Dana v. Gulf & Ship Island R.
Dana v. Gulf & Ship Island R.
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
This is an action of tort, begun in the circuit court of Harrison county by appellant against appellee. The declaration alleges that appellant, an employee of appel-lee, was injured by the negligence of his employer. To this declaration appellee filed a plea of accord and satisfaction.
Demurrers were filed to both pleas and sustained. We approve the action of the trial court in sustaining the demurrer to the first replication, but we think it was error to sustain the demurrer to the second replication.
“Fraud vitiates all things, and may be predicated of promises designed to entrap the unwary, and never intended to be kept, as well as misstatements of existing facts.” Patton-Worsham Drug Co. v. Planters’ Co., 86 Miss. 423, 38 So. 209. “It is one thing to attempt to vary, alter, or contradict the terms of a written contract once validly executed, and quite a different thing to show that the contract offered never had any. legal existence, because its execution was procured by fraud. ’ ’ Howie v. Platt, 83 Miss. 15, 35 So. 216.
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- J. C. Dana v. Gulf & Ship Island R. Co.
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Accoed and Satisfaction. Pleading. Replication. Fraud. Where in an action by an employee for personal injury against a railroad company, the defendant pleaded an accord and satisfaction and plaintiff filed a replication that the accord was fraudulently obtained, it was error for the court to sustain a demurrer to such replication. 2. Same. Fraud vitiates all things, and may be predicated of promises designed to entrap the unwary, and never intended to be kept, as well as misstatements of existing facts. 3. Same. It is one tiling to attempt to vary, alter or contradict the terms of a written contract once validly executed, and quite a different thing to show that the contract offered never had any legal existence, because its exécution was procured by fraud.