Frink & Co. v. Taylor's Administratrix
Frink & Co. v. Taylor's Administratrix
Opinion of the Court
'.Opinion by
This cause was commenced iff. the, district court of Wapello county, and the venue
The petitioner then procured the issuance of an attachment, by virtue of which the property of the defendants was attached.
After the bringing of this suit, and the filing of this complaint, the plaintiff died. Margaret Taylor, wife of the plaintiff, was then substituted, as administratrix, to prosecute the action ; whereupon she filed a supplemental bill of complaint in the action, in which she sets forth the fact that she had been duly appointed administratrix of his estate, and then proceeds to state that, “ she claims that there is now due to her, as the administratrix of said estate, from the said defendants, the sum of five thousand dollars, to wit: The sum of one thousand dollars for damages, as set forth in decedent’s petition; and the further sum of four thousand dollars for the following grievances : “ And your
She then concludes, by praying that the suit may be prosecuted in her name, as the representative of her deceased husband, and that she may have judgment for the said sum of five thousand dollars, with costs, &c.
Afterwards, the original and supplemental petition was amended, so as to allege more specifically the facts relative to the defendant’s undertaking, by their agent, to carry the deceased, as a passenger, for the pay, and the negligence of the agent and driver, by which the deceased plaintiff was injured, and his death caused.
Issue was joined, the cause tried, and a verdict rendered for the plaintiff for fifteen hundred dollars, upon which judgment was entered. From this judgment the defendants have appealed.
Several errors have been assigned, on which a reversal of the judgment is urged. However, they all relate to proceedings had in the court below, which refer to, and depend on the same point. This is presented by the third assignment of error, which is that, “the court erred in giving the instructions to the jury, that said Margaret could recover
It appears by the hill of exceptions, that such was the instruction given to the jury by the court, upon this question.
This action was commenced.and prosecuted by Telghman A. Taylor, in his own right. Pending the prosecution, and before trial had, he died. Margaret Taylor, his widow, administered on his estate; and as administratrix, was substituted as the plaintiff, in his stead, to prosecute his action in the district court, whore she thus became authorized, as plaintiff, to proceed with the action; she could legally amend the petition, by leave of the court; or could file an amended petition,- at the proper time, provided such petition was of matter appertaining to the same right of the party plaintiff, which was contained in the original petition. The Code of Iowa, chapter 104, § 1751, pa. 255, provides that “ several causes of action may be united in the same petition, provided, they affect all the parties thereto in the same capacities, and if suit on all might be brought in that county. But. the court, to prevent confusion therein may direct all, or any portion of the issues joined therein, to be tried separately.”
By the enactments of this section, the legislature have enabled the plaintiff in an action to unite several causes of complaint, in the same petition ; but these must “ affect all the parties thereto, in the same capacities.” It does not go so far as to unite several persons possessing and having distinct and individual rights, to the same action. In this case it is true, that in common with Telghman A. Taylor, the husband and plaintiff, Margaret his wife, had an interest in the action brought by him in his life time. But upon being substituted as administratrix, she became the representative of those interested in his estate, in the prosecution of this action. If damages were recovered in this suit, they would be assets in her hands for their benefit, and she would he accordingly cHargeable, as administra
To recover damages for the loss sustained by her, by reason of the death of her husband, she must resort to an action in her own name, as the matter thereof appertains to her own and separate right. The damages which might be recovered by virtue of the supplemental petition would not belong to the estate, as they are claimed as accruing in consequence of his death; and all subsequent to the original action.
Judgment reversed.
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