Moffatt v. McLaughlin

This is an action for partition and one of the defendants is an infant. The complaint alleges that the land described is the only real estate owned in common by the defendants. The defendant Zillah McLaughlin demurred upon the ground that the complaint did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, and this proposition rests upon the ground that it should appear by proper averment that the lands described are the only lands owned in common by the parties as required by Buie 78 of this court, in force prior to January 1, 1878. The pleader, it will be perceived, averred the lands to be the only real estate owned in common by the defendants, instead of alleging that it was the only real estate owned by the parties. The demurrer was overruled, and properly.

The averment made was an attempt to conform to the rule mentioned, and the reasoning of the learned justice who presided at Special Term shows that the demurrer was not the mode of procedure, if the defendant demurring felt aggrieved. It was asked by him, “if the allegation referred to was true, how could the defendants own other lands in common with the plaintiff,” and this demonstrated that the allegation, if assailable, was on account of its uncertainty only. The remedy was to make it more certain and definite. The imperfect averment of a material fact is not cause for demurrer. If the intention of the pleader is apparent, but the phraseology doubtful in effect, the remedy is by motion and not by demurrer.

It was clearly the intention of the pleader herein to conform to the rule, and perhaps logically he did so. It is unnecessary, however, to pursue the subject further. The order appealed from was right, and should be affirmed with ten dollars costs.

I concur, except as to costs, which are not in such appeals limited to ten dollars.

Order affirmed with ten dollars costs