Schuttler v. King
Schuttler v. King
Opinion of the Court
This is a suit on a promissory note alleged to be lost. The allegations of the complaint, omitting the formal parts, are as follows: “ That on the twenty-second
The appellant (defendant below) was personally served with summons in this case, but made no appearance of any kind. Judgment was entered against him in accordance with the prayer of the complaint, on the sixth day of July, 1891. On the fourth day of June, 1892, this appeal was taken from the judgment. The contention of the appellant is that the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, or to sustain a judgment. The appellant especially contends that the complaint does not contain any of the following facts, each of which he claims the complaint should aver: “ That the defendant ever made any promise to pay any sum of money, or any facts from which such a promise is by law implied. The complaint does not show by any statement of fact that any promise in fact or promise by implication to pay to plaintiffs, or either of them, any money. The complaint does not contain any statement of fact showing when, according to defendant’s promise, payment should be made; that is to say there is no statement of a breach of the contract.”
In Hook v. White, 36 Cal. 299, in a case similar to the one under consideration, the court says: “The allegation in the complaint, ‘ that said defendant executed to this plaintiff a
In Ward v. Clay, 82 Cal. 502, the court held: “ Defects of form of averment or uncertainty cannot be urged upon general demurrer. ... A complaint on a promissory note which states the material substance and legal effect of the note, showing its date, consideration, parties, principal sum, and rate of- interest, and the amount due and unpaid, and avers that defendant refuses to pay the same, or any part thereof, and that plaintiff is still the owner and holder of the note,, is not subject to a general demurrer on the ground that a copy of the note is not embodied in the complaint.” (See Graves v. Drave, 66 Tex. 658.)
Our Code of Civil Procedure, section 85, requires the complaint to contain "a statement of the facts constituting the cause of action, in ordinary and concise language.”
From a consideration of these authorities, we arc of opinion that the complaint states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, and therefore sufficient to sustain the judgment appealed from.
The appellant contends' that, this being a suit upon a lost negotiable instrument, an indemnity bond should have been
We do not think that the tender of indemnity can be considered as any part of the plaintiffs’ cause of action, or as a fact or event upon which their right of action accrues. (Randolph v. Harris, 28 Cal. 562; 87 Am. Dec. 139, and cases cited.) The appellant can fully protect himself by demanding indemnity at the proper time and in the proper manner.
We are of the opinion that the judgment in this case should be affirmed.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SCHUTTLER v. KING
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- Published