Yong Den v. Hitchcock
Yong Den v. Hitchcock
Opinion of the Court
OPINION OF THE COURT BY
This is assumpsit for $25. The complaint contains three paragraphs. The first is a count for money had and received,
“1. That complaint does not state a cause of action.
“2. That it appears by the complaint that defendant received the moneys alleged in his capacity as Deputy Marshal and is sued individually.
“3. That the action is improperly brought in assumpsit.”
The District Magistrate sustained the demurrer and the plaintiff appealed to this court.
If either count is good, the demurrer should have been overruled. In our opinion neither count is shown to be bad.
The objection to the first count is that it is incomplete in that it does not show a breach. But a breach is shown, namely, in the third paragraph of the complaint. This is a separate paragraph and was intended to apply to both counts, as is evident from the expressions, “several promises and undertakings,” “several sums” and “either of them.”
The objection to the second count is that it shows a cause of action against the defendant in his official capacity only, while he is sued individually. There is nothing to show that the defendant rightfully received and retained the money in his official capacity or that he was bound or entitled to hold it or account for it as a government realization or otherwise. It is shown that he received it through a subordinate who took it from the plaintiff and that in consideration thereof he promised the plaintiff to pay it. The allegations that defendant was and is Deputy Marshal and that he received the money through a police officer are immaterial.
The action was properly brought in assumpsit. If a tort was committed, the plaintiff might waive it and bring assumpsit.
The judgment appealed from is reversed and the case remitted to the District Court for such further proceedings as may be proper.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.