Conner v. Hutchinson
Conner v. Hutchinson
Opinion of the Court
Field, C. J. and Baldwin, J. concurring.
The order requiring a further account in pursuance of the fifty-sixth section of the Practice Act, is defective and insufficient. The particulars, in reference to which a further specification was required, should have been stated in the order. This was not done ; and it was error to preclude the defendant from giving evidence of the account set up in the answer. There is also another reason for holding that the exclusion of this evidence was improper. If the
We express no opinion as to the sufficiency or insufficiency of the account delivered. The items must in all eases be set forth with as much particularity as the nature of the case will admit; but the law does not require impossibilities, and the party called upon to account is not subjected to the necessity of doing an impracticable thing. If the specifications are as precise and definite as he can make them, we do not see what more can be required.
Judgment reversed, and cause remanded for new trial.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CONNER v. HUTCHINSON
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- 10 cases
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- Syllabus
- To suit on a note, defendant in general terms, without items, set up an account for work and labor, and for money paid, etc. Plaintiff asked for a copy of the account, which defendant furnished. Plaintiff gave notice that he would move the Court “ for a further account of particulars, etc.; ” and on hearing, the Court ordered that “ defendant furnish said further bill,” which he did. On the trial plaintiff offered his note and rested. Defendant offered evidence of the account set up in the answer, to which plaintiff objected, on the ground that “ defendant had not furnished an additional bill of particulars,” and the Court ruled out the evidence: Held, that the Court erred : 1st, because the order for a further account was defective, in not stating the particulars in reference to which a further specification was required ; and because 2nd, if the bill of particulars delivered under the order of the Court was not satisfactory, and plaintiff intended to object to any evidence upon the subject, he should have obtained, previous to the trial, an order excluding such evidence. Without an order before the trial excluding evidence of the account in such cases the Court cannot on the trial exclude it. Where a copy of the account sued on, or set up in the answer, is called for under the fifty-sixth section of the Practice Act, the items of the account furnished must be set forth with as much particularity as the nature of the case admits of; but the law does not require impossibilities, and if the party give the items ' as definitely as he can, he does not forfeit his rights because of his inability to comply with a further demand for particulars.