Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1937

Sossamon v. Oaklawn Cemetery, Inc.

Sossamon v. Oaklawn Cemetery, Inc.
Supreme Court of North Carolina · Decided November 24, 1937 · Stacy
193 S.E. 720; 212 N.C. 535; 1937 N.C. LEXIS 360 (South Eastern Reporter)

Sossamon v. Oaklawn Cemetery, Inc.

Opinion of the Court

Stacy, C. J.

The question for decision is whether it is mandatory in an action on a written contract to make the entire writing a part of the complaint. The answer is “No,” especially where the part omitted *536 from tbe complaint, as in tbe instant case, is in tbe possession of the-defendant. R. R. v. Robeson, 27 N. C., 391; Gorman v. Bellamy, 82 N. C., 497; Thompson v. Johnson, 202 N. C., 817, 164 S. E., 357; 21 R. C. L., 493.

An allegation containing tbe substance of tbe agreement, as in tbe present complaint, will suffice as against a demurrer. Ins. Co. v. Dey, 206 N. C., 368, 174 S. E., 89; Deloatch v. Vinson, 108 N. C., 147, 12 S. E., 895; McIntosh N. C. Prac. & Proc., sec. 358.

Tbe record presents no question of proferí or oyer. C. S., 1823; 21 R. C. L., 478. Nor is tbe action “founded upon an instrument for tbe payment of money only.” C. S., 540.

Of course where tbe writing is made a part of tbe complaint, wbicb is usually done, and ordinarily desirable perhaps, tbe court is not bound by tbe conclusion of tbe pleader as to its meaning, Horney v. Mills, 189 N. C., 724, 128 S. E., 324, but this is not our case. 21 R. C. L., 476.

Tbe complaint is good as against a demurrer.

Reversed.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.