Taylor v. Ford
Taylor v. Ford
Opinion of the Court
This action was brought by the appellant under section 1050 of the Code of Civil Procedure, alleging in his complaint, in substance, that the respondent was making an adverse claim for money against him, on a pretended obligation, to wit, a promissory note; that the exact nature of the claim was unknown to the plaintiff; that no suit had been brought on said claim; that he desired that said claim be brought forward and determined; and praying that the defendant “be compelled to set forth the nature and extent of said claim, and the particulars thereof, in a concise form, and that any cause of action that he pretends to have be fully alleged against this plaintiff, and that thereupon the same be determined by this court to be of no force and validity, and that the plaintiff have judgment against the defendant; that the defendant take nothing under said claim; and that the plaintiff recover costs.” The defendant answered by alleging that the plaintiff was indebted to him in the sum of $2,660.44, on a promissory note, a copy of which note is set out in the answer. This answer is, in legal effect, the same as an ordinary complaint on a promissory note, and prays for judgment in like manner. The only allegations therein, not properly belonging to a complaint on a promissory note, are that the note set out is the obligation mentioned in plaintiff’s complaint, and a denial of the allegation in the complaint that the plaintiff did not know the exact nature of the defendant’s claim. The plaintiff treated the defendant’s answer as a cross-complaint, so far as it set up and relied upon the note, and filed an answer thereto, alleging fraud in procuring the note, mistake and want of consideration. On the issues thus formed the case went to trial. The court below found, for the
We concur: Fox, J.; Paterson, J.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- TAYLOR v. FORD
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Jury—Right to Jury Trial.—Plaintiff Brought an Action under Code, of Civil Procedure, section 1-050, alleging that defendant was making a claim against him for money upon a pretended promissory note; that the exact nature of the claim was unknown to plaintiff; and praying that defendant be compelled to set forth the nature and extent thereof, in order that the court might determine it to be invalid. Defendant answered in the form of an ordinary complaint on a promissory note, and to this plaintiff filed a reply, alleging fraud in procuring the note, mistake, and want of consideration. Held, the action being purely statutory and equitable in form, the reply to plaintiff’s answer was unnecessary to the relief sought, and he was not entitled to a jury trial upon the issue thereby raised.