Supreme Court of Alabama, 1872

Cox v. Harris

Cox v. Harris
Supreme Court of Alabama · Decided June 15, 1872 · Peters
48 Ala. 538

Cox v. Harris

Opinion of the Court

PETERS, J.

The judgment against the firm in its firm name alone bound only the “joint property of all the associates.” — Eev. Code, § 2538. Yet there can be no doubt that each partner is individually liable for the debts of the firm.—Waldron, Isley & Co. v. Simmons, 28 Ala. 620; Collyer on Part. (Perkins’ ed.) p. 348, et seq.; Thomas v. Hearn et al., 2 Porter. The mere reductiqn of a claim against a partnership sued in their firm name is not a payment or satisfaction of the claim. It is simply merged in the judgment, and this judgment becomes the foundation of a new suit. It is perfectly certain that a judgment is a proper cause of action in an independent suit. — 3 Bouv. Law Dic. “ Merger,” p. 175; 2 Black. Com. p. 465, (marg.); 1 Chit. Pl. pp. 111, 112, (marg.) It may be objected, that the first judgment against the firm of Herrin, Marquis & Co. is joint, and not several. This was so at common law, but it is changed by our statute. This makes “judgments” “joint' *540and several.” — Revised Code, § 2539. Then this objection, had it been properly interposed in the court below, is of no avail.

Let the judgment be affirmed, with costs.

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