Turner v. Caruthers

California Supreme Court
Turner v. Caruthers, 17 Cal. 431 (Cal. 1861)
Baldwin

Turner v. Caruthers

Opinion of the Court

Baldwin, J. delivered the opinion of the Court

Field, C. J. concurring.

The suit having been instituted in the name of the plaintiffs by an attorney of the Court, it is to be presumed prima fade that *433they authorized the attorney to appear and prosecute. It was not matter in abatement that the plaintiffs or either one of them had not given this authority. The proper mode of procedure, if the suit were not authorized, was for the defendant to move the Court upon proper affidavits to dismiss the suit, upon the ground that it was not authorized by those in whose names it was brought. If the attorney, on such a motion and after notice of it, failed to show his authority, the Court might dismiss the case. But it would lead to great confusion to hold that the parties may be heard in the progress of a dase on trial otherwise than through the attorneys appearing for them on the record. If a release or other paper had been executed by one of the parties, this might have been pleaded and its legal effect accorded to it. But it is not admissible, upon a mere suggestion at the bar by the adverse party or his attorney, to deny the right of a party to appear by the attorney of record, or to deny that the attorney so appearing has full authority to prosecute the suit. (See McKernan v. Patrick, 4 How. Miss. 336, and the cases there cited.)

Judgment affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
TURNER AND WIFE v. CARUTHERS
Cited By
8 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
An attorney of the Court, who institutes suit in the name of a plaintiff, is presumed prima facie to have authority, and the adverse party or his attorney cannot, upon mere suggestion at the bar, deny the right of a party to appear by the attorney of record, nor deny that the attorney so appearing has full authority to prosecute the suit. During the progress of a case on trial, parties cannot be heard otherwise than through the attorneys of record. If a release or other paper has been executed by one of the parties, it should be pleaded. Want of authority in the attorney of record to institute a suit cannot be plead in abatement. The proper course, if the suit were not authorized, is for defendant to move the Court upon affidavits to dismiss the suit, upon the ground that it was not authorized by the person in whose name it is brought, If the attorney, on such motion and after notice of it, fails to show his authority, the Court can dismiss the case.