Silva v. De Freitas

OPINION OF THE COURT BY HARTWELL, C.J. Joaquim Silva, doing business under the firm name and style of J. Silva & Company, brought an action in the district court of Honolulu against the defendant Antonio Joaquim de Freitas to recover the sum of $86.39 with interest and costs on a judgment against the defendant made in that court in favor of the plaintiff about July 24, 1905, in 1he sum of $71.74, upon which judgment only $18.25 had been paid and on a claim of $32.90 balance owing for goods sold and delivered and money lent. The defendant testified that he owed the money to the plaintiff, Joaquim Silva and Manuel J. Coito, who had been partners in the grocery business, but were not then partners. Coito testified that he and Silva had not .yet settled their accounts. The court admitted Coito as party plaintiff and gave judgment for the amount claimed “in favor of Joaquim Silva and Manuel J. Coito doing business as J. Silva & Cod’ From this judgment Silva appealed on the grounds (1) that the court erred in allowing A. Perry to interplead for Coito; (2) in admitting the evidence of Coito and Freitas; (3) in holding that the partnership existing up to May 1, 1906, was not then dissolved; (4) in allowing the pleadings to be amended by making Coito a party plaintiff; (5) in holding that Coiio was still a partner in business, and (6) that he had an interest in the claim in said cause at the time it was brought. These rulings are not shown by the record to have been made with the exception of the rulings admitting the evidence of [615] Coito aud Freitas which was clearly admissible, and making Coito a coplaintiff, which was error since a plaintiff cannot be compelled to join others in his suit. At common law new parties plaintiff echild not be added by amendment, so the authority of the court rests upon R. L. Sec. 1138 under which the court may allow any proceeding to be amended by adding or striking out the name of any party. This does not warrant the court in adding a p'arty plaintiff without the consent of the plaintiff who has brought the action. To do so would be to change a statute designed merely to prevent failure of justice through technical defects into a statute allowing the intervention of- third parties claiming interest. The usual result of sustaining a plea of nonjoinder of necessary parties plaintiff is a nonsuit, and if the plaintiff not only does not ask but does not consent to the addition of the necessary party he should he allowed this alternative. Upon a dissolution of a partnership there is no doubt that a partner who continues to carry on the business has a right to collect in the debts owing to the firm, if the accounts are not settled and there is no agreement on the subject. 1 Story on Partnership, Sec. 328"; 1 Lindley on Partnership, Ewell’s Ed. 378, N. 4; Robbins v. Fuller, 24 N. Y. 570; Huntington v. Potter, 32 Barb. 300; Riddle v. Etting, 32 Pa. St. 412. But on general principles of pleading the persons who were partners when the debt was incurred must if living be joined as coplaintiffs. Mitchell v. Fay, 1 Haw. 147; Cushing v. Marston, 12 Cush. 431. It was necessary in order to give judgment for the plaintiff that unless he prefers to take a nonsuit he amend his complaint by joining his former partner under the firm name of J. Silva & Company. A. (r. G or rea for plaintiff. yi. Perry for M. J. Coito. Judgment appealed from vacated, cause remanded with liberty to the plaintiff to amend if he wishes to do so by joining Coito.