Altsheler v. Conrad

[649] Opinion of the court by JUDGE NUNN Reversing. This appeal is from a judgment of the lower court in overruling a demurrer to an amended answer, pleading the statute of limitations to the cause of action set forth in appellant’s petition. The petition, -in substance, set forth the .following facts: That appellants had rented from the appellee a business house on the corner of Eighth and Main streets, in the city of Louisville, for the, term of three years, for the purpose of conducting a wholesale grocery business therein; that they discovered an iron apron, at the side, or Eighth street door, in a dangerous condition — that is, was placed at too great an incline, and made it dangerous for one passing merchandise into and out of the building over it; that they called appellee’s attention to the dangerous condition and improper construction of this apron, and requested him to have it changed or altered so as to make it safe; that he then promised and agreed to do so within a reasonable time, but- did not make such change or any change in the apron, and violated his promise and agreement with reference thereto, .and alleged that one of their employes, by the name of Breen, while in the exercise of his duties, slipped and fell on this apron, and broke one of his limbs; that Breen brought an action against these appellants, for and on account of the damages he had received for the injuries stated, and recovered of these appellants a judgment, including costs, amounting to $205, which they were compelled to and did pay Breen; that this payment was the result of the failure of appellee to comply with his promise and agreement to- repair and make safe this apron, and they sought a judgment against appellee for that sum. The appellee demurred to this petition, which was over [650] ruled. He then answered, making a general denial of all the allegations in the petition, and in another paragraph undertook to plead the statute of limitations. A demurrer was filed to this paragraph by the appellants, which the court sustained, and the appellee then filed an amendment to this paragraph as follows: “The defendant, for amendment to his answer herein, and to make more definite, specific, and certain his plea of limitation herein, says that P. J. Breen was a servant of the plaintiffs and! in their actual employment at the time of the .alleged injury to the said Breen. This defendant says that the alleged injury to said Breen occurred on the 11th day of December, 1896, in the city of Louisville, Ky., where said Breen was acting in his capacity as servant and employe of plaintiffs aforesaid, and this action is founded on said alleged injuries to plaintiffs’ servant and employe, Breen, as aforesaid. This defendant says that under the law of the statutes of Kentucky the plaintiffs’ cause of action is long since barred, and he pleads and relies upon the law of the State of Kentucky in such cases made and provided as a bar to any recovery herein.” The court erredl in overruling a demurrer to this plea of the statute of limitations. The appellants had no right to maintain an action for the injuries to Breen, their servant-This right alone existed in Breen, and the appellee is in error when he says that appellants’ action is founded on such injuries. As appears from the petition, it was founded on. the violation of the alleged contract made by appellee with, appellants to repair and make safe this iron apron, and on account of such failuré and violation of contract they sustained this loss of $205. If it had been brought for the injuries to Breen, the 12-month statutes would apply, but if it had been brought to recover the $205 which they had [651] lost by reason of tbe breach of this contract or agreement, then the five year statutes would apply, and this time had not elapsed at the time of the institution of this action. We are of the opinion that the court erred also in overruling the demurrer to the petition. It is not stated in the petition that this promise and agreement on the part of the appellee to repair and make safe this apron was in writing, nor was there any writing filed with the papers showing any such promise or agreement; therefore, it must be deemed that this promise and agreement was verbal. Such being the case, it was indispensably necessary for the appellants to have alleged in their petition a consideration for this promise and agreement. There is not an intimation in the pleadings that they paid or promised appellee anything to make this repair. See 1 Mar., 538, 2 Mar., 139, 882. Unless there was a consideration paid or promised the appellee for the making of this repair, the appellants can not sustain their action on appellee’s promise to repair. See Eblin v. Miller’s Ex’rs, 78 Ky., 371, and Proctor v. Keith, 12 B. Mon., 252. Wherefore the judgment of the lower court is reversed, and the cause remanded, with directions to sustain the demurrer to both the amended answer and the petition.