Foerster v. Kirkpatrick & Rex

By the Court. I. Atwater, J. This Case comes before the Court on "Writ of Error issued to the District Court of Eamsey County upon a judgment rendered in that Court upon Demurrer to the Complaint. The complaint is as follows: “The complaint of the above named Plaintiffs respectfully shows to this Court, thift the above named Defendants are indebted to them in the sum of seven hundred and sixty-three dollars and twelve cents ($763 12-100) together with interest thereon from the sixteenth day of July, A. D. 1857, on account for goods, wares and merchandize sold and delivered by the Plaintiffs to the Defendants at the special instance of and request of the Defendants. Wherefore the Deféndants) demand judgment, &c.” The Defendants demurred to the complaint and the demurrer was overruled, and judgment entered on demurrer. The Plaintiff in Error assigns several causes or grounds of error, but one of which it is necessary particularly to notice. The complaint is defective in several important particulars. In the title of the cause the plaintiffs appear to have brought their action as partners, and to have sued the Defendants as such. [212] Yet there is no allegation in the complaint that either Plaintiffs or Defendants were ever partners. No time is alleged when the goods were sold. But especially there is no allegation that the goods were of the value of the amount of indebtedness claimed in the complaint, or of any value whatever, nor any allegations that the Defendants ever promised to pay that or any amount whatever. In an action for goods sold and delivered, it is absolutely essential in order to sustain the action, that one or the other at least, of the allegations should be made. Without- it the allegation of indebtedness is a mere conclusion of law, entirely unsupported by any fact. For the Defendants’ liability grows out of the facts that the goods were either worth the amount of the claim, or else that they promised to pay the amount. If they were worth that amount and the fact be proved, the law implies a promise to pay that amount, even though there be no express promise. If on the other hand, the goods should not be worth the amount claimed, — yet if the Defendants have expressly promised to pay the amount, and there be any consideration, the promissors will be held liable. ■ Without one or the other of these allegations, there appears no consideration to support the pretended indebtedness. The allegation is also important to give the Defendant notice of the ground upon which Plaintiff claims, that he may frame his answer and prepare his evidence accordingly. There can be no question but that such was the rule under the system of pleading before the adoption of the Code; and the authorities are equally full and clear, that under the Code, the form only, and not the substance of pleading, as it formerly existed, has been changed. Inactions oíindébitafrus asswnvpsii, it was indeed formerly necessary to allege the promise, whether express or implied, but in the latter case, it is not now necessary to allege the promise, but the consideration on which the implied promise is based. Gould’s Pleadings, p. 57; Sec. 19. Steph. Nisi Prius, Vol. 1. p. 286; 1 Chit. 341; Van Sant, Pl. 263, & 5; 4 Sand. 667. Judgment below must be reversed.