Troy Portable Grain Mill Co. v. Bowen & Co.

Wright, C. J. If necessary at this time, to determine the right of the plaintiffs to join the makers and guarantors as defendants, in the same action, we should probably fail to unite in opinion. As the case does not call for it, therefore, we pass the question, until its decision becomes necessary. We concur in the opinion that the objection cannot be made, or legitimately raised, on a motion to change the venue. The proper practice is to demur for misjoinder of parties. This action was properly brought, [467] 'therefore, in Scott county, unless some one, or all of the other positions assumed by appellants, are correct. And, first, it is urged that the note was made payable in Johnson county, and therefore the action should have been brought there. When by its terms, a contract is to be performed in any particular place, suit for a breach thereof, may be brought in the county -wherein such place is situated. Code, section 1704. This language is permissive, and not mandatory. The plaintiff may, at his election, sue in the county where the place named is situated, or in that wherein some of the defendants actually reside. It is next suggested, that if the district court of Scott county had jurisdiction, under the circumstances as claimed by appellants, then it would be in the power of the payee or holder, to obtain the signature of some person as an indorser, or guarantor, for the purpose of enabling him to bring his suit in a county other than that where the real party in interest as defendant, resided, and thus perpetrate a fraud upon his rights and interests. And here, perhaps, is the material and important point in the case. The thought that inasmuch as the maker of the note made it payable in' Johnson county, and actually resided there at the time, they cannot be made liable in another jurisdiction, by anything that might occur afterwai’ds, by the making of new parties, whether as indorsers or guarantors, is without force, from the fact that this guarantee of the payment of the note,' is, prima fade, at least, for their interest, and they are supposed to assent to it. The presumption, then, is that Andrews & Shelly are real parties to the note ; and that they gave their names for the Iona fide purpose of rendering additionally secure the payment of the money. If so, then the court below properly refused to change the venue. If, on the contrary, they signed said guarantee at the request of the holder, or payee, for the purpose of enabling the plaintiffs to bring their action in Scott county, and not for the purpose of additionally securing the debt, then, in [468] our opinion, the venue should have been changed. The Code, in providing that actions should be brought in a county wherein some of the defendants actually reside, and that if brought in the wrong county, the venue should be changed, if demanded — -that the costs of such change should be awarded against the plaintiff — and that the defendant might be awarded reasonable compensation for his trouble and expenses in attending at the wrong county— (Code, sections 1701-2), intended to accomplish a practical, useful, and honest purpose. When defendants are mentioned, those are meant who had an actual, real, and positive interest in the cause, and not those who consent to be made use of to defraud the real parties, and compel them to attend at the wrong county, at great expense and trouble. To permit this, would leave the law, in many instances, inoperative and meaningless. And did the record in this case, (as is assumed by appellants), present such an issue, wo should be strongly inclined to hold, that it might be shown that Andrews & Shelly gave their names for the purposo of enabling the plaintiffs to bring their spit in Scott county, and thus confer jurisdiction upon the district court of that county; and if shown to the extent above explained, that the venue should be changed. Let ns see, however, what the issue is in this respect, as presented by the motion. It is that as “ defendants believe, the acceptance of service of A. & S., was had for the. mere purpose of obtaining jurisdiction in Scott county.” This means, that they accepted service of the original notice, as we suppose. Now, if they were real parties to the note, and residents of Scott county, (and the first is presumed, and the latter shown affirmatively by the bill of exceptions), then there could be no such thing as an acceptance of service for the purpose stated. Or, if they accepted with that intention, it would not change the result, for the jurisdiction attached anyhow. Not only so, but the averrment leaves it indefinite, whether this intention existed upon the part of A. & S. alone, or whether plaintiffs participated in it, and obtained the acceptance, in order to [469] properly maintain their action in Scott county. Of course, it would make no difference what A. & S. intended, so long as plaintiffs had nothing to do in obtaining the service for the purpose alleged. Upon the showing made, therefore, we think, the motion was properly overruled. The other and more important question, (referred to above), does not strictly arise. Counsel have discussed it, however, and other cases are said to be pending, awaiting the determination of this. And, therefore it is, that we have deemed it proper to indicate generally, our views upon it.