Winn v. Averill

The opinion of the court was delivered by Isham, J. On the coming in of the report of the auditor in this case, the county court, on application by the plaintiff, permitted the name of Rufus Chase to be struck from the record as one of the defendants, and rendered judgment on the report against the others. We learn from the case, that Mr. Chase was one of the original petitioners, but that he deceased in 1846, and before the rendition of these services, or commencement of this action. The right of action on his decease, survived against these defendants, as against them an action can be sustained, but not against Mr. Chase, or any one representing him. [285] We entertain no doubt, as to tbe power and duty of tbe court, in allowing this amendment of the record, and striking his name therefrom as one of the defendants, no more, than if such a man had never existed, or the name was entirely fictitious. In the case of Leverett v. Harris, 7 Mass. Rep. 292, and Parsons v. Plaisted, 13 Mass. Rep. 189, it was held, that a wife could not b& sued with her husband, on covenants executed during coverture, and on motion her name was stricken from the record, as one of the defendants, and the case proceeded against the other defendant. In the case of Whitluck v. Cook, 15 John. Rep. 483, the question arose, under similar circumstances, and on motion, the-plaintiff was permitted to enter a nolle prosequi ás to the wife, as the plaintiff had a cause of action against the husband. See also> Rehoboth v. Hunt, 1 Pick. Rep. 224, where a writ of entry was amended by striking out the name of one of the demandants. “The rule seems to be that no new parties can be added by “amendment.” 2 Fairf. Rep. 127. 1 Wend. Rep. 71. “But “ parties unnecessarily and improperly made such, and having no “ interest in the matter may be stricken out, where the cause or “ nature of the action is not affected, and no injury can accrue to “ the defendant.” It will be observed that in the above cases, the amendments were allowed, where the party stricken from the record had a real existence, was duly served with process, and could on judgment being rendered have been charged on execution. And if that rule prevails in those cases, much more should this have been allowed, where the person whose name has been struck from the record had no existence, when the cause of action accrued, was never served with process and against whom no judgment could have been rendered. Our statute of amendments, p. 223, Sec. 31, is quite as liberal as the late English act, 9 Geo. 4, generally termed Lord Tenterdan’s act, and the courts, both in England and this country, manifest an increasing disposition to give to these statutes the most beneficial effect, not suffering the end of a suit to be defeated, where the record contains the substance of a valid claim. This being the only question presented in the case, the judgment must be affirmed.