. In point of fact, as well as of law, the company and corporation were composed of different persons. After the act of incorporation, the shares of those who neglected, or refuséd to pay, were forfeited. If-the plan had succeeded, were 'they bound to pay, though they could not receive? It is true, a man may bind himself to pay for work to be performed for another; but this must distinctly appear, or he is not bound. A man may contract with a mechanic to build a house on a lot, at some future time; before that time he sells the lot. The mechanic knows this; the purchaser furnishes the materials, and makes payment to the mechanic. Can he, if the purchaser fails, go back and recover from the first contractor, who got no benefit? Would it not be left to a jury to say whether the contract with him who sold was at an end, and a new one made, express or implied, with the present owner of the lot, and if they found such new contract either express or implied, would any tribunal -permit the mechanic to renounce that, and recover from one who got no benefit? — 368 — I have said this much independent of the act of- incorporation, which enacts as follows: [His Honour here read the second section of the act.] I do not say, if a contract had been made by the company, and executed by the contractor for the company, before the incorporation, that this act would release the individuals, or that it would not. This is not that case. But I do say, that where a contract is executory, and not yet commenced, an act of assembly may render it unlawful to perform it in any way; or it may direct, that if performed, it shall be in a way different from that agreed on. Both these have been done in acts relating to banks, and rightly done. Again, if the legislature can change the property of a company, or can take it from the individuals, and vest it in the corporation, can it not transfer the contracts relating to that property, and the liability on those contracts, and place them on the same body who have become owners of the property, and who will have the benefit of the contract? Can it take away the property, and take away all benefit from contracts to he performed, and leave those liable who have not the property, and do not derive benefit from'the performance of the contracts? Those who say the last is constitutional, and the first not, must have strange notions of the meaning of that word. If a consignee of goods engages a carrier to bring them to him, he is liable for the price of carriage; but if the vendor follows the carrier, and stops the goods in transitu, and receives them from the carrier, he, and not the consignee, must pay the carrier. This, by common law, which is common sense and justice. An act of assembly, directing the same thing, would, by some people, be called unconstitutional. I shall not, for I do not pretend that I can, pretend to draw any precise linej distinguishing, in all cases, what is, or is not constitutional. This, however, may be said, that a law which produces no injustice — which does not destroy a vested right, but only modifies the effect of and remedy on a contract, is not unconstitutional. The plaintiffs had their option to proceed and perform this con- ' tract, after the law, for the corporation, and look to them for compensation, or to decline- the contract, and sue the company for damages for disappointment; but are forbidden by the law, and by common justice, to take this course. They cannot have recourse to the company, for they did not labour for them, and must claim under the corporation, for they did labour for them, and if so, cannot demand pay from the company. Let me not be understood as giving a final opinion in this matter; as it comes before us now, this court are to decide facts and law. As it will probably be tried next time, the jury ought to find whether the plaintiffs had knowledge of the act of incorporation, and if they believe there was notice of it before the labour was performed, then, in my opinion, the law will be as above stated. — 369 — We have so many banks and other corporations, who began as companies, and were afterwards incorporated, and so many corporations whose charters have been, and are daily changing, that the effect of the clause in question is very important. I have thought of it, and I see no objection to allowing the power of the legislature, and the effect of the act of incorporation, so far as respects all contracts, to be entirely carried into effect for the benefit of the corporation. If the party performs for the corporation, the corporation is liable, and is alone liable. If the party is not willing to perform and look to the corporation, let him at once • stop. I think that principle is the foundation of our decision in Ehrenzeller v. The Union Canal Company, 1 Rawle, 181; and that case goes farther than my opinion in this. In that case an indefinite employment was at once put an end to by the act of incorporation. Rogers, J., was against the new trial on both points. Smith, J., concurred with the Chief Justice. Tod, J., took no part, haying been indisposed at the argument. New trial awarded.